HJ0059 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0059 LRB104 21391 MST 36362 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois is home to approximately 550,000 veterans, representing one of the largest veteran populations in the Midwest, including tens of thousands of aging and disabled veterans who require long-term care, skilled nursing, memory care, and specialized medical services; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs (IDVA) operates Illinois Veterans Homes that provide high-quality, specialized, and affordable long-term care to eligible veterans, including services tailored to combat-related injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and age-related conditions; and

WHEREAS, Illinois Veterans Homes serve thousands of residents each year, yet demand continues to exceed capacity in several regions of the State as the veteran population ages, with a growing number of veterans over the age of 65 and an increasing need for skilled nursing and memory care services; and

WHEREAS, National and state data demonstrate that veterans are more likely than non-veterans to experience chronic health conditions and disabilities, and many rely on fixed or limited incomes, making affordable, state-supported, long-term care options critically important; and

WHEREAS, The affordability of Illinois Veterans Homes is a critical component of their value, as the average private nursing home cost in Illinois exceeds $108,000 per year, while Veterans Homes offer care at a significantly reduced cost, ensuring that low and moderate-income veterans are not forced to forgo needed long-term care or exhaust lifetime savings; and

WHEREAS, The geographic distribution of existing Illinois Veterans Homes results in significant travel distances for many veterans and their families, particularly in rural, downstate, and underserved regions, creating barriers to access, family visitation, and continuity of care; and

WHEREAS, Expanding Illinois Veterans Homes and strategically locating future facilities would strengthen the State's commitment to those who have served, improve health outcomes, reduce isolation among aging veterans, and ensure equitable access to long-term care services across Illinois; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that the Illinois Veterans Homes Expansion Task Force is created to study the need for the expansion of high-quality, specialized, and affordable long-term care for aged and disabled veterans through the Illinois Veterans Homes system, specifically evaluating and identifying the following:

(1) Areas of the State with the greatest unmet demand for Veterans Home services;

(2) Geographic locations that would offer the greatest accessibility to veterans and their families;

(3) Opportunities to reduce regional disparities in access to long-term care; and

(4) Considerations related to workforce availability, infrastructure, transportation, and proximity to VA and medical services; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall consist of the following members who shall serve without compensation:

(1) One member of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House;

(2) One member of the House of Representatives appointed by the House Minority Leader;

(3) One member of the Senate appointed by the Senate President;

(4) One member of the Senate appointed by the Senate Minority Leader;

(5) Three members appointed by the Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs;

(6) Two members representing the Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Illinois nominated by the State Commander and appointed by the Governor;

(7) One member representing The American Legion Department of Illinois nominated by the Department Commander and appointed by the Speaker of the House;

(8) One member representing Illinois AMVETS nominated by the Commander and appointed by the House Minority Leader;

(9) One member representing Illinois Joining Forces nominated by the Executive Director and appointed by the Senate President;

(10) One member representing an Illinois-based chapter of the Veterans Assistance Commissions nominated by the chapter and appointed by the Senate Minority Leader; and

(11) One member representing an 501(c)(19) veterans organization operating within each Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs region appointed by the Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs; and be it further

RESOLVED, That initial appointments to the Task Force shall be made no more than three months after adoption of this resolution, and if a vacancy occurs in the Task Force membership it shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs shall provide technical assistance, administrative support, and relevant data to the Task Force as necessary to carry out its duties; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall hold its first meeting at the call of the co-chairs and meet at least once per month until it completes its work; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall submit a written report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly no later than January 7, 2027, and upon the filing of this report, the Task Force is dissolved; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the Speaker of the House, the House Minority Leader, the Senate President, the Senate Minority Leader, the Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Governor.