HB2628 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB102 14022 KTG 19374 b

102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB2628

Introduced 2/19/2021, by Rep. Stephanie A. Kifowit

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Veterans Suicide Prevention Commission Act. Creates the Veterans Suicide Prevention Commission. Provides that the Commission's purpose is to: (i) drive the State's strategic vision for assessing and achieving the successful transition, adjustment, and reintegration of service members of the armed forces, veterans, and their families through the coordination of the collective efforts of public and private organizations throughout the State; (ii) facilitate, collaborate, and coordinate the efforts of these organizations to effectively and responsively meet the needs of the military community; (iii) conduct planning, research, education, training, and evaluation activities to improve the operations and coordination of the systems of care and support; and (iv) coordinate its activities with those of Illinois Joining Forces and other advocacy organizations for service members of the armed forces, veterans, and their families. Contains provisions concerning the Commission's composition; term appointments; meetings; and other matters. Provides that the duties of the Commission are to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of those State programs and services related to the military community; promote coordination and efficiency among State, county, and local units of government and municipalities; issue periodic reports on its performance and progress in meeting its goals; monitor the progress of the implementation of the Strategic Action Plan on Homelessness developed by specified federal agencies and other organizations; and other matters. Provides that the Commission is subject to the Freedom of Information Act and the Open Meetings Act.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning veterans.

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

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Veterans Suicide Prevention Commission Act.

Section 5. Findings. The General Assembly finds the following:

(1) One of the highest priorities and moral duties Illinoisans can undertake is to support those Illinois citizens who have served or are serving our country and State in the United States Armed Forces. Their military service is recognized whether they served on active duty, in the reserves, or as a member of the Illinois National Guard, or have retired. The families of service members are equally recognized.

(2) The General Assembly is committed to the members of our military community, and to strengthening their systems of care and supports in a manner that is responsive to their needs by building upon existing collaborations and resources.

(3) There are more than 2,000,000 members of the Illinois military community representing about 16% of the Illinois population.

(4) Illinois ranks high among the states in the nation with over 40,000 military personnel deployed to support the recent conflicts and overseas contingency operations.

(5) 261 Illinois service members have given the full measure with the loss of their lives while serving their country and State since September 11, 2001.

(6) Over 1,800 Illinois service members have received hostile wounds serving their country and State since September 11, 2001.

(7) Unprecedented numbers of Illinois' service members have and are experiencing multiple deployments to the active theaters of war, separating them from family, community, and traditional supports for extended periods of time.

(8) The adjustment of returning service members and their families to the service members' physical and psychological disabilities, including post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injuries, and other debilitating health conditions pose long-standing challenging implications for our State.

(9) State and local elected officials, including State agency heads, State legislators, and representatives of federal agencies, have a shared responsibility for providing services and support to our military community.

(10) Meeting the needs of the military community is not the sole responsibility of one agency or entity, but a collective responsibility of the entire State that requires a high level of collaboration and cooperation between key stakeholders.

(11) Other non-government members of our State are integral to the systems of care and supports for the military community, including military and veterans service and advocacy organizations that strive to address the unique challenges faced by this population such as behavioral health issues of mental illness and substance use disorders, serious physical injury, employment, education, and housing.

(12) A unified, seamless, and systematic method of accessing services for those who have served our country and our State is needed, particularly in the areas of behavioral health issues of mental illness and substance use disorders, serious physical injury, employment, education, homelessness and housing, and legal assistance.

(13) The Illinois Joining Forces Foundation was created by Public Act 98-986 to serve and ensure the long-term sustainability of Illinois Joining Forces, a public-private network of military and veteran-serving organizations critically important for the support of the State's military community.

(14) A Veterans Suicide Prevention Commission to plan and coordinate the work of State agencies is needed to develop systems of services and supports that reflect a coordinated collective community approach to serve our military community.

Section 10. Commission; purpose. The Veterans Suicide Prevention Commission is created. The Commission shall drive the State's strategic vision for assessing and achieving the successful transition, adjustment, and reintegration of service members of the armed forces, veterans, and their families through the coordination of the collective efforts of public and private organizations throughout the State. The Commission shall facilitate, collaborate, and coordinate the efforts of these organizations to effectively and responsively meet the needs of the military community. In performing these responsibilities, the Commission shall conduct planning, research, education, training, and evaluation activities to improve the operations and coordination of the systems of care and supports. The Commission shall coordinate its activities with those of Illinois Joining Forces and other advocacy organizations for service members of the armed forces, veterans, and their families.

Section 15. Composition.

(a) The Commission shall consist of the following members:

(1) The Governor or his or her designee, who shall serve as Chairperson.

(2) The Directors of Military Affairs and Veterans' Affairs or their designees, who shall serve as co-chairs.

(3) The Lieutenant Governor or his or her designee.

(4) The Deputy Governor of Health and Human Services or his or her designee.

(5) One member appointed by the President of the Senate.

(6) One member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate.

(7) One member appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(8) One member appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

(9) The Secretary of State or his or her designee.

(10) The Attorney General or his or her designee.

