HB3226 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB103 29918 KTG 56331 b

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB3226

Introduced 2/17/2023, by Rep. Lindsey LaPointe

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Veterans I.O.U. Act. Provides that the General Assembly finds that veterans are owed a debt of gratitude for their service; that there is a known and large gap between veterans and their awareness of the resources, services, and benefits available to them, especially in times of need; and that closing this gap begins with being able to identify a veteran, which can eliminate the disconnect between a veteran and the resources, services, and benefits the veteran may need. Requires the Department of Veterans' Affairs to develop, by rule, standards for identifying veterans and making them aware of resources, services, and benefits that veterans may need. Provides that the rules shall require State agencies, local government agencies, as well as licensed individuals and entities, to ask an individual at the point of initial contact if the individual has ever served in any branch of the military of the United States, including the National Guard, reserve, or active duty. Defines "points of contact" to include, but not be limited to, stops by law enforcement, arrest and booking, emergency room visits, visits to food pantries, and visits to homeless shelters. Provides that if an individual affirmatively answers at the point of contact that the individual is a veteran, the veteran shall be offered information and outreach in accordance with the Department's standards. Requires outreach by the Department to commence within 48 hours after the initial contact and to include, but not be limited to: information regarding available resources, services, and benefits; assistance in contacting providers of the resources, services, and benefits; assistance in enrolling in the resources, services, and benefits; and where available, support for the veteran's family. Provides that outreach regarding resources, services, and benefits shall not be limited to resources of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Requires State agencies, local government agencies, and licensed individuals and entities to comply with the Department's standards that apply to them. Grants the Department rulemaking authority and requires State agencies, local government agencies, and licensed individuals and entities to comply with those rules.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning government.

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

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Veterans I.O.U. Act.

Section 5. Findings. Each of us owes a debt of gratitude to veterans for their service, no matter when or where that took place. However, veterans themselves, particularly women veterans, do not always identify as veterans. As a result, there is a known and large gap between veterans and their awareness of the resources, services, and benefits available to them, especially in times of need. Closing this gap begins with being able to identify a veteran, which can eliminate the disconnect between a veteran and the resources, services, and benefits the veteran may need.

Section 10. Definitions. As used in this Act:

"Department" means the Department of Veterans' Affairs.

"Licensed individuals and entities" includes individuals and entities that are licensed by the State or a local government agency and have been identified by the Department of Veterans' Affairs, by rule, as individuals and entities that come into contact with veterans who may benefit from available services and benefits.

"Points of initial contact" means points, to be determined by the Department by rule, at which State agencies, local government agencies, and licensed individuals and entities may come into initial contact with veterans who may need resources, services, and benefits. Points of initial contact include, but are not limited to, stops by law enforcement, arrest and booking, emergency room visits, visits to food pantries, and visits to homeless shelters.

"State agencies" and "local government agencies" have the meanings given to those terms in Article I of the Illinois State Auditing Act.

"Veteran" means an individual who has served as a member of the armed forces of the United States, the Illinois National Guard, or a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States, and includes members on active duty.

Section 15. Development of standards. The Department of Veterans' Affairs shall develop, by rule, standards for identifying veterans and making them aware of resources, services, and benefits that veterans may need. The rules shall require State agencies, local government agencies, as well as licensed individuals and entities, to ask the following question at the point of initial contact with an individual:

"Have you served, at any time, in any branch of the military of the United States, including the National Guard, reserve, or active duty?"

If an individual answers in the affirmative, the veteran shall be offered information and outreach in accordance with the Department's standards. Outreach shall be coordinated by the Department and shall commence within 48 hours after the initial contact. Outreach includes, but is not limited to: information regarding available resources, services, and benefits; assistance in contacting providers of the resources, services, and benefits; and assistance in enrolling in the resources, services, and benefits. Where available, support shall also be offered for the veteran's family. Outreach regarding resources, services, and benefits shall not be limited to resources of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

State agencies, local government agencies, and licensed individuals and entities must comply with the Department's standards that apply to them. The Department shall encourage other appropriate entities to follow those standards.

Section 20. Rules. The Department shall adopt rules to carry out its responsibilities under this Act. State agencies, local government agencies, and licensed individuals and entities shall comply with those rules.