97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
HB3315

 

Introduced 2/24/2011, by Rep. Rosemary Mulligan

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
20 ILCS 2805/33 new

    Amends the Department of Veterans Affairs Act. Creates the Returning Veterans Task Force consisting of members from specified veterans' organizations to develop a plan to coordinate efforts to open doors for returning veterans who have sacrificed for our nation. Contains provisions regarding: the composition of the Task Force; vacancies; duties; compensation; reporting requirements; and duration. Effective immediately.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

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1    AN ACT concerning State government.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Department of Veterans Affairs Act is
5amended by adding Section 33 as follows:
 
6    (20 ILCS 2805/33 new)
7    Sec. 33. Returning Veterans Task Force.
8    (a) Findings and purpose. Frequently, returning veterans
9are unaware of critical services provided by veterans'
10organizations. Veterans' organizations formed immediately
11after World War I and those formed more recently have little
12contact or coordination in supplying information to returning
13veterans about services provided. This often leads to confusion
14among returning veterans. The purpose of this Section is to
15create a task force consisting of members from each of the
16major federally recognized veterans' organizations to develop
17a plan to coordinate efforts to open doors for returning
18veterans who have sacrificed for our nation.
19    (b) Composition of Task Force. The Returning Veterans Task
20Force is created within the Department of Veterans' Affairs.
21The Task Force shall include the following members:
22        (1) A representative of the Illinois Department of
23    Veterans' Affairs, who shall chair the Task Force.

 

 

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1        (2) A representative from the Illinois Department of
2    Military Affairs.
3        (3) A member of the General Assembly appointed by the
4    Speaker of the House of Representatives.
5        (4) A member of the General Assembly appointed by the
6    Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.
7        (5) A member of the General Assembly appointed by the
8    President of the Senate.
9        (6) A member of the General Assembly appointed by the
10    Minority Leader of the Senate.
11        (7) A member of the Illinois Veterans of Foreign Wars.
12        (8) A member of the Illinois American Legion.
13        (9) A member of the Illinois Chapter of AMVETS.
14        (10) A member of the Disabled American Veterans.
15        (11) A member of the Korean War Veterans Association.
16        (12) A member of the Paralyzed Veterans of America.
17        (13) A member of the Vietnam Veterans of America.
18    A representative of the United States Department of
19Veterans Affairs shall be invited to participate.
20    (c) Vacancies. Vacancies in the Task Force shall be filled
21by the initial appointing authority.
22    (d) Compensation. Task Force members shall serve without
23compensation, but may be reimbursed for necessary expenses
24incurred in performing duties associated with the Task Force.
25    (e) Duties. The Task Force shall:
26        (1) Investigate ways and means by which to coordinate

 

 

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1    efforts to open doors for returning veterans who have
2    sacrificed for our nation, and shall develop a plan based
3    on these findings.
4        (2) Identify returning veterans that have lost limbs
5    while in military service.
6        (3) Identify the number of veterans requiring a
7    prescription for a prosthesis and identify those veterans
8    who decide not to pursue a prosthesis.
9        (4) Ensure that veterans are aware of the process for
10    obtaining a prescription for a prosthesis from the
11    Department of Veterans' Affairs.
12        (5) Track the time it takes to obtain a prosthesis
13    under the current process and identify problems
14    experienced by Illinois veterans in obtaining a
15    prosthesis.
16        (6) Track federal funding available for prosthesis
17    items.
18        (7) Identify trends with respect to replacement
19    prosthesis (life expectancy of original prosthesis) and
20    innovations and technologies that improve existing
21    prosthesis items.
22    (f) Reporting. By July 1, 2012 and by July 1 of each year
23thereafter, the Task Force shall present its plan and an annual
24report of its findings to the Governor, the General Assembly,
25the Director of Veterans' Affairs, and the Secretary of the
26United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

 

 

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1    (g) Duration. If the Task Force becomes inactive on July 1,
22016 because active theaters cease, the Director of Veterans'
3Affairs may reactivate the Task Force if active theaters are
4reestablished.
 
5    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
6becoming law.