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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
20 as follows:


 
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    (20 ILCS 2805/20 new)

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    Sec. 20. Payments 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 claims and 
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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 maintained a state headquarters office in 
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    Illinois for the 10-year period immediately preceding July 
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    1, 2006.

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        (4) It maintains at least one office in this State 
 


 






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    staffed by a veterans
service officer.

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        (5) It is capable of preparing a power of attorney for 
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    a veteran and processing claims for veterans services.

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        (6) It is not funded by the State of Illinois or by any 
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    county in this State.

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    "Veterans services" means the processing of the following

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claims and other benefits for veterans and their spouses and 
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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 appropriations, the Department shall pay a 
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veterans service organization for
veterans
services rendered 
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on behalf of veterans and their spouses and beneficiaries by
a 
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veterans
service officer employed by the organization. The 
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payment shall be
computed at
the rate of $0.010 for each dollar 
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of benefits obtained for veterans or their
spouses or

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beneficiaries residing in Illinois as a result of the efforts 
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of the veterans
service officer.
There shall be no payment 
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under this Section for the value of health care
received
in a 
 


 






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health care facility under the jurisdiction of the United 
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States Veterans
Administration.

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    (c) To be eligible for a payment 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 payment under this
Section is
requested. 
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The organization must submit the copy of the report or reports 
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to
the
Department no later than July 31 following the end of 
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the State fiscal year for
which
payment is requested.

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    (d) The Department shall make the payment under this 
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Section to a
veterans
service organization in a single annual 
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payment for each State fiscal year,
beginning with
the State 
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fiscal year that begins on July 1, 2007. The Department must 
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make the
payment
for a State fiscal year on or before December 
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31 of the succeeding State fiscal
year.

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    (e) A veterans service organization shall use moneys 
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received
under this Section only for the purpose of paying the 
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salary and expenses of
one or more
veterans service officers 
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and the organization's related expenses incurred in
employing

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the officer or officers for the processing of claims and other

 


 






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benefits for
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.