Bill Text: IL HB3424 | 2019-2020 | 101st General Assembly | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Amends the Department of Veterans' Affairs Act. Creates the Veterans' Disability Compensation Task Force to 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. Provides that the Task Force shall consist of the chair and minority spokesperson of the Veterans' Affairs Committee in the House of Representatives, the chair and minority spokesperson of the Veterans Affairs Committee in the Senate, and 15 members appointed by the chair of the Veterans' Affairs Committee in the House of Representatives and the chair of the Veterans Affairs Committee in the Senate. Requires those appointed to the Task Force to be members of different Illinois counties' Veterans Assistance Commissions, Veteran Service Officers, and VITAS officials. Provides that Task Force members shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for any travel expenses incurred in attending meetings. Provides that within 60 days of the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Task Force shall meet, and thereafter shall meet at least quarterly. Requires the Department of Veterans' Affairs to provide administrative and other support to the Task Force. Requires the Task Force to prepare a report that summarizes its work and makes recommendations resulting from its study. Provides that the Task Force shall submit the report of its findings and any recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before July 1, 2020. Repeals the amendatory Act's provisions on July 1, 2021. Effective immediately.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-1)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2019-05-31 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments [HB3424 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2019-HB3424-Introduced.html

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101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2019 and 2020 HB3424 Introduced , by Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
20 ILCS 2805/6 new
Amends the Department of Veterans' Affairs Act. Creates the Veterans' Disability Compensation Task Force. Provides specified objectives for the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall consist of 15 members appointed by the chairs of the Veterans Affairs Committees in the House of Representatives and the Senate. Provides that the members of the Task Force shall be members of different Illinois counties' Veteran's Assistance Commissions, Veteran Service Officers, VITAS officials, and AMVETS officials. Provides that the Task Force shall meet once each month and that joint hearings of the Veterans Affairs Committees of the House of Representatives and Senate shall be held once each month. Provides that the Department of Veterans' Affairs shall provide administrative and other support to the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall prepare a report of its findings and recommendations and submit it to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before May 1, 2020. Effective immediately.
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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
A BILL FOR
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AN ACT concerning veterans.
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 6 as follows:
(20 ILCS 2805/6 new)
Sec. 6. Veterans' Disability Compensation Task Force.
(a) The Veterans' Disability Compensation Task Force is
created. The Task Force has the following objectives:
(1) Determine why Illinois is ranked 52nd among all
other states and U.S. territories in providing disability
compensation to veterans and explore ways to address the
disparity.
(2) Determine what lessons can be taken from the
legionnaires' disease outbreak at Quincy, including, but
not limited to, what happened and why it happened.
(3) Evaluate the process that the Illinois Veterans
Affairs Commission uses to provide disability compensation
and how that process differs from states that have better
records of veteran care.
(b) The Task Force shall consist of 15 members appointed by
the chair of the Veterans' Affairs Committee in the House of
Representatives and the chair of the Veterans Affairs Committee

HB3424 - 2 - LRB101 10370 CPF 55476 b
in the Senate. The members of the Task Force shall be members
of different Illinois counties' Veteran's Assistance
Commissions, Veteran Service Officers, VITAS officials, and
AMVETS officials.
(c) Task Force members shall serve without compensation but
may be reimbursed for their expenses incurred in performing
their duties. The Task Force shall meet once each month, and
joint hearings of the Veterans Affairs Committees of the House
of Representatives and Senate shall be held once each month.
(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 on or
before May 1, 2020.
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.