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| Public Act 096-0699 |
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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 Sections 2.07 and 25 as follows:
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(20 ILCS 2805/2.07) (from Ch. 126 1/2, par. 67.07)
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Sec. 2.07. The Department shall employ and maintain | ||||
sufficient and
qualified staff at the veterans' homes (i) to | ||||
fill all beds, subject to appropriation, and (ii) to
fulfill | ||||
the requirements of this Act. The Department shall report to
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the General Assembly, by January 1 and July 1 of each year, the | ||||
number of
staff employed in providing direct patient care at | ||||
their veterans' homes,
the compliance or noncompliance with | ||||
staffing standards established by the
United States Department | ||||
of Veterans Affairs for
such care, and in the event of
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noncompliance with such standards, the number of staff required | ||||
for compliance. For purposes of this Section, a nurse who has a | ||||
license application pending with the State shall not be deemed | ||||
unqualified by the Department if the nurse is in compliance | ||||
with Section 50-15 of the Nurse Practice Act.
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All contracts between the State and outside contractors to | ||||
provide workers
to
staff and service
the Anna
Veterans Home | ||||
shall be canceled in accordance with the terms of those
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contracts. Upon
cancellation, each
worker or staff member shall | ||
be offered certified employment status under the
Illinois
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Personnel Code with the State of Illinois.
To the extent it is | ||
reasonably practicable, the position offered to each person
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shall be at the
same facility and
shall
consist of the same | ||
duties and hours as previously existed under the
canceled
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contract or contracts.
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(Source: P.A. 94-703, eff. 6-1-06; 95-331, eff. 8-21-07; | ||
95-639, eff. 10-5-07; 95-876, eff. 8-21-08.)
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(20 ILCS 2805/25)
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Sec. 25. Payments to veterans service organizations. | ||
(a) In this Section:
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"Veterans service officer" means an individual employed by | ||
a veterans service
organization and accredited by the United | ||
States Department of Veterans Affairs
to
process claims and | ||
other benefits for veterans and their spouses
and
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beneficiaries.
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"Veterans service organization" means an organization that | ||
meets all of the
following criteria:
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(1) It is formed by and for United States military | ||
veterans.
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(2) It is chartered by the United States Congress and | ||
incorporated in the
State of Illinois.
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(3) It maintained a state headquarters office in | ||
Illinois for the 10-year period immediately preceding July | ||
1, 2006.
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(4) It maintains at least one office in this State | ||
staffed by a veterans
service officer.
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(5) It is capable of preparing a power of attorney for | ||
a veteran and processing claims for veterans services.
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(6) It is not funded by the State of Illinois or by any | ||
county in this State.
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"Veterans services" means the representation of veterans | ||
in federal hearings to secure benefits for veterans and their | ||
spouses and beneficiaries:
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(1) Disability compensation benefits.
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(2) Disability pension benefits.
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(3) Dependents' indemnity compensation.
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(4) Widow's death pension.
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(5) Burial benefits.
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(6) Confirmed and continued claims.
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(7) Vocational rehabilitation and education.
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(8) Waivers of indebtedness.
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(9) Miscellaneous.
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(b) The Veterans Service Organization Reimbursement Fund | ||
is created as a special fund in the State treasury. Subject to | ||
appropriation, the Department shall use moneys appropriated | ||
from the Fund to make payments to a veterans service | ||
organization for
veterans
services rendered on behalf of | ||
veterans and their spouses and beneficiaries by
a veterans
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service officer employed by the organization. The payment shall | ||
be
computed at
the rate of $0.010 for each dollar of benefits | ||
obtained for veterans or their
spouses or
beneficiaries | ||
residing in Illinois as a result of the efforts of the veterans
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service officer.
There shall be no payment under this Section | ||
for the value of health care
received
in a health care facility | ||
under the jurisdiction of the United States Veterans
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Administration. No more than 10% of the moneys in the fund may | ||
be used by the Department for administrative purposes. A | ||
veterans service organization may receive compensation under | ||
this Fund or it may apply for grants from the Illinois Veterans | ||
Assistance Fund, but in no event may a veterans service | ||
organization receive moneys from both funds during the same | ||
fiscal year. Funding for each applicant is subject to renewal | ||
by the Department on an annual basis.
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(c) To be eligible for a payment under this Section, a | ||
veterans service
organization must document the amount of new | ||
moneys obtained for veterans and their
spouses and | ||
beneficiaries in the form and manner required by the | ||
Department.
The
documentation must include the submission to | ||
the Department of a copy of the
organization's report or | ||
reports to the United States Department of Veterans
Affairs
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stating the amount of new moneys obtained by the organization | ||
for veterans and
their spouses
and beneficiaries in the quarter | ||
State fiscal year for which payment under this
Section is
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requested. The organization must submit the copy of the report | ||
or reports, and any other documentation required by the | ||
Department, to
the
Department no later than 15 days July 31 | ||
following the end of the quarter State fiscal year for
which
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payment is requested.
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(d) In addition to the requirement of subsection (b) that | ||
the Department use moneys appropriated from the Veterans | ||
Service Organization Reimbursement Fund for payments, the | ||
Department may transfer up to $1,000,000 of those appropriated | ||
moneys into the Illinois Veterans Assistance Fund for the | ||
making of grants to veterans service organizations as described | ||
in subsection (b). The Department shall make the payment under | ||
this Section to a
veterans
service organization in a single | ||
annual payment for each State fiscal year,
beginning with
the | ||
State fiscal year that begins on July 1, 2007. The Department | ||
must make the
payment
for a State fiscal year on or before | ||
December 31 of the succeeding State fiscal
year.
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(e) A veterans service organization shall use moneys | ||
received
under this Section only for the purpose of paying the | ||
salary and expenses of
one or more
veterans service officers | ||
and the organization's related expenses incurred in
employing
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the officer or officers for the processing of claims and other
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benefits for
veterans and their spouses and beneficiaries.
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(Source: P.A. 95-629, eff. 9-25-07; 95-876, eff. 8-21-08.)
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Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, | ||
2009.
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