97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
HB3270

 

Introduced 2/24/2011, by Rep. David Harris - Patricia R. Bellock - Jil Tracy - Richard Morthland

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
20 ILCS 2805/37 new
30 ILCS 105/5.786 new

    Amends the Department of Veterans Affairs Act and the State Finance Act. Requires the Department of Veterans' Affairs to establish and administer the Illinois Homeless Veterans Program to provide grants and per diems to facilities providing shelter and assistance to homeless persons who served as members of the Armed Forces of the United States, the Illinois National Guard, or any reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States, and who were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. Provides that the primary components of the program shall include advocacy for homeless veterans and increasing public awareness on the issue of homelessness among veterans and its root causes. Requires the Department to solicit federal and State funding, donations, and grants for the purpose of implementing the program. Creates the Illinois Homeless Veterans Program Fund as a special fund in the State Treasury for the purpose of implementing the program. Establishes the Homeless Veterans Service Coordinating Committee to discuss and research ways in which the veterans services provided by public and private agencies can be made more easily available and better focused to serve homeless veterans. Effective immediately.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

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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 adding Section 37 as follows:
 
6    (20 ILCS 2805/37 new)
7    Sec. 37. Illinois Homeless Veterans Program.
8    (a) The Department shall establish and administer the
9Illinois Homeless Veterans Program. The purpose of the program
10is to provide grants and per diems to facilities providing
11shelter and assistance to homeless persons who served as
12members of the Armed Forces of the United States, the Illinois
13National Guard, or any reserve component of the Armed Forces of
14the United States, and who were discharged under conditions
15other than dishonorable. The mission of the Illinois Homeless
16Veterans Program shall be to work toward the elimination of
17homelessness and the prevention of the threat of homelessness
18and its causes in the State's veteran population. The primary
19components of the program shall be:
20        (1) Advocacy and public awareness. The program shall be
21    an advocate for homeless veterans, and work to increase
22    public awareness on the issue of homelessness among
23    veterans and its root causes. The program shall advocate

 

 

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1    legislation and policies on the local, State, and national
2    level to address these issues.
3        (2) Information services. The program shall monitor
4    and research issues relating to homeless veterans and
5    disseminate information and opportunities throughout its
6    network.
7        (3) Technical assistance. The program, through
8    conferences and training workshops with federal and State
9    agencies, shall provide guidance and direction in applying
10    for grants and benefits for homeless veterans. The program
11    shall provide peer-to-peer consulting and on-site
12    technical support.
13        (4) Facilities. The program, through grants and other
14    sources of funding, shall provide facilities as
15    appropriate in support of the program.
16    (b) The Department shall solicit federal and State funding,
17donations, and grants for the purpose of implementing the
18program established under this Section.
19    (c) The Illinois Homeless Veterans Program Fund is created
20as a special fund in the State Treasury for the purpose of
21implementing the Illinois Homeless Veterans Program. All
22monies received pursuant to this Section shall be deposited
23into the Illinois Homeless Veterans Program Fund. Funding for
24the program shall be used to develop a statewide network of:
25        (1) Veterans services that provide treatment for
26    addictions, including but not limited to alcohol, drug use,

 

 

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1    and gambling.
2        (2) Veterans services that lead to permanent housing.
3        (3) Veterans services that lead to employment.
4        (4) Concerned citizens and non-profit agencies that
5    provide shelter to homeless veterans.
6    (d) A Homeless Veterans Service Coordinating Committee
7shall be established. The committee's membership shall be
8comprised of representatives of public and private agencies who
9provide services that may be used by homeless veterans. The
10Director of the Department shall designate the agencies
11represented on the committee. The committee shall discuss and
12research ways in which veterans services provided by public and
13private agencies can be made more easily available and better
14focused to serve homeless veterans.
 
15    Section 10. The State Finance Act is amended by adding
16Section 5.786 as follows:
 
17    (30 ILCS 105/5.786 new)
18    Sec. 5.786. The Illinois Homeless Veterans Program Fund.
 
19    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
20becoming law.