99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2015 and 2016
HB3686
 
Introduced , by Rep. Litesa E. Wallace
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 

 
New Act

     Creates the Veterans' and Military Discount Card Program Act. Provides that the Department of Veterans' Affairs shall establish and administer a Veterans' and Military Discount Card Program to issue a Veterans' and Military Discount Card to eligible active duty
service members and veterans in the State for use at participating merchants who agree to honor the Veterans' and Military Discount Card by providing cardholders with a discount on goods and services, or another appropriate money-saving promotion of a merchant's choice. Provides that the Department shall use DD-214 military discharge records in conjunction with photo identification such as a driver's license, State ID card, federal military or Veterans Affairs ID, or passport to issue the Veterans' and Military Discount Card to eligible veterans; and that in the case of active duty service members, a valid military ID or other official government identification that denotes active duty service, and photo ID if needed, shall be used to determine eligibility. Requires the Department to develop and implement an outreach program to ensure that active duty service members and veterans in the State are made aware of the Veterans' and Military Discount Card Program and permits the Secretary of State to also assist in promoting and disseminating information on the Program. Grants the Department of Veterans' Affairs rulemaking authority. Effective immediately.
  


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
 
 
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 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the 
5Veterans' and Military Discount Card Program Act.
 
6    Section 5. Legislative findings.  The General Assembly 
7finds that though there is no way to adequately repay our 
8nation's military personnel for their service and sacrifice, we 
9can demonstrate our gratitude by forging a collaborative effort 
10between businesses and government that will connect veterans 
11and active duty service members with merchants who choose to 
12honor their military service through special discounts and 
13promotions.
14    The Veterans' and Military Discount Card Program, created 
15under this Act, will provide veterans (those honorably 
16discharged and other veterans generally discharged for reasons 
17other than discipline, misconduct, resignation in lieu of 
18misconduct charges, unfitness for duty, voluntary resignation, 
19or court martial) and military personnel currently serving our 
20country with discount cards that can be used at participating 
21merchants throughout the State of Illinois who agree to honor 
22the Veterans' and Military Discount Card by providing 
23cardholders with a discount on goods and services, or another 
 
 
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1appropriate money-saving promotion of a merchant's choice.
2    The Veterans' and Military Discount Card Program will be 
3mutually beneficial, helping active duty service members and 
4veterans in the State save money with discounts on goods and 
5services, and helping business owners to enjoy increased 
6traffic and sales in their stores.
 
7    Section 10. Veterans' and Military Discount Card Program. 
8The Department of Veterans' Affairs shall establish and 
9administer a Veterans' and Military Discount Card Program. The 
10Department shall issue a Veterans' and Military Discount Card 
11to eligible active duty
service members and veterans in the 
12State for use at participating merchants who agree to honor the 
13Veterans' and Military Discount Card by providing cardholders 
14with a discount on goods and services, or another appropriate 
15money-saving promotion of a merchant's choice. The Department 
16shall use DD-214 military discharge records in conjunction with 
17photo identification such as a driver's license, State ID card, 
18federal military or Veterans Affairs ID, or passport to issue 
19the Veterans' and Military Discount Card to eligible veterans; 
20in the case of active duty service members, a valid military ID 
21or other official government identification that denotes 
22active duty service, and photo ID if needed, shall be used to 
23determine eligibility.
 
24    Section 15. Outreach program. The Department shall develop 
 
 
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1and implement an outreach program to ensure that active duty 
2service members and veterans in the State are made aware of the 
3Veterans' and Military Discount Card Program. The Secretary of 
4State may also assist in promoting and disseminating 
5information on the Program.
 
6    Section 20. Rules. The Department of Veterans' Affairs 
7shall adopt any rules necessary to implement this Act.
 
 
8    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
9becoming law.