HB5398 Engrossed LRB096 18576 KTG 33958 b

1     AN ACT concerning 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 changing Section 15 as follows:
 
6     (20 ILCS 2805/15)
7     Sec. 15. Veterans advisory council.
8     (a) A veterans advisory council shall be established in the
9 State of Illinois. The council shall consist of at least 21 17
10 members as follows:
11         (1) Four members of the General Assembly, appointed one
12     each by the President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of
13     the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives,
14     and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives,
15     preferably from a legislative or representative district
16     in which a State-operated veterans home is located.
17         (2) Six veterans appointed by the Director of Veterans'
18     Affairs.
19         (3) One veteran appointed by the commander or president
20     of each veterans service organization that is chartered by
21     the federal government and by the State of Illinois and
22     elects to appoint a member.
23         (4) One person appointed by the Adjutant General of the

 

 

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1     Illinois National Guard.
2         (5) One person appointed by the Illinois Attorney
3     General.
4         (6) One person appointed by the Illinois Secretary of
5     State.
6         (7) One person appointed by the Director of the
7     Illinois Department of Employment Security.
8         (8) One person appointed by each military family
9     organization that is chartered by the federal government.
10     No member of the council shall be an employee or
11 representative of the Department of Veterans' Affairs.
12     Members of the council shall serve without compensation or
13 reimbursement.
14     (b) At the initial meeting of the council, the members
15 shall elect from among themselves a chairman. The members shall
16 draw lots to determine the length of their terms so that 9
17 members have terms that expire on July 1, 2005 and the
18 remaining members have terms that expire on July 1, 2006.
19 Thereafter, all members of the council shall be appointed for
20 terms of 2 years.
21     The appointing authority may at any time make an
22 appointment to fill a vacancy for the unexpired term of a
23 member.
24     (c) The council shall meet quarterly or at the call of the
25 chairman or at the call of the Director of Veterans' Affairs or
26 the Governor. The Department shall provide meeting space and

 

 

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1 clerical and administrative support services for the council.
2     (d) The council has the power to do the following:
3         (1) Advise the Department of Veterans' Affairs with
4     respect to the fulfillment of its statutory duties.
5         (2) Review and study the issues and concerns that are
6     most significant to Illinois veterans and advise the
7     Department on those issues and concerns.
8         (3) Receive a report from the Director of Veterans'
9     Affairs or the Director's designee at each meeting with
10     respect to the general activities of the Department.
11         (4) Report to the Governor and the General Assembly
12     annually describing the issues addressed and the actions
13     taken by the council during the year as well as any
14     recommendations for future action.
15     (e) The council established under this Section replaces any
16 Illinois Veterans Advisory Council established under Executive
17 Order No. 3 (1982).
18 (Source: P.A. 93-779, eff. 7-21-04.)
 
19     Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
20 becoming law.