AN ACT making appropriations.

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

... ARTICLE 1

  Section 15.  The following named sums, or so much thereof as may be necessary, are appropriated from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Veterans' Affairs for the objects and purposes and in the amounts set forth as follows:

GRANTS-IN-AID

  For Bonus Payments to War Veterans and Peacetime

   Crisis Survivors................................. 97,800

  For Providing Educational Opportunities for

   Children of Certain Veterans, as provided

   by law.......................................... 163,700

  For Cartage and Erection of Veterans'

   Headstones, including Prior Years Claims........ 650,000

    Total                                          $911,500

    Section 20.  The following named sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the Illinois Affordable Housing Trust Fund to the Department of Veterans' Affairs for the object and purpose and in the amount set forth as follows:

  For Specially Adapted Housing for Veterans....... 223,000

    Section 25.  The sum of $842,500, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Veterans' Affairs for the payment of scholarships to students who are dependents of Illinois resident military personnel declared to be prisoners of war, missing in action, killed or permanently disabled, as provided by law.

    Section 30.  The sum of $750,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs for costs associated with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Outpatient Counseling Program.

    Section 40.  The sum of $250,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs for the payment of benefits authorized under the Survivor’s Compensation Act. 

    Section 50.  The sum of $8,000,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the Illinois Veterans Assistance Fund to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs for making grants, funding additional services, or conducting additional research projects relating to veterans’ post traumatic stress disorder; veterans’ homelessness; the health insurance cost of veterans; veterans’ disability benefits, including but not limited to, disability benefits provided by veterans service organizations and veterans assistance commissions or centers; and the long-term care of veterans.

    Section 87.  In addition to amounts appropriated for this purpose, the sum of $6,000,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs for the 80 bed expansion at the Illinois Veterans’ Home at LaSalle.

ARTICLE 998

    Section 998.  Each of the amounts appropriated in this Act (after all actions by the Governor and the General Assembly) controls over any lower amount appropriated in any other Public Act (after all actions by the Governor and the General Assembly) for the same purpose unless that other Public Act expressly states otherwise.

ARTICLE 999

Section 999.  Effective Date.  This Act takes effect July 1, 2008.