Sen. Pamela J. Althoff

Filed: 4/28/2009

 

 


 

 


 
09600HB0022sam001 LRB096 03129 RLC 25155 a

1
AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 22

2     AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 22 on page 1, by
3 inserting after line 1 the following:
4     "WHEREAS, The State of Illinois is dedicated to the urgent
5 task of strengthening and expediting the national defense under
6 the emergent conditions which are threatening the peace and
7 security of this nation; and
 
8     WHEREAS, It is the considered judgment of the General
9 Assembly that the citizens of Illinois who respond to their
10 country's call to service are deserving of every benefit and
11 protection; and
 
12     WHEREAS, It is imperative that State government recognize
13 the State's citizens who have made the ultimate sacrifice to
14 protect the peace and security of this nation; and
 
15     WHEREAS, The Illinois Court of Claims should be equipped to

 

 

09600HB0022sam001 - 2 - LRB096 03129 RLC 25155 a

1 provide for and assist the survivors of fallen service members
2 by increasing accessibility to the Court of Claims and
3 providing outreach services to the community, which will serve
4 to educate survivors as to their benefits and protections under
5 State law; and
 
6     WHEREAS, By recognizing these sacrifices, the State of
7 Illinois encourages its citizens to participate to the fullest
8 extent in the national defense program and thereby heightens
9 the contribution of our State to the protection of our heritage
10 of liberty and democracy; therefore"; and
 
11 on page 1, by replacing lines 4 and 5 with the following:
 
12     "Section 5. The Court of Claims Act is amended by changing
13 Section 24 and by adding Section 9.5 as follows:
 
14     (705 ILCS 505/9.5 new)
15     Sec. 9.5. Gold Star and Fallen Heroes Families Assistance
16 Program.
17     (a) Within the Court of Claims, there is established a Gold
18 Star and Fallen Heroes Families Assistance Program, which is
19 charged with the responsibility of assessing the needs of and
20 providing information to Illinois Gold Star and Fallen Heroes
21 Families with regard to claims filed pursuant to the Line of
22 Duty Compensation Act.

 

 

09600HB0022sam001 - 3 - LRB096 03129 RLC 25155 a

1     (b) As used in this Section, "Gold Star and Fallen Heroes
2 Family" means the family members of an individual who was
3 killed in the line of duty and who was employed or serving in a
4 capacity defined in Section 2 of the Line of Duty Compensation
5 Act.
6     (c) Toll-free helpline. The Gold Star and Fallen Heroes
7 Families Assistance Program shall include a toll-free helpline
8 dedicated to families seeking information about the Line of
9 Duty Compensation Act, including, but not limited to, the
10 status of claims filed pursuant to that Act. The helpline phone
11 number and information about the Gold Star and Fallen Heroes
12 Families Assistance Program shall be provided to each person
13 filing a claim under the Line of Duty Compensation Act.
14     (d) On or before January 1 of each year, the Court of
15 Claims shall report to the Governor, both houses of the General
16 Assembly, and the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs the
17 following information:
18         (1) the number of claims filed with the Court of Claims
19     pursuant to the Line of Duty Compensation Act;
20         (2) the number of Line of Duty Compensation Act claims
21     approved for payment by the Court of Claims during the
22     preceding calendar year;
23         (3) the number and status of Line of Duty Compensation
24     Act claims pending in the Court of Claims; and
25         (4) other information as may be requested by the
26     Governor.".