95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008
SB0082


 
Introduced 1/31/2007, by Sen. Martin A. Sandoval - James A. DeLeo
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 		













20 ILCS 2805/20 new










    Amends the Department of Veterans Affairs Act.  Subject to appropriations, requires the Department to
pay veterans service organizations for services provided by veterans
service
officers in processing claims and other benefits for veterans
and their
spouses or other beneficiaries residing in Illinois. Requires payment at
the rate of
$0.010 for each dollar of benefits obtained for veterans or their spouses or
other
beneficiaries. Sets forth criteria that a veterans service organization must meet.
















LRB095 07286 HLH 27424 b

















FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
















 


 


A BILL FOR









 











SB0082

LRB095 07286 HLH 27424 b






1
    AN ACT in relation to veterans. 

 
2
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 
3
represented in the General Assembly: 


 
4
    Section 5. The Department of Veterans Affairs Act is 
5
amended by adding
Section
20 as follows:


 
6
    (20 ILCS 2805/20 new)

7
    Sec. 20. Payments to veterans service organizations.

8
    (a)  In this Section:

9
    "Veterans service officer" means an individual employed by 
10
a veterans service
organization and accredited by the United 
11
States Department of Veterans Affairs
to
process claims and 
12
other benefits for veterans and their spouses
and

13
beneficiaries.

14
    "Veterans service organization" means an organization that 
15
meets all of the
following criteria:

16
        (1) It is formed by and for United States military 
17
    veterans.

18
        (2) It is chartered by the United States Congress and 
19
    incorporated in the
State of Illinois.

20
        (3) It maintained a state headquarters office in 
21
    Illinois for the 10-year period immediately preceding July 
22
    1, 2006.

23
        (4) It maintains at least one office in this State 
 


 






SB0082
- 2 -
LRB095 07286 HLH 27424 b




1
    staffed by a veterans
service officer.

2
        (5) It is capable of preparing a power of attorney for 
3
    a veteran and processing claims for veterans services.

4
        (6) It is not funded by the State of Illinois or by any 
5
    county in this State.

6
    "Veterans services" means the processing of the following

7
claims and other benefits for veterans and their spouses and 
8
beneficiaries:

9
        (1) Disability compensation benefits.

10
        (2) Disability pension benefits.

11
        (3) Dependents' indemnity compensation.

12
        (4) Widow's death pension.

13
        (5) Burial benefits.

14
        (6) Confirmed and continued claims.

15
        (7) Vocational rehabilitation and education.

16
        (8) Waivers of indebtedness.

17
        (9) Miscellaneous.

18
    (b) Subject to appropriations, the Department shall pay a 
19
veterans service organization for
veterans
services rendered 
20
on behalf of veterans and their spouses and beneficiaries by
a 
21
veterans
service officer employed by the organization. The 
22
payment shall be
computed at
the rate of $0.010 for each dollar 
23
of benefits obtained for veterans or their
spouses or

24
beneficiaries residing in Illinois as a result of the efforts 
25
of the veterans
service officer.
There shall be no payment 
26
under this Section for the value of health care
received
in a 
 


 






SB0082
- 3 -
LRB095 07286 HLH 27424 b




1
health care facility under the jurisdiction of the United 
2
States Veterans
Administration.

3
    (c) To be eligible for a payment under this Section, a 
4
veterans service
organization must document the amount of 
5
moneys obtained for veterans and their
spouses and 
6
beneficiaries in the form and manner required by the 
7
Department.
The
documentation must include the submission to 
8
the Department of a copy of the
organization's report or 
9
reports to the United States Department of Veterans
Affairs

10
stating the amount of moneys obtained by the organization for 
11
veterans and
their spouses
and beneficiaries in the State 
12
fiscal year for which payment under this
Section is
requested. 
13
The organization must submit the copy of the report or reports 
14
to
the
Department no later than July 31 following the end of 
15
the State fiscal year for
which
payment is requested.

16
    (d) The Department shall make the payment under this 
17
Section to a
veterans
service organization in a single annual 
18
payment for each State fiscal year,
beginning with
the State 
19
fiscal year that begins on July 1, 2007. The Department must 
20
make the
payment
for a State fiscal year on or before December 
21
31 of the succeeding State fiscal
year.

22
    (e) A veterans service organization shall use moneys 
23
received
under this Section only for the purpose of paying the 
24
salary and expenses of
one or more
veterans service officers 
25
and the organization's related expenses incurred in
employing

26
the officer or officers for the processing of claims and other

 


 






SB0082
- 4 -
LRB095 07286 HLH 27424 b




1
benefits for
veterans and their spouses and beneficiaries.