SB2411 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB095 18579 HLH 44665 b

95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008
SB2411

Introduced 2/14/2008, by Sen. Deanna Demuzio

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 2805/30 new

Amends the Department of Veterans Affairs Act. Creates the Task Force on Servicemember and Veterans Education. Sets forth the membership of the Task Force and the duties of the Task Force.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning State government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Department of Veterans Affairs Act is amended by adding Section 30 as follows:

(20 ILCS 2805/30 new)

Sec. 30. Task Force on Servicemember and Veterans Education.

(a) The Task Force on Servicemember and Veterans Education is created. The Task Force shall be chaired by the Lieutenant Governor and shall consist of the following members:

(1) one member appointed by the Governor;

(2) one member appointed by the President of the Senate;

(3) one member appointed by the Senate Minority Leader;

(4) one member appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(5) one member appointed by the House Minority Leader;

(6) one member appointed by the Director of Veterans' Affairs; and

(7) one member designated by the Department of Military Affairs, appointed by the Adjutant General. Vacancies in the Task Force shall be filled by the initial appointing authority. Task Force members shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed from appropriations available for that purpose for necessary expenses incurred in performing duties associated with the Task Force.

Within 60 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly, the Task Force must issue a report to the General Assembly, including draft legislative language and draft administrative rules, designed to do the following:

(1) assist public universities and community colleges throughout the State in developing an Internet-based curriculum of higher education courses for credit, tailored specifically to the needs of active duty servicemembers and veterans of the United States Armed Forces, with a particular emphasis on addressing the unique needs of servicemembers who are stationed abroad; and

(2) create on-campus veterans' centers at each public university and community college within the State to assist veterans in applying for financial aid and other benefits that may be available to them; on-campus centers shall be staffed by veterans and those intimately familiar with the needs and concerns of veterans.