HB3970enr 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB3970 Enrolled LRB096 10314 DRJ 20484 b

AN ACT concerning State government.

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

Section 5. The Department of Veterans Affairs Act is amended by changing Sections 2.07 and 25 as follows:

(20 ILCS 2805/2.07) (from Ch. 126 1/2, par. 67.07)

Sec. 2.07. The Department shall employ and maintain sufficient and qualified staff at the veterans' homes (i) to fill all beds, subject to appropriation, and (ii) to fulfill the requirements of this Act. The Department shall report to the General Assembly, by January 1 and July 1 of each year, the number of staff employed in providing direct patient care at their veterans' homes, the compliance or noncompliance with staffing standards established by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for such care, and in the event of noncompliance with such standards, the number of staff required for compliance. For purposes of this Section, a nurse who has a license application pending with the State shall not be deemed unqualified by the Department if the nurse is in compliance with Section 50-15 of the Nurse Practice Act.

All contracts between the State and outside contractors to provide workers to staff and service the Anna Veterans Home shall be canceled in accordance with the terms of those contracts. Upon cancellation, each worker or staff member shall be offered certified employment status under the Illinois Personnel Code with the State of Illinois. To the extent it is reasonably practicable, the position offered to each person shall be at the same facility and shall consist of the same duties and hours as previously existed under the canceled contract or contracts.

(Source: P.A. 94-703, eff. 6-1-06; 95-331, eff. 8-21-07; 95-639, eff. 10-5-07; 95-876, eff. 8-21-08.)

(20 ILCS 2805/25)

Sec. 25. Payments to veterans service organizations.

(a) In this Section:

"Veterans service officer" means an individual employed by a veterans service organization and accredited by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to process claims and other benefits for veterans and their spouses and beneficiaries.

"Veterans service organization" means an organization that meets all of the following criteria:

(1) It is formed by and for United States military veterans.

(2) It is chartered by the United States Congress and incorporated in the State of Illinois.

(3) It maintained a state headquarters office in Illinois for the 10-year period immediately preceding July 1, 2006.

(4) It maintains at least one office in this State staffed by a veterans service officer.

(5) It is capable of preparing a power of attorney for a veteran and processing claims for veterans services.

(6) It is not funded by the State of Illinois or by any county in this State.

"Veterans services" means the representation of veterans in federal hearings to secure benefits for veterans and their spouses and beneficiaries:

(1) Disability compensation benefits.

(2) Disability pension benefits.

(3) Dependents' indemnity compensation.

(4) Widow's death pension.

(5) Burial benefits.

(6) Confirmed and continued claims.

(7) Vocational rehabilitation and education.

(8) Waivers of indebtedness.

(9) Miscellaneous.

(b) The Veterans Service Organization Reimbursement Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury. Subject to appropriation, the Department shall use moneys appropriated from the Fund to make payments to a veterans service organization for veterans services rendered on behalf of veterans and their spouses and beneficiaries by a veterans service officer employed by the organization. The payment shall be computed at the rate of $0.010 for each dollar of benefits obtained for veterans or their spouses or beneficiaries residing in Illinois as a result of the efforts of the veterans service officer. There shall be no payment under this Section for the value of health care received in a health care facility under the jurisdiction of the United States Veterans Administration. No more than 10% of the moneys in the fund may be used by the Department for administrative purposes. A veterans service organization may receive compensation under this Fund or it may apply for grants from the Illinois Veterans Assistance Fund, but in no event may a veterans service organization receive moneys from both funds during the same fiscal year. Funding for each applicant is subject to renewal by the Department on an annual basis.

(c) To be eligible for a payment under this Section, a veterans service organization must document the amount of new moneys obtained for veterans and their spouses and beneficiaries in the form and manner required by the Department. The documentation must include the submission to the Department of a copy of the organization's report or reports to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs stating the amount of new moneys obtained by the organization for veterans and their spouses and beneficiaries in the quarter State fiscal year for which payment under this Section is requested. The organization must submit the copy of the report or reports, and any other documentation required by the Department, to the Department no later than 15 days July 31 following the end of the quarter State fiscal year for which payment is requested.

(d) In addition to the requirement of subsection (b) that the Department use moneys appropriated from the Veterans Service Organization Reimbursement Fund for payments, the Department may transfer up to $1,000,000 of those appropriated moneys into the Illinois Veterans Assistance Fund for the making of grants to veterans service organizations as described in subsection (b). The Department shall make the payment under this Section to a veterans service organization in a single annual payment for each State fiscal year, beginning with the State fiscal year that begins on July 1, 2007. The Department must make the payment for a State fiscal year on or before December 31 of the succeeding State fiscal year.

(e) A veterans service organization shall use moneys received under this Section only for the purpose of paying the salary and expenses of one or more veterans service officers and the organization's related expenses incurred in employing the officer or officers for the processing of claims and other benefits for veterans and their spouses and beneficiaries.

(Source: P.A. 95-629, eff. 9-25-07; 95-876, eff. 8-21-08.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 2009.