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| Public Act 100-0084 | ||||
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AN ACT concerning State government.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 5. The Department of Veterans Affairs Act is | ||||
amended by changing Section 2 as follows:
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(20 ILCS 2805/2) (from Ch. 126 1/2, par. 67)
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Sec. 2. Powers and duties. The Department shall have the | ||||
following
powers and duties:
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To perform such acts at the request of any veteran, or his | ||||
or her spouse,
surviving spouse or dependents as shall be | ||||
reasonably necessary
or reasonably incident to obtaining or | ||||
endeavoring to obtain for the requester
any advantage, benefit | ||||
or emolument accruing or due to such person under
any law of | ||||
the United States, the State of Illinois or any other state or
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governmental agency by reason of the service of such veteran, | ||||
and in pursuance
thereof shall:
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(1) Contact veterans, their survivors and dependents | ||||
and advise them of
the benefits of state and federal laws | ||||
and assist them in obtaining such
benefits;
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(2) Establish field offices and direct the activities | ||||
of the personnel
assigned to such offices;
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(3) Create and maintain a volunteer field force; the | ||||
volunteer field force may include representatives from the | ||||
following without limitation: educational institutions, | ||
labor organizations, veterans
organizations, employers, | ||
churches, and farm organizations; the volunteer field | ||
force may not process federal veterans assistance claims;
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(4) Conduct informational and training services;
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(5) Conduct educational programs through newspapers, | ||
periodicals, social media, television, and radio
for the | ||
specific purpose of disseminating information affecting | ||
veterans
and their dependents;
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(6) Coordinate the services and activities of all state | ||
departments having
services and resources affecting | ||
veterans and their dependents;
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(7) Encourage and assist in the coordination of | ||
agencies within counties
giving service to veterans and | ||
their dependents;
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(8) Cooperate with veterans organizations and other | ||
governmental agencies;
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(9) Make, alter, amend and promulgate reasonable rules | ||
and procedures for
the administration of this Act;
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(10) Make and publish annual reports to the Governor | ||
regarding the
administration and general operation of the | ||
Department;
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(11) (Blank); and | ||
(12) (Blank); and . | ||
(13) Provide informational resources and education to | ||
veterans returning from deployment regarding service | ||
animals for individuals with disabilities, including, but | ||
not limited to, resources and education on service animals | ||
that guide people who are blind, pull a wheelchair, alert a | ||
person with hearing loss, protect a person having a | ||
seizure, assist a person with a traumatic brain injury, and | ||
calm a person with post-traumatic stress disorder during an | ||
anxiety attack or psychiatric episode.
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The Department may accept and hold on behalf of the State, | ||
if for the
public interest, a grant, gift, devise or bequest of | ||
money or property to
the Department made for the general | ||
benefit of Illinois veterans,
including the conduct of | ||
informational and training services by the Department
and other | ||
authorized purposes of the Department. The Department shall | ||
cause
each grant, gift, devise or bequest to be kept as a | ||
distinct fund and shall
invest such funds in the manner | ||
provided by the Public Funds Investment Act, as
now or | ||
hereafter amended, and shall make such reports as may
be | ||
required by the Comptroller concerning what funds are so held | ||
and
the manner in which such funds are invested.
The Department | ||
may make grants from these funds for the general benefit of
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Illinois veterans. Grants from these funds, except for the | ||
funds established
under Sections 2.01a and 2.03, shall be | ||
subject to appropriation.
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The Department has the power to make grants, from funds | ||
appropriated from the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund, for | ||
benefits authorized under the Survivors Compensation Act. | ||
(Source: P.A. 99-314, eff. 8-7-15; 99-576, eff. 7-15-16.)
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