HB1445 EngrossedLRB097 06017 KTG 46088 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 Sections 1.2, 2, 2.01, 2.04, 2.07, and 7 as
6follows:
 
7    (20 ILCS 2805/1.2)
8    Sec. 1.2. Division of Women Veterans Affairs. Subject to
9appropriations for this purpose, the The Division of Women
10Veterans Affairs is created as a Division within the
11Department. The head of the Division shall serve as an
12Assistant Director of Veterans' Affairs. The Division shall
13serve as an advocate for women veterans, in recognition of the
14unique issues facing women veterans. The Division shall assess
15the needs of women veterans with respect to issues including,
16but not limited to, compensation, rehabilitation, outreach,
17health care, and issues facing women veterans in the community.
18The Division shall review the Department's programs,
19activities, research projects, and other initiatives designed
20to meet the needs of women veterans and shall make
21recommendations to the Director of Veterans' Affairs
22concerning ways to improve, modify, and effect change in
23programs and services for women veterans.

 

 

HB1445 Engrossed- 2 -LRB097 06017 KTG 46088 b

1(Source: P.A. 96-94, eff. 7-27-09.)
 
2    (20 ILCS 2805/2)  (from Ch. 126 1/2, par. 67)
3    Sec. 2. Powers and duties. The Department shall have the
4following powers and duties:
5    To perform such acts at the request of any veteran, or his
6or her spouse, surviving spouse or dependents as shall be
7reasonably necessary or reasonably incident to obtaining or
8endeavoring to obtain for the requester any advantage, benefit
9or emolument accruing or due to such person under any law of
10the United States, the State of Illinois or any other state or
11governmental agency by reason of the service of such veteran,
12and in pursuance thereof shall:
13        (1) Contact veterans, their survivors and dependents
14    and advise them of the benefits of state and federal laws
15    and assist them in obtaining such benefits;
16        (2) Establish field offices and direct the activities
17    of the personnel assigned to such offices;
18        (3) Create a volunteer field force of accredited
19    representatives, representing educational institutions,
20    labor organizations, veterans organizations, employers,
21    churches, and farm organizations;
22        (4) Conduct informational and training services;
23        (5) Conduct educational programs through newspapers,
24    periodicals and radio for the specific purpose of
25    disseminating information affecting veterans and their

 

 

HB1445 Engrossed- 3 -LRB097 06017 KTG 46088 b

1    dependents;
2        (6) Coordinate the services and activities of all state
3    departments having services and resources affecting
4    veterans and their dependents;
5        (7) Encourage and assist in the coordination of
6    agencies within counties giving service to veterans and
7    their dependents;
8        (8) Cooperate with veterans organizations and other
9    governmental agencies;
10        (9) Make, alter, amend and promulgate reasonable rules
11    and procedures for the administration of this Act;
12        (10) Make and publish annual reports to the Governor
13    regarding the administration and general operation of the
14    Department;
15        (11) (Blank) Encourage the State to implement more
16    programs to address the wide range of issues faced by
17    Persian Gulf War Veterans, especially those who took part
18    in combat, by creating an official commission to further
19    study Persian Gulf War Diseases. The commission shall
20    consist of 9 members appointed as follows: the Speaker and
21    Minority Leader of the House of Representatives and the
22    President and Minority Leader of the Senate shall each
23    appoint one member from the General Assembly, the Governor
24    shall appoint 4 members to represent veterans'
25    organizations, and the Department shall appoint one
26    member. The commission members shall serve without

 

 

HB1445 Engrossed- 4 -LRB097 06017 KTG 46088 b

1    compensation; and
2        (12) Conduct an annual review of the benefits received
3    by Illinois veterans that compares benefits received by
4    Illinois veterans with the benefits received by veterans in
5    all other states and U.S. territories. The required annual
6    review shall include, but not be limited to, (1) the
7    average benefit paid to individual veterans from Illinois,
8    in direct comparison to the average benefit paid to
9    individual veterans of each of the other states and U.S.
10    territories; (2) the number of veterans receiving benefits
11    in Illinois for the first time during the year compared to
12    the number of claims filed by Illinois veterans during the
13    year; (3) the aggregate number of Illinois veterans
14    receiving benefits compared to the number of veterans from
15    each of the other states and U.S. territories receiving
16    benefits; and (4) a categorical analysis of the types of
17    injuries and disabilities for which benefits are being paid
18    in Illinois and each of the other states and U.S.
19    territories. The benefits review shall be reported to the
20    Governor, the General Assembly, and the Illinois
21    Congressional delegation upon the completion of the report
22    each year.
23    The Department may accept and hold on behalf of the State,
24if for the public interest, a grant, gift, devise or bequest of
25money or property to the Department made for the general
26benefit of Illinois veterans, including the conduct of

