Public Act 102-0417
 
HB1815 EnrolledLRB102 11699 RAM 17033 b

    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 changing Section 38 as follows:
 
    (20 ILCS 2805/38)
    (Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2021)
    Sec. 38. Veterans' Service-Related Ailments Task Force.
    (a) The Veterans' Service-Related Ailments Task Force is
created. The Task Force shall review and make recommendations
regarding veterans' service-related ailments that are not
recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs,
including exploring why certain service-related ailments are
not recognized and determining what may be done to have them
recognized.
    Additionally, the Task Force shall assess ways the State
of Illinois can improve the rate at which disability
compensation claims are approved by the federal government and
correct the disparity between the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs' approval of disability compensation for Illinois
veterans and that which is approved for veterans in other
states.
    (b) The Task Force shall have 15 members, comprised as
follows:
        (1) The Director of Veterans' Affairs or the
    Director's designee, who shall serve as chairperson.
        (2) 2 Members from the House of Representatives,
    appointed one each by the Speaker of the House and the
    House Minority Leader.
        (3) 2 Members of the Senate, appointed one each by the
    President of the Senate and the Senate Minority Leader.
        (4) One veteran, appointed by the Director of
    Veterans' Affairs.
        (5) One medical professional with experience working
    with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, appointed by
    the Director of Veterans' Affairs.
        (6) 4 representatives from a variety of veterans
    organizations representing geographic diversity in the
    State, appointed by the Director of Veterans' Affairs.
        (7) 4 members, one of whom shall be appointed by the
    chair of the Veterans' Affairs Committee of the House of
    Representatives, one of whom shall be appointed by the
    minority spokesperson of the Veterans' Affairs Committee
    of the House of Representatives, one of whom shall be
    appointed by the chair of the Veterans Affairs Committee
    of the Senate, and one of whom shall be appointed by the
    minority spokesperson of the Veterans Affairs Committee of
    the Senate. Those appointed to the Task Force under this
    paragraph shall be members of different Illinois counties'
    Veterans Assistance Commissions, Veteran Service Officers,
    and VITAS officials.
    Task Force members shall serve without compensation but
may be reimbursed for their expenses incurred in performing
their duties.
    (c) The Task Force shall meet at least once every 2 months
beginning on or before July 1, 2021 2019, and at other times as
determined by the Task Force. Task Force members shall select
from amongst themselves a chairperson or co-chairpersons at
the initial Task Force meeting.
    (d) The Department of Veterans' Affairs shall provide
administrative and other support to the Task Force.
    (e) The Task Force shall prepare a report that summarizes
its work and makes recommendations resulting from its study.
The Task Force shall submit the report of its findings and
recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by
December 31, 2022 2020. The Task Force is dissolved, and this
Section is repealed, on December 31, 2023 2021.
(Source: P.A. 101-225, eff. 8-9-19.)
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.