104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB1059
 
Introduced 1/9/2025, by Rep. Dave Vella
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
330 ILCS 45/1  from Ch. 23, par. 3081
    Amends the Military Veterans Assistance Act. Defines "veteran" to mean any person who (i) served on active duty in the armed forces for at least 90 days and whose last discharge or release was under conditions other than dishonorable; or (ii) served on active duty, to include active duty solely for training purposes, in the armed forces, and was awarded a service-connected disability or who died in such service under conditions other than dishonorable; or (iii) served in the National Guard or as a reservist in any branch of the armed forces, including active duty solely for training purposes, and was awarded a service-connected disability or who died in such service under conditions other than dishonorable; or (iv) is determined to be a veteran according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; provided, that in any case, the service of such person qualified under items (i) through (iv) was entered into or served in Illinois, or such person has resided in the State for one day, except for the purpose of determining the residential eligibility of a deceased veteran's dependents.


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A BILL FOR
 
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1    AN ACT concerning veterans.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Military Veterans Assistance Act is amended 
5by changing Section 1 as follows:
 
6    (330 ILCS 45/1)  (from Ch. 23, par. 3081)
7    Sec. 1. Definitions. As used in this Act:
8    "Veteran" means any person who (i) served on active duty 
9in the armed forces for at least 90 days and whose last 
10discharge or release was under conditions other than 
11dishonorable; or (ii) served on active duty, to include active 
12duty solely for training purposes, in the armed forces, and 
13was awarded a service-connected disability or who died in such 
14service under conditions other than dishonorable; or (iii) 
15served in the National Guard or as a reservist in any branch of 
16the armed forces, including active duty solely for training 
17purposes, and was awarded a service-connected disability or 
18who died in such service under conditions other than 
19dishonorable; or (iv) is determined to be a veteran according 
20to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; provided, that in 
21any case, the service of such person qualified under items (i) 
22through (iv) was entered into or served in Illinois, or such 
23person has resided in the State for one day, except for the 
 
 
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1purpose of determining the residential eligibility of a 
2deceased veteran's dependents. 
3    "Veteran service organization" means a post, ship, camp, 
4chapter, or detachment of a congressionally chartered or state 
5chartered organization that (i) is formed by and for veterans, 
6(ii) has a paid membership of at least 15 individuals, and 
7(iii) provides responsible aid, assistance, or services to the 
8veteran community. 
9    "Administrator of military veterans assistance" means the 
10commanders of the various veteran service organizations, the 
11superintendent of a County Veterans Assistance Commission, or 
12other persons whose duty it is, under the existing statutes, 
13to care for, relieve or maintain, wholly or in part, any person 
14who may be entitled to such assistance under the statutes of 
15the State of Illinois. This Act shall not infringe upon the 
16mandated powers and authorities vested in the Illinois 
17Department of Veterans' Affairs.
18(Source: P.A. 102-732, eff. 1-1-23; 102-1132, eff. 2-10-23.)