 

 

HB1445 Engrossed- 5 -LRB097 06017 KTG 46088 b

1informational and training services by the Department and other
2authorized purposes of the Department. The Department shall
3cause each grant, gift, devise or bequest to be kept as a
4distinct fund and shall invest such funds in the manner
5provided by the Public Funds Investment Act, as now or
6hereafter amended, and shall make such reports as may be
7required by the Comptroller concerning what funds are so held
8and the manner in which such funds are invested. The Department
9may make grants from these funds for the general benefit of
10Illinois veterans. Grants from these funds, except for the
11funds established under Sections 2.01a and 2.03, shall be
12subject to appropriation.
13    The Department has the power to make grants, from funds
14appropriated from the Korean War Veterans National Museum and
15Library Fund, to private organizations for the benefit of the
16Korean War Veterans National Museum and Library.
17    The Department has the power to make grants, from funds
18appropriated from the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund, for
19benefits authorized under the Survivors Compensation Act.
20(Source: P.A. 93-839, eff. 7-30-04; 94-167, eff. 1-1-06.)
 
21    (20 ILCS 2805/2.01)  (from Ch. 126 1/2, par. 67.01)
22    Sec. 2.01. Veterans Home admissions.
23    (a) Any honorably discharged veteran is entitled to
24admission to an Illinois Veterans Home if the applicant meets
25the requirements of this Section.

 

 

HB1445 Engrossed- 6 -LRB097 06017 KTG 46088 b

1    (b) The veteran must:
2        (1) have served in the armed forces of the United
3    States at least 1 day in World War II, the Korean Conflict,
4    the Viet Nam Campaign, or the Persian Gulf Conflict between
5    the dates recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans
6    Affairs or between any other present or future dates
7    recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as a
8    war period, or have served in a hostile fire environment
9    and has been awarded a campaign or expeditionary medal
10    signifying his or her service, for purposes of eligibility
11    for domiciliary or nursing home care;
12        (2) have served and been honorably discharged or
13    retired from the armed forces of the United States for a
14    service connected disability or injury, for purposes of
15    eligibility for domiciliary or nursing home care;
16        (3) have served as an enlisted person at least 90 days
17    on active duty in the armed forces of the United States,
18    excluding service on active duty for training purposes
19    only, and entered active duty before September 8, 1980, for
20    purposes of eligibility for domiciliary or nursing home
21    care;
22        (4) have served as an officer at least 90 days on
23    active duty in the armed forces of the United States,
24    excluding service on active duty for training purposes
25    only, and entered active duty before October 17, 1981, for
26    purposes of eligibility for domiciliary or nursing home

 

 

HB1445 Engrossed- 7 -LRB097 06017 KTG 46088 b

1    care;
2        (5) have served on active duty in the armed forces of
3    the United States for 24 months of continuous service or
4    more, excluding active duty for training purposes only, and
5    enlisted after September 7, 1980, for purposes of
6    eligibility for domiciliary or nursing home care;
7        (6) have served as a reservist in the armed forces of
8    the United States or the National Guard and the service
9    included being called to federal active duty, excluding
10    service on active duty for training purposes only, and who
11    completed the term, for purposes of eligibility for
12    domiciliary or nursing home care;
13        (7) have been discharged for reasons of hardship or
14    released from active duty due to a reduction in the United
15    States armed forces prior to the completion of the required
16    period of service, regardless of the actual time served,
17    for purposes of eligibility for domiciliary or nursing home
18    care; or
19        (8) have served in the National Guard or Reserve Forces
20    of the United States and completed 20 years of satisfactory
21    service, be otherwise eligible to receive reserve or active
22    duty retirement benefits, and have been an Illinois
23    resident for at least one year before applying for
24    admission for purposes of eligibility for domiciliary care
25    only.
26    (c) The veteran must have service accredited to the State

