HB4215 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB096 08586 DRJ 18709 b

96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
HB4215

Introduced 2/27/2009, by Rep. Rosemary Mulligan - Franco Coladipietro - Timothy L. Schmitz - Raymond Poe - Rich Brauer, et al.

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 2805/35 new

Amends the Department of Veterans Affairs Act. Provides that, subject to appropriations, the Department shall establish a program to make grants to entities for providing mental health and preventive health services, as well as assistance in obtaining other available services, using mobile units that travel to various locations to provide services, including local veterans organization facilities and facilities serving the homeless. Provides that services under the program shall target homeless veterans and other veterans facing obstacles to obtaining needed care or services, including those residing in rural and medically underserved areas. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

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 adding Section 35 as follows:

(20 ILCS 2805/35 new)

Sec. 35. Mobile assistance units.

(a) Subject to appropriations, the Department shall establish a program to make grants to entities for providing mental health and preventive health services, as well as assistance in obtaining other available services, using mobile units as provided in this Section. The Department shall issue requests for proposals to provide these services.

(b) The services provided under the program shall target homeless veterans and other veterans facing obstacles to obtaining needed care or services, including those residing in rural and medically underserved areas. The mobile assistance units shall travel to various locations to provide services, including local veterans organization facilities and facilities serving the homeless.

(c) Services provided through the mobile assistance units may include, but need not be limited to, the following:

(1) Mental health screenings.

(2) Preventive health care.

(3) Crisis intervention.

(4) Assistance in accessing services provided through the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, or any other federal, State, or local agency and services provided by private organizations.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.