Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for HB0497

Amends the Department of Veterans Affairs Act. Provides that, subject to appropriations for that purpose, the Department shall fund 2 service officer positions for each veterans service organization that maintains an office in the Veterans Affairs Regional Office (VARO) in Chicago. Provides that a service officer whose position is funded under these provisions shall be an employee of the veterans service organization with which the service officer is placed, and the service officer shall be under the direct control of that veterans service organization. Provides that such a service officer must be certified by the federal government in the manner in which the head service officer of each office is certified. Provides that to be eligible to receive any moneys for the funding of a service officer position under these provisions, a veterans service organization must have maintained a state headquarters in this State for at least 10 years before July 1, 2005. Provides that a veterans service organization that is being funded with State or county moneys under any other provision of law on the effective date of this amendatory Act may not receive any moneys for the funding of a service officer position under these provisions.

Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Department of Veterans Affairs Act. Provides that subject to appropriations for that purpose, the Department shall make grants to veterans service organizations for the purpose of furthering those organizations' work of providing assistance to veterans. Provides that grants will be provided only to veterans service organizations that maintain an office in the Veterans Affairs Regional Office (VARO) in Chicago and will be apportioned equally between the qualifying veterans service organizations. Provides that to be eligible to receive a grant, a veterans service organization must have maintained a state headquarters in this State for at least 10 years before July 1, 2005. Provides that a veterans service organization that is being funded with State or county moneys under any other provision of law on the effective date of this amendatory Act may not receive any moneys for any grant under these provisions. Provides that grants made under this section shall not be used to replace or supplant services provided by employees of the Department.

×