 

 

HB1445 Engrossed- 8 -LRB097 06017 KTG 46088 b

1of Illinois or have been a resident of this State for one year
2immediately preceding the date of application.
3    (d) For admission to the Illinois Veterans Homes at Anna
4and Quincy, the veteran must be disabled by disease, wounds, or
5otherwise and because of the disability be incapable of earning
6a living.
7    (e) For admission to the Illinois Veterans Homes at LaSalle
8and Manteno and for admission to the John Joseph Kelly
9Veteran's Home, the veteran must be disabled by disease,
10wounds, or otherwise and, for purposes of eligibility for
11nursing home care, require nursing care because of the
12disability.
13    (f) An individual who served during a time of conflict as
14set forth in subsection (a)(1) of this Section has preference
15over all other qualifying candidates, for purposes of
16eligibility for domiciliary or nursing home care at any
17Illinois Veterans Home.
18(Source: P.A. 94-588, eff. 8-15-05.)
 
19    (20 ILCS 2805/2.04)  (from Ch. 126 1/2, par. 67.04)
20    Sec. 2.04. There shall be established in the State Treasury
21special funds known as (i) the LaSalle Veterans Home Fund, (ii)
22the Anna Veterans Home Fund, (iii) the Manteno Veterans Home
23Fund, and (iv) the Quincy Veterans Home Fund, and (v) the John
24Joseph Kelly Home Fund. All moneys received by an Illinois
25Veterans Home from Medicare and from maintenance charges to

 

 

HB1445 Engrossed- 9 -LRB097 06017 KTG 46088 b

1veterans, spouses, and surviving spouses residing at that Home
2shall be paid into that Home's Fund. All moneys received from
3the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for patient care shall
4be transmitted to the Treasurer of the State for deposit in the
5Veterans Home Fund for the Home in which the veteran resides.
6Appropriations shall be made from a Fund only for the needs of
7the Home, including capital improvements, building
8rehabilitation, and repairs.
9    The administrator of each Veterans Home shall establish a
10locally-held member's benefits fund. Revenues accruing to an
11Illinois Veterans Home, including any donations, grants for the
12operation of the Home, profits from commissary stores, and
13funds received from any individual or other source, shall be
14deposited into that Home's benefits fund. Expenditures from the
15benefits funds shall be solely for the special comfort,
16pleasure, and amusement of residents. Contributors of
17unsolicited private donations may specify the purpose for which
18the private donations are to be used.
19    Upon request of the Department, the State's Attorney of the
20county in which a resident or living former resident of an
21Illinois Veterans Home who is liable under this Act for payment
22of sums representing maintenance charges resides shall file an
23action in a court of competent jurisdiction against any such
24person who fails or refuses to pay such sums. The court may
25order the payment of sums due to maintenance charges for such
26period or periods of time as the circumstances require.

 

 

HB1445 Engrossed- 10 -LRB097 06017 KTG 46088 b

1    Upon the death of a person who is or has been a resident of
2an Illinois Veterans Home who is liable for maintenance charges
3and who is possessed of property, the Department may present a
4claim for such sum or for the balance due in case less than the
5rate prescribed under this Act has been paid. The claim shall
6be allowed and paid as other lawful claims against the estate.
7    The administrator of each Veterans Home shall establish a
8locally-held trust fund to maintain moneys held for residents.
9Whenever the Department finds it necessary to preserve order,
10preserve health, or enforce discipline, the resident shall
11deposit in a trust account at the Home such monies from any
12source of income as may be determined necessary, and
13disbursement of these funds to the resident shall be made only
14by direction of the administrator.
15    If a resident of an Illinois Veterans Home has a dependent
16child, spouse, or parent the administrator may require that all
17monies received be deposited in a trust account with dependency
18contributions being made at the direction of the administrator.
19The balance retained in the trust account shall be disbursed to
20the resident at the time of discharge from the Home or to his
21or her heirs or legal representative at the time of the
22resident's death, subject to Department regulations or order of
23the court.
24    The Director of Central Management Services, with the
25consent of the Director of Veterans' Affairs, is authorized and
26empowered to lease or let any real property held by the

