Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for SB0597

Creates the National Guard Veterans Exposure to Hazardous Materials Act. Provides that on and after October 1, 2007, the Adjutant General shall assist any member of the Illinois National Guard who served in the Persian Gulf War or in an area designated as a combat zone by the President of the United States during Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom who (i) has been assigned a risk level I, II, or III for depleted uranium exposure by his or her branch of service, (ii) is referred by a military physician, or (iii) has reason to believe that he or she was exposed to depleted uranium during such service, in obtaining federal treatment services, including a best practice health screening test for exposure to depleted uranium. Provides that no State funds shall be used to pay for such tests or other federal treatment services. Requires the Adjutant General to submit a report to the General Assembly by October 1, 2007. Creates a task force to: (1) initiate a health registry for veterans and military personnel returning from Afghanistan, Iraq, or other countries in which depleted uranium or other hazardous materials may be found; (2) develop a plan for outreach to and follow-up of military personnel; (3) prepare a report for service members concerning potential exposure to depleted uranium and other toxic chemical substances and the precautions recommended under combat and noncombat conditions while in a combat zone; and (4) make other recommendations. Requires the task force to submit a report to the General Assembly by January 31, 2008, and terminates the task force on the date that it submits the report or on January 31, 2008, whichever is earlier. Effective immediately.

Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts provisions substantially similar to those of the bill, creating the National Guard Veterans Exposure to Hazardous Materials Act, but with changes that include the following: (1) provides that the Department of Veterans' Affairs (instead of the Adjutant General) shall assist National Guard members and veterans in obtaining information on available federal treatment services (instead of obtaining federal treatment services); (2) provides that the Adjutant General shall certify to the General Assembly that National Guard members are informed of possible health risks associated with exposure to depleted uranium (instead of shall report to the General Assembly on the scope and adequacy of training with respect to detection of exposure to depleted uranium); (3) makes changes in the task force's functions and adds 2 legislative members to the task force; and (4) deletes provisions concerning staff support for the task force. Effective immediately.

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