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| Public Act 098-0310 | ||||
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AN ACT concerning military service.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 5. The Department of Veterans Affairs Act is | ||||
amended by changing Section 20 as follows: | ||||
(20 ILCS 2805/20)
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Sec. 20. Illinois Discharged Servicemember Task Force. The | ||||
Illinois Discharged Servicemember Task Force is hereby created | ||||
within the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Task Force shall | ||||
investigate the re-entry process for service members who return | ||||
to civilian life after being engaged in an active theater. The | ||||
investigation shall include the effects of post-traumatic | ||||
stress disorder, homelessness, disabilities, and other issues | ||||
the Task Force finds relevant to the re-entry process. For | ||||
fiscal year 2012, the Task Force shall include the availability | ||||
of prosthetics in its investigation. For fiscal year 2014, the | ||||
Task Force shall include the needs of women veterans with | ||||
respect to issues including, but not limited to, compensation, | ||||
rehabilitation, outreach, health care, and issues facing women | ||||
veterans in the community, and to offer recommendations on how | ||||
best to alleviate these needs which shall be included in the | ||||
Task Force Annual Report for 2014. The Task Force shall include | ||||
the following members: | ||||
(a) a representative of the Department of Veterans | ||
Affairs, who shall chair the committee;
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(b) a representative from the Department of Military | ||
Affairs;
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(c) a representative from the Office of the Illinois | ||
Attorney General;
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(d) a member of the General Assembly appointed by the | ||
Speaker of the House;
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(e) a member of the General Assembly appointed by the | ||
House Minority Leader;
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(f) a member of the General Assembly appointed by the | ||
President of the Senate;
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(g) a member of the General Assembly appointed by the | ||
Senate Minority Leader;
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(h) 4 members chosen by the Department of Veterans | ||
Affairs, who shall represent statewide veterans' | ||
organizations or veterans' homeless shelters;
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(i) one member appointed by the Lieutenant Governor; | ||
and
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(j) a representative of the United States Department of | ||
Veterans Affairs shall be invited to participate.
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Vacancies in the Task Force shall be filled by the initial | ||
appointing authority. Task Force members shall serve without | ||
compensation, but may be reimbursed for necessary expenses | ||
incurred in performing duties associated with the Task Force.
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By July 1, 2008 and by July 1 of each year thereafter, the | ||
Task Force shall present an annual report of its findings to | ||
the Governor, the Attorney General, the Director of Veterans' | ||
Affairs, the Lieutenant Governor, and the Secretary of the | ||
United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
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If the Task Force becomes inactive because active theaters | ||
cease, the Director of Veterans Affairs may reactivate the Task | ||
Force if active theaters are reestablished.
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(Source: P.A. 97-414, eff. 1-1-12.) | ||
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon | ||
becoming law. | ||