102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB1815

 

Introduced 2/17/2021, by Rep. Stephanie A. Kifowit

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
20 ILCS 2805/38

    Amends the Department of Veterans' Affairs Act. Provides that the Veterans' Service-Related Ailments Task Force shall meet at least once every 2 months beginning July 1, 2021 (rather than beginning July 1, 2019). Effective immediately.


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A BILL FOR

 

HB1815LRB102 11699 RAM 17033 b

1    AN ACT concerning State government.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Department of Veterans' Affairs Act is
5amended by changing Section 38 as follows:
 
6    (20 ILCS 2805/38)
7    (Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2021)
8    Sec. 38. Veterans' Service-Related Ailments Task Force.
9    (a) The Veterans' Service-Related Ailments Task Force is
10created. The Task Force shall review and make recommendations
11regarding veterans' service-related ailments that are not
12recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs,
13including exploring why certain service-related ailments are
14not recognized and determining what may be done to have them
15recognized.
16    Additionally, the Task Force shall assess ways the State
17of Illinois can improve the rate at which disability
18compensation claims are approved by the federal government and
19correct the disparity between the U.S. Department of Veterans
20Affairs' approval of disability compensation for Illinois
21veterans and that which is approved for veterans in other
22states.
23    (b) The Task Force shall have 15 members, comprised as

 

 

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1follows:
2        (1) The Director of Veterans' Affairs or the
3    Director's designee, who shall serve as chairperson.
4        (2) 2 Members from the House of Representatives,
5    appointed one each by the Speaker of the House and the
6    House Minority Leader.
7        (3) 2 Members of the Senate, appointed one each by the
8    President of the Senate and the Senate Minority Leader.
9        (4) One veteran, appointed by the Director of
10    Veterans' Affairs.
11        (5) One medical professional with experience working
12    with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, appointed by
13    the Director of Veterans' Affairs.
14        (6) 4 representatives from a variety of veterans
15    organizations representing geographic diversity in the
16    State, appointed by the Director of Veterans' Affairs.
17        (7) 4 members, one of whom shall be appointed by the
18    chair of the Veterans' Affairs Committee of the House of
19    Representatives, one of whom shall be appointed by the
20    minority spokesperson of the Veterans' Affairs Committee
21    of the House of Representatives, one of whom shall be
22    appointed by the chair of the Veterans Affairs Committee
23    of the Senate, and one of whom shall be appointed by the
24    minority spokesperson of the Veterans Affairs Committee of
25    the Senate. Those appointed to the Task Force under this
26    paragraph shall be members of different Illinois counties'

 

 

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1    Veterans Assistance Commissions, Veteran Service Officers,
2    and VITAS officials.
3    Task Force members shall serve without compensation but
4may be reimbursed for their expenses incurred in performing
5their duties.
6    (c) The Task Force shall meet at least once every 2 months
7beginning on or before July 1, 2021 2019, and at other times as
8determined by the Task Force. Task Force members shall select
9from amongst themselves a chairperson or co-chairpersons at
10the initial Task Force meeting.
11    (d) The Department of Veterans' Affairs shall provide
12administrative and other support to the Task Force.
13    (e) The Task Force shall prepare a report that summarizes
14its work and makes recommendations resulting from its study.
15The Task Force shall submit the report of its findings and
16recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by
17December 31, 2022 2020. The Task Force is dissolved, and this
18Section is repealed, on December 31, 2023 2021.
19(Source: P.A. 101-225, eff. 8-9-19.)
 
20    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
21becoming law.