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    AN ACT in relation to veterans. 

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


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


 
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    (20 ILCS 2805/15 new)

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    Sec. 15. Reimbursements to veterans service organizations.

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    (a)  In this Section:

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    "Veterans service officer" means an individual employed by 
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a veterans service
organization and accredited by the United 
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States Department of Veterans Affairs
to
process and adjudicate 
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claims and other benefits for veterans and their spouses
and

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beneficiaries.

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    "Veterans service organization" means an organization that 
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meets all of the
following criteria:

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        (1) It is formed by and for United States military 
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veterans.

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        (2) It is chartered by the United States Congress and 
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incorporated in the
State of Illinois.

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        (3) It maintains at least one office in this State 
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staffed by a veterans
service officer.

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    "Veterans services" means the processing and adjudication 
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of the following
claims and other benefits for veterans and 
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their spouses and beneficiaries:

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        (1) Disability compensation benefits.

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        (2) Disability pension benefits.

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        (3) Dependents' indemnity compensation.

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        (4) Widow's death pension.

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        (5) Burial benefits.

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        (6) Confirmed and continued claims.

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        (7) Vocational rehabilitation and education.

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        (8) Waivers of indebtedness.

 


 






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        (9) Miscellaneous.

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    (b) Subject to appropriation, the Department shall 
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reimburse a veterans service organization for
veterans

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services rendered on behalf of veterans and their spouses and 
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beneficiaries by
a veterans
service officer employed by the 
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organization. The reimbursement shall be
computed at
the rate 
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of $0.005 for each dollar of benefits obtained for veterans or 
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their
spouses or
beneficiaries residing in Illinois as a result 
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of the efforts of the veterans
service officer.
There shall be 
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no reimbursement under this Section for the value of health 
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care
received
in a health care facility under the jurisdiction 
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of the United States Veterans
Administration.

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    (c) To be eligible for reimbursement under this Section, a 
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veterans service
organization must document the amount of 
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moneys obtained for veterans and their
spouses and 
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beneficiaries in the form and manner required by the 
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Department.
The
documentation must include the submission to 
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the Department of a copy of the
organization's report or 
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reports to the United States Department of Veterans
Affairs

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stating the amount of moneys obtained by the organization for 
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veterans and
their spouses
and beneficiaries in the State 
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fiscal year for which reimbursement under this
Section is

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requested. The organization must submit the copy of the report 
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or reports to
the
Department no later than July 31 following 
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the end of the State fiscal year for
which
reimbursement is 
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requested.

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    (d) Subject to appropriation, the Department shall pay the 
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reimbursement under this Section to a
veterans
service 
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organization in a single annual payment for each State fiscal 
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year,
beginning with
the State fiscal year that begins on July 
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1, 2003. Subject to appropriation, the Department must make the

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payment
for a State fiscal year on or before December 31 of the 
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succeeding State fiscal
year.

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    (e) A veterans service organization shall use 
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reimbursement moneys received
under this Section only for the 
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purpose of paying the salary and expenses of
one or more

 


 






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veterans service officers and the organization's related 
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expenses incurred in
employing
the officer or officers for the 
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processing and adjudication of claims and other
benefits for

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veterans and their spouses and beneficiaries.



 
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    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
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becoming law.