HB3315 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB097 10828 KTG 51307 b

97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
HB3315

Introduced 2/24/2011, by Rep. Rosemary Mulligan

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 2805/33 new

Amends the Department of Veterans Affairs Act. Creates the Returning Veterans Task Force consisting of members from specified veterans' organizations to develop a plan to coordinate efforts to open doors for returning veterans who have sacrificed for our nation. Contains provisions regarding: the composition of the Task Force; vacancies; duties; compensation; reporting requirements; and duration. 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 33 as follows:

(20 ILCS 2805/33 new)

Sec. 33. Returning Veterans Task Force.

(a) Findings and purpose. Frequently, returning veterans are unaware of critical services provided by veterans' organizations. Veterans' organizations formed immediately after World War I and those formed more recently have little contact or coordination in supplying information to returning veterans about services provided. This often leads to confusion among returning veterans. The purpose of this Section is to create a task force consisting of members from each of the major federally recognized veterans' organizations to develop a plan to coordinate efforts to open doors for returning veterans who have sacrificed for our nation.

(b) Composition of Task Force. The Returning Veterans Task Force is created within the Department of Veterans' Affairs. The Task Force shall include the following members:

(1) A representative of the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs, who shall chair the Task Force.

(2) A representative from the Illinois Department of Military Affairs.

(3) A member of the General Assembly appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(4) A member of the General Assembly appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

(5) A member of the General Assembly appointed by the President of the Senate.

(6) A member of the General Assembly appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate.

(7) A member of the Illinois Veterans of Foreign Wars.

(8) A member of the Illinois American Legion.

(9) A member of the Illinois Chapter of AMVETS.

(10) A member of the Disabled American Veterans.

(11) A member of the Korean War Veterans Association.

(12) A member of the Paralyzed Veterans of America.

(13) A member of the Vietnam Veterans of America.

A representative of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs shall be invited to participate.

(c) Vacancies. Vacancies in the Task Force shall be filled by the initial appointing authority.

(d) Compensation. Task Force members shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in performing duties associated with the Task Force.

(e) Duties. The Task Force shall:

(1) Investigate ways and means by which to coordinate efforts to open doors for returning veterans who have sacrificed for our nation, and shall develop a plan based on these findings.

(2) Identify returning veterans that have lost limbs while in military service.

(3) Identify the number of veterans requiring a prescription for a prosthesis and identify those veterans who decide not to pursue a prosthesis.

(4) Ensure that veterans are aware of the process for obtaining a prescription for a prosthesis from the Department of Veterans' Affairs.

(5) Track the time it takes to obtain a prosthesis under the current process and identify problems experienced by Illinois veterans in obtaining a prosthesis.

(6) Track federal funding available for prosthesis items.

(7) Identify trends with respect to replacement prosthesis (life expectancy of original prosthesis) and innovations and technologies that improve existing prosthesis items.

(f) Reporting. By July 1, 2012 and by July 1 of each year thereafter, the Task Force shall present its plan and an annual report of its findings to the Governor, the General Assembly, the Director of Veterans' Affairs, and the Secretary of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

(g) Duration. If the Task Force becomes inactive on July 1, 2016 because active theaters cease, the Director of Veterans' Affairs may reactivate the Task Force if active theaters are reestablished.

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