(11) The Treasurer or his or her designee.

(12) The Comptroller or his or her designee.

(13) The State Superintendent of Education or his or her designee.

(14) The Executive Director of the Illinois Board of Higher Education or his or her designee.

(15) The Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court or his or her designee.

(16) The Director of Aging or his or her designee.

(17) The Director of Agriculture or his or her designee.

(18) The Director of Central Management Services or his or her designee.

(19) The Director of Children and Family Services or his or her designee.

(20) The Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity or his or her designee.

(21) The Director of Corrections or his or her designee.

(22) The Director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency or his or her designee.

(23) The Director of Employment Security or his or her designee.

(24) The Director of the Environmental Protection Agency or his or her designee.

(25) The Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation or his or her designee.

(26) The Director of Healthcare and Family Services or his or her designee.

(27) The Director of Human Rights or his or her designee.

(28) The Secretary of Human Services or his or her designee.

(29) The Secretary of Innovation and Technology or his or her designee.

(30) The Director of Insurance or his or her designee.

(31) The Director of Labor or his or her designee.

(32) The Director of the Lottery or his or her designee.

(33) The Director of Natural Resources or his or her designee.

(34) The Director of Public Health or his or her designee.

(35) The Director of Revenue or his or her designee.

(36) The State Fire Marshal or his or her designee.

(37) The Director of State Police or his or her designee.

(38) The Secretary of Transportation or his or her designee.

(39) The Chairperson of the Illinois Joining Forces Board or his or her designee.

(b) As necessary, the Commission may appoint individuals representing the following:

(1) The Illinois Army National Guard.

(2) The Illinois Air National Guard.

(3) The United States Army or United States Army Reserve.

(4) The United States Air Force or United States Air Force Reserve.

(5) The United States Navy or United States Navy Reserve.

(6) The United States Marine Corps or United States Marine Corps Reserve.

(7) The United States Coast Guard or United States Coast Guard Reserve.

(8) Military spouses.

(9) The brain injury services community.

(10) The substance abuse services community.

(11) The community-based mental health counseling service community.

(12) Military and community advocacy networks.

(13) Practicing behavioral healthcare specialists.

(14) Community faith-based and spiritual leaders.

(c) The Commission may invite federal agencies such as the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and military services agencies to participate on the Commission.

(d) The Departments of Military Affairs and Veterans' Affairs shall provide administrative support to the Commission. The Governor's Office shall provide additional support with respect to compliance with State ethics laws, the Open Meetings Act, and the Freedom of Information Act.

(e) A simple majority of the members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum.

(f) All recommendations made by the Commission shall require approval of a majority of the total membership of the Commission.

(g) The Commission shall hold at least 4 meetings each year, but otherwise shall meet at the call of the Chairperson or co-chairs. Meetings of the Commission may be conducted in person or via telephone or video conference and shall be open to the public.

(h) The Commission may adopt policies, procedures, and whatever additional rules for an organizational structure, and policies and procedures for the Commission's internal operations as are necessary to carry out its function and responsibilities.

(i) Members of the Commission shall be appointed for a term of 4 years. Upon expiration of the initial terms, each member shall be reappointed for a term of 4 additional years whereupon their terms will expire requiring the appointment of new members. Members shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor. Vacancies resulting for reasons other than the expiration of a term shall be filled by the Governor for the remainder of the term.

(j) Members shall receive no compensation for their services.

(k) All departments, agencies, boards, and commissions of the executive branch shall fully cooperate with the Commission in carrying out the purposes of this Act and shall provide staff support and other assistance as requested.

Section 20. Duties.

(a) The primary focus of the Commission shall be on improving the efficiency and effectiveness of those State programs and services related to the military community. The Commission shall review the activities related to the military community of each State agency to ensure there is efficient and effective coordination and alignment with the needs of the military community. Accountability shall be promoted by tracking the progress of initiatives and programs and services; developing strategic collaboration among public and private partners (primarily Illinois Joining Forces); and increasing public awareness of the issues relating to the services and support of the military community.

(b) The Commission shall promote coordination and efficiency among State, county, and local units of government and municipalities through knowledge sharing, mobilization of resources, and an aligned approach to serving the military community.

(c) The Commission shall issue periodic reports on, without limitation, its establishment of strategic goals, its public research agenda, and its performance and progress in meeting its goals.

(d) The Commission shall monitor the progress of the implementation of the Strategic Action Plan on Homelessness developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) Service Members, Veterans, and their Families Technical Assistance Center, SAMHSA's Policy Academies, and SAMHSA's Implementation Academies.

(e) Each member agency on the Commission must designate a member of its management staff as its Ombudsman for the military community. The Ombudsman shall be that agency's primary point of contact for military community issues. Each member agency shall also designate one full-time employee to provide staff assistance to the Commission.

Section 25. Transparency. In addition to whatever policies or procedures it may adopt, the Commission shall be subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act and the Open Meetings Act.

Section 30. Severability. The provisions of this Act are severable under Section 1.31 of the Statute on Statutes.