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| Public Act 101-0225 | ||||
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AN ACT concerning government.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, | ||||
represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 5. The Department of Veterans' Affairs Act is | ||||
amended by adding Section 38 as follows: | ||||
(20 ILCS 2805/38 new) | ||||
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 July 1, 2019, and at other times as determined by the | ||
Task Force. | ||
(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, 2020. The Task Force is dissolved, and this | ||
Section is repealed, on December 31, 2021.
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Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon | ||
becoming law.
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