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| Public Act 102-0695 | ||||
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AN ACT concerning military service.
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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 adding Section 39 as follows: | ||||
(20 ILCS 2805/39 new) | ||||
Sec. 39. Veterans' Accountability Unit. | ||||
(a) The Department shall create a Veterans' Accountability | ||||
Unit which shall receive complaints and recommendations from: | ||||
(i) veterans and other Illinois residents who seek services | ||||
from the Department; (ii) residents of Veterans' Homes, their | ||||
families, and visitors; (iii) vendors and contractors of the | ||||
Department; and (iv) staff of the Department. | ||||
(b) The Governor shall appoint, and the Senate shall | ||||
confirm, the Director of the Veterans' Accountability Unit. | ||||
The Director shall be appointed for a term of 4 years. | ||||
(c) The Director of the Veterans' Accountability Unit | ||||
shall ensure that the Unit maintains regular office hours and | ||||
establishes both a toll-free helpline and a dedicated | ||||
electronic mail address for the purpose of accepting | ||||
complaints, information, and recommendations. The Director | ||||
shall provide a reasonable means for receiving complaints | ||||
outside of office hours. | ||||
(d) The Veterans' Accountability Unit shall function | ||
independently of the Department. The salary and benefits of | ||
the Director of the Veterans' Accountability Unit and any | ||
other staff of the Unit, as deemed necessary by the Director, | ||
along with all other expenses of the Unit shall be paid from | ||
appropriations to the Department. | ||
(e) The Director and staff of the Veterans' Accountability | ||
Unit shall have the authority to access the offices or | ||
facilities of the Department and the Veterans' Homes and shall | ||
have access to all information, documents, and personnel of | ||
the Department as needed to perform the duties of the | ||
Veterans' Accountability Unit. It is the duty of every | ||
employee of the Department to cooperate with the Veterans' | ||
Accountability Unit. The Department shall provide the staff of | ||
the Veterans' Accountability Unit with physical space in each | ||
Department office and in each Veterans' Home to conduct | ||
confidential business as needed to perform the work of the | ||
Veterans' Accountability Unit. | ||
(f) The Veterans' Accountability Unit shall ensure all | ||
complaints, allegations, or incidents of possible misconduct, | ||
misfeasance, malfeasance, or violations of rules, procedures, | ||
or laws by any employee, service provider, or contractor of | ||
the Department are reported to the Office of Executive | ||
Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor. | ||
(g) The Office of Executive Inspector General for the | ||
Agencies of the Illinois Governor shall assess the complaints, | ||
allegations, and incidents and shall determine whether to (i) | ||
investigate, (ii) refer to the appropriate agency, (iii) refer | ||
to any appropriate law enforcement agency, (iv) request a | ||
response from the Department to the complaint, allegations, or | ||
incident, or (v) refer to the Veterans' Accountability Unit to | ||
conduct further inquiry or review if necessary. | ||
(h) The Director of the Veterans' Accountability Unit may | ||
recommend changes to the Director of Veterans' Affairs | ||
concerning Department policies or practices based upon | ||
information learned or observations made by the Veterans' | ||
Accountability Unit staff during the course of its duties. The | ||
Director of the Veterans' Accountability Unit shall meet | ||
regularly with the Office of Executive Inspector General for | ||
the Agencies of the Illinois Governor to report this | ||
information to allow the Office to determine whether further | ||
investigation is necessary. | ||
(i) The Veterans' Accountability Unit shall create an | ||
annual report that includes a summary of the complaints | ||
received and actions taken in response. This report shall not | ||
include any referrals to the Office of Executive Inspector | ||
General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor that result | ||
in an investigation. The summaries shall not contain any | ||
confidential or identifying information concerning the | ||
subjects or complainants of the reports and investigations. | ||
(j) Nothing in this Section shall limit investigations by | ||
the Department of Veterans' Affairs that may otherwise be
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required by law or that may be necessary in that Department's
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capacity as the central administrative authority on matters
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concerning services to veterans, their survivors, and
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dependents.
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