HB2656 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB100 08183 MJP 18279 b

100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
HB2656

Introduced , by Rep. Stephanie A. Kifowit

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 2805/2h new

Amends the Department of Veterans Affairs Act. Contains provisions concerning the establishment of various programs and services for the benefit of veterans including an educational success program for veterans experiencing specified difficulties in higher education; a family preparation course for the families of returning veterans; a transition program for returning veterans that reside in the State; a system that allows veterans to file a specified federal form immediately upon discharge; creation of an employer training program; and a standard statewide peer-to-peer training program to familiarize veterans with the veterans' services available at the local, State, and federal levels. Requires the Department of Veterans' Affairs to adopt any rules necessary to implement these provisions.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning State government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Department of Veterans Affairs Act is amended by adding Section 2h as follows:

(20 ILCS 2805/2h new)

Sec. 2h. Task Force on Veterans' Suicide recommendations. The provisions of this Section are based on the recommendations in the final report of the Task Force on Veterans' Suicide, published on December 30, 2016. The Department shall adopt any rules necessary to implement this Section.

(1) The Department shall collaborate with institutions of higher education to address environmental factors that could negatively impact a veteran's ability to learn in a traditional classroom setting. Such factors include, but are not limited to, expanding veterans' access to online learning; desk placement away from windows, crowded hallways, or orientation; grouping veterans together in a class; and veterans' only instructional periods. The Department, in coordination with institutions of higher education, shall provide proactive outreach as part of an educational success program for veterans experiencing difficulties in higher education due to undiagnosed mental health issues that prevent them from succeeding.

(2) The Department shall provide a family preparation course concerning the emotional cycle of deployment that is designed to help a family unit adjust to changes in discharged and returning veterans and inform the family members of where to go to seek assistance. This course shall be made available to the family of a veteran prior to the discharge and homecoming of the veteran.

(3) The Department shall reach out to the United States Department of Defense to obtain information on returning veterans and develop a transition program for returning veterans that reside in the State. The program developed under this paragraph shall include a veteran-to-veteran connection program and information on local organizations that provide resources or services for veterans that a veteran can access.

(4) The Department shall reach out to the United States Department of Defense in order to develop a system that allows veterans to file a federal DD Form 214 immediately upon discharge.

(5) The Department shall collaborate with chambers of commerce in the State to create an employer training program that focuses on the needs of employees that are veterans. The Department shall develop a program that identifies companies that are trained on the circumstances that are unique to veterans seeking employment and that support employees that are veterans.

(6) The Department, in collaboration with veterans' organizations in the State, shall establish a standard statewide peer-to-peer training program to familiarize veterans with the veterans' services available at the local, State, and federal levels.