HB3961 EngrossedLRB101 14766 KTG 64068 b


  
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 changing Section 38 as follows:
 
6    (20 ILCS 2805/38)
7    (Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2021)
8    Sec. 38. Veterans' Service-Related Ailments Task Force.
9    (a) The Veterans' Service-Related Ailments Task Force is 
10created. The Task Force shall review and make recommendations 
11regarding veterans' service-related ailments that are not 
12recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 
13including exploring why certain service-related ailments are 
14not recognized and determining what may be done to have them 
15recognized.
16    Additionally, the Task Force shall assess ways the State of 
17Illinois can improve the rate at which disability compensation 
18claims are approved by the federal government and correct the 
19disparity between the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' 
20approval of disability compensation for Illinois veterans and 
21that which is approved for veterans in other states.
22    (b) The Task Force shall have 15 members, comprised as 
23follows:
 
 
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1        (1) The Director of Veterans' Affairs or the Director's 
2    designee, who shall serve as chairperson.
3        (2) 2 Members from the House of Representatives, 
4    appointed one each by the Speaker of the House and the 
5    House Minority Leader.
6        (3) 2 Members of the Senate, appointed one each by the 
7    President of the Senate and the Senate Minority Leader.
8        (4) One veteran, appointed by the Director of Veterans' 
9    Affairs.
10        (5) One medical professional with experience working 
11    with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, appointed by 
12    the Director of Veterans' Affairs.
13        (6) 4 representatives from a variety of veterans 
14    organizations representing geographic diversity in the 
15    State, appointed by the Director of Veterans' Affairs.
16        (7) 4 members, one of whom shall be appointed by the 
17    chair of the Veterans' Affairs Committee of the House of 
18    Representatives, one of whom shall be appointed by the 
19    minority spokesperson of the Veterans' Affairs Committee 
20    of the House of Representatives, one of whom shall be 
21    appointed by the chair of the Veterans Affairs Committee of 
22    the Senate, and one of whom shall be appointed by the 
23    minority spokesperson of the Veterans Affairs Committee of 
24    the Senate. Those appointed to the Task Force under this 
25    paragraph shall be members of different Illinois counties' 
26    Veterans Assistance Commissions, Veteran Service Officers, 
 
 
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1    and VITAS officials.
2    Task Force members shall serve without compensation but
may 
3be reimbursed for their expenses incurred in performing their 
4duties.
5    (c) The Task Force shall meet at least once every 2 months 
6beginning on or before June 1, 2020 July 1, 2019, and at other 
7times as determined by the Task Force. Task Force members shall 
8select from amongst themselves a chairperson or 
9co-chairpersons at the initial Task Force meeting. 
10    (d) The Department of Veterans' Affairs shall provide 
11administrative and other support to the Task Force.
12    (e) The Task Force shall prepare a report that summarizes 
13its work and makes recommendations resulting from its study. 
14The Task Force shall submit the report of its findings and 
15recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by 
16December 31, 2020. The Task Force is dissolved, and this 
17Section is repealed, on December 31, 2021. 

18(Source: P.A. 101-225, eff. 8-9-19.)
  
 
19    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
20becoming law.