 

 

HB1445 Engrossed- 11 -LRB097 06017 KTG 46088 b

1Department of Veterans' Affairs for an Illinois Veterans Home
2to entities or persons upon terms and conditions which are
3considered to be in the best interest of that Home. The real
4property must not be needed for any direct or immediate purpose
5of the Home. In any leasing or letting, primary consideration
6shall be given to the use of real property for agricultural
7purposes, and all moneys received shall be transmitted to the
8Treasurer of the State for deposit in the appropriate Veterans
9Home Fund.
10(Source: P.A. 91-634, eff. 8-19-99; 92-671, eff. 7-16-02.)
 
11    (20 ILCS 2805/2.07)  (from Ch. 126 1/2, par. 67.07)
12    Sec. 2.07. The Department shall employ and maintain
13sufficient and qualified staff at the veterans' homes (i) to
14fill all beds, subject to appropriation, and (ii) to fulfill
15the requirements of this Act. The Department shall report to
16the General Assembly, by January 1 and July 1 of each year, the
17number of staff employed in providing direct patient care at
18their veterans' homes, the compliance or noncompliance with
19staffing standards established by the United States Department
20of Veterans Affairs for such care, and in the event of
21noncompliance with such standards, the number of staff required
22for compliance. For purposes of this Section, a nurse who has a
23license application pending with the State shall not be deemed
24unqualified by the Department if the nurse is in compliance
25with Section 50-15 of the Nurse Practice Act.

 

 

HB1445 Engrossed- 12 -LRB097 06017 KTG 46088 b

1    All contracts between the State and outside contractors to
2provide workers to staff and service the Anna Veterans Home
3shall be canceled in accordance with the terms of those
4contracts. Upon cancellation, each worker or staff member shall
5be offered certified employment status under the Illinois
6Personnel Code with the State of Illinois. To the extent it is
7reasonably practicable, the position offered to each person
8shall be at the same facility and shall consist of the same
9duties and hours as previously existed under the canceled
10contract or contracts.
11(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07; 95-639, eff. 10-5-07;
1295-876, eff. 8-21-08; 96-699, eff. 8-25-09.)
 
13    (20 ILCS 2805/7)
14    Sec. 7. Veterans' Memorial Commission. The Veterans'
15Memorial Commission is created within the Department. No later
16than July 1, 2012 the The Commission shall make recommendations
17to the Governor and the General Assembly on changes to the
18Illinois statutes to help ensure the long term maintenance and
19preservation of veterans' memorials. gather information on
20memorial preservation and management and advise State and local
21governments and other entities in the creation, custody, care,
22and upkeep of veterans' memorials. The Commission shall conduct
23studies and make reports regarding the various laws and rules
24affecting veteran's memorials to determine whether
25consolidation or other changes in the laws or rules are needed

 

 

HB1445 Engrossed- 13 -LRB097 06017 KTG 46088 b

1to facilitate memorial preservation and to raise awareness of
2issues affecting veterans' memorials. The Commission shall be
3composed of 13 12 members as follows: 2 members appointed by
4the President of the Senate, 2 members appointed by the
5Minority Leader of the Senate, 2 members appointed by the
6Speaker of the House of Representatives, 2 members appointed by
7the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, one
8representative of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and 3
9representatives of different veterans service organizations
10appointed by the Director of the Department, and one
11representative of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
12Members shall serve 2-year terms, without compensation. This
13Section shall be repealed on July 1, 2012.
14(Source: P.A. 94-448, eff. 8-4-05.)
 
15    (20 ILCS 2805/2d rep.)
16    (20 ILCS 2805/2e rep.)
17    (20 ILCS 2805/2f rep.)
18    (20 ILCS 2805/10 rep.)
19    (20 ILCS 2805/30 rep.)
20    Section 10. The Department of Veterans Affairs Act is
21amended by repealing Sections 2d, 2e, 2f, 10, and 30.
 
22    (30 ILCS 105/5.525 rep.)
23    Section 15. The State Finance Act is amended by repealing
24Section 5.525.