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Public Act 102-0417
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| HB1815 Enrolled | LRB102 11699 RAM 17033 b |
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AN ACT concerning State government.
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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 38 as follows:
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(20 ILCS 2805/38) |
(Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2021) |
Sec. 38. Veterans' Service-Related Ailments Task Force. |
(a) The Veterans' Service-Related Ailments Task Force is |
created. The Task Force shall review and make recommendations |
regarding veterans' service-related ailments that are not |
recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, |
including exploring why certain service-related ailments are |
not recognized and determining what may be done to have them |
recognized. |
Additionally, the Task Force shall assess ways the State |
of Illinois can improve the rate at which disability |
compensation claims are approved by the federal government and |
correct the disparity between the U.S. Department of Veterans |
Affairs' approval of disability compensation for Illinois |
veterans and that which is approved for veterans in other |
states. |
(b) The Task Force shall have 15 members, comprised as |
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follows: |
(1) The Director of Veterans' Affairs or the |
Director's designee, who shall serve as chairperson. |
(2) 2 Members from the House of Representatives, |
appointed one each by the Speaker of the House and the |
House Minority Leader. |
(3) 2 Members of the Senate, appointed one each by the |
President of the Senate and the Senate Minority Leader. |
(4) One veteran, appointed by the Director of |
Veterans' Affairs. |
(5) One medical professional with experience working |
with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, appointed by |
the Director of Veterans' Affairs. |
(6) 4 representatives from a variety of veterans |
organizations representing geographic diversity in the |
State, appointed by the Director of Veterans' Affairs. |
(7) 4 members, one of whom shall be appointed by the |
chair of the Veterans' Affairs Committee of the House of |
Representatives, one of whom shall be appointed by the |
minority spokesperson of the Veterans' Affairs Committee |
of the House of Representatives, one of whom shall be |
appointed by the chair of the Veterans Affairs Committee |
of the Senate, and one of whom shall be appointed by the |
minority spokesperson of the Veterans Affairs Committee of |
the Senate. Those appointed to the Task Force under this |
paragraph shall be members of different Illinois counties' |
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Veterans Assistance Commissions, Veteran Service Officers, |
and VITAS officials. |
Task Force members shall serve without compensation but
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may be reimbursed for their expenses incurred in performing |
their duties. |
(c) The Task Force shall meet at least once every 2 months |
beginning on or before July 1, 2021 2019, and at other times as |
determined by the Task Force. Task Force members shall select |
from amongst themselves a chairperson or co-chairpersons at |
the initial Task Force meeting. |
(d) The Department of Veterans' Affairs shall provide |
administrative and other support to the Task Force. |
(e) The Task Force shall prepare a report that summarizes |
its work and makes recommendations resulting from its study. |
The Task Force shall submit the report of its findings and |
recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by |
December 31, 2022 2020. The Task Force is dissolved, and this |
Section is repealed, on December 31, 2023 2021.
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(Source: P.A. 101-225, eff. 8-9-19.)
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Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon |
becoming law.
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