2023 Illinois Compiled Statutes › Chapter 20 - EXECUTIVE BRANCH › 20 ILCS 2805/ - Department of Veterans' Affairs Act.

(20 ILCS 2805/0.01) (from Ch. 126 1/2, par. 65.9)
Sec. 0.01. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
Department of Veterans' Affairs Act.
(Source: P.A. 100-143, eff. 1-1-18.)
(20 ILCS 2805/1) (from Ch. 126 1/2, par. 66)
Sec. 1. 
		There is created the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs. 
		The
Department is the successor agency to the Illinois Veterans' Commission.
(Source: P.A. 89-324, eff. 8-13-95.)
(20 ILCS 2805/1.2)
Sec. 1.2. Division of Women Veterans Affairs. Subject to appropriations for this purpose, the Division of Women Veterans Affairs is created as a Division within the Department. The Division shall serve as an advocate for women veterans, in recognition of the unique issues facing women veterans. The Division shall assess 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. The Division shall review the Department's programs, activities, research projects, and other initiatives designed to meet the needs of women veterans and shall make recommendations to the Director of Veterans' Affairs concerning ways to improve, modify, and effect change in programs and services for women veterans.
(Source: P.A. 99-314, eff. 8-7-15.)
(20 ILCS 2805/1.5)
Sec. 1.5. Definitions. In this Act:
"Department" means the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs.
"Veterans Home", unless the context indicates otherwise, means any or all of
the Illinois Veterans Homes operated and maintained by the Department. "Veterans Home" includes a facility operated and maintained by the Department in the City of Quincy that provides housing to residents of the Veterans Home at Quincy.
(Source: P.A. 100-608, eff. 1-1-19.)
(20 ILCS 2805/2) (from Ch. 126 1/2, par. 67)
Sec. 2. Powers and duties. The Department shall have the following
powers and duties:
To perform such acts at the request of any veteran, or his or her spouse,
surviving spouse or dependents as shall be reasonably necessary
or reasonably incident to obtaining or endeavoring to obtain for the requester
any advantage, benefit or emolument accruing or due to such person under
any law of the United States, the State of Illinois or any other state or
governmental agency by reason of the service of such veteran, and in pursuance
thereof shall:
(1) Contact veterans, their survivors and dependents     and advise them of the benefits of state and federal laws and assist them in obtaining such benefits;
(2) Establish field offices and direct the activities     of the personnel assigned to such offices;
(3) Create and maintain a volunteer field force; the     volunteer field force may include representatives from the following without limitation: educational institutions, labor organizations, veterans organizations, employers, churches, and farm organizations; the volunteer field force may not process federal veterans assistance claims;
(4) Conduct informational and training services;
(5) Conduct educational programs through newspapers,     periodicals, social media, television, and radio for the specific purpose of disseminating information affecting veterans and their dependents;
(6) Coordinate the services and activities of all     state departments having services and resources affecting veterans and their dependents;
(7) Encourage and assist in the coordination of     agencies within counties giving service to veterans and their dependents;
(8) Cooperate with veterans organizations and other     governmental agencies;
(9) Make, alter, amend and promulgate reasonable     rules and procedures for the administration of this Act;
(10) Make and publish annual reports to the Governor     regarding the administration and general operation of the Department;
(11) (Blank);
(12) (Blank); and
(13) Provide informational resources and education to     veterans returning from deployment regarding service animals for individuals with disabilities, including, but not limited to, resources and education on service animals that guide people who are blind, pull a wheelchair, alert a person with hearing loss, protect a person having a seizure, assist a person with a traumatic brain injury, and calm a person with post-traumatic stress disorder during an anxiety attack or psychiatric episode.
The Department may accept and hold on behalf of the State, if for the
public interest, a grant, gift, devise or bequest of money or property to
the Department made for the general benefit of Illinois veterans,
including the conduct of informational and training services by the Department
and other authorized purposes of the Department.  The Department shall cause
each grant, gift, devise or bequest to be kept as a distinct fund and shall
invest such funds in the manner provided by the Public Funds Investment Act, as
now or hereafter amended, and shall make such reports as may
be required by the Comptroller concerning what funds are so held and
the manner in which such funds are invested.
The Department may make grants from these funds for the general benefit of
Illinois veterans.  Grants from these funds, except for the funds established
under Sections 2.01a and 2.03, shall be subject to appropriation.
The Department has the power to make grants, from funds appropriated from the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund, for benefits authorized under the Survivors Compensation Act.
(Source: P.A. 99-314, eff. 8-7-15; 99-576, eff. 7-15-16; 100-84, eff. 1-1-18.)
(20 ILCS 2805/2a)
Sec. 2a. 
		(Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 84-1265. Repealed by P.A. 89-324, eff. 8-13-95.)
(20 ILCS 2805/2b) (from Ch. 126 1/2, par. 67b)
Sec. 2b. Persian Gulf Conflict compensation.
(a) (Blank).
(b)  Every
person who served in the Persian Gulf Conflict is entitled to receive compensation of
$100, payable from funds appropriated for the payments of bonuses to
veterans, if the person:
(1) was a resident of Illinois for at least 12 months     immediately preceding his or her period of service;
(2) is still in active service, is honorably     separated or discharged from the service, has been furloughed to a reserve, or has been retired; and
(3) has received the Southwest Asia Service Medal for     service in the Persian Gulf Conflict.
(c) The widow or widower, child or children, mother, father, person
standing in loco parentis, brothers and sisters, in the order named, of any
deceased person shall be paid the compensation that the deceased person
would be entitled to receive under subsection (b) of this Act.  Where the
deceased person would have qualified for compensation under subsection (b)
except for his or her death and his or her death was connected with that
service and resulted from that service during the time specified in
subsection (b), his or her survivors, in the order named in this
subsection, shall be paid 10 times the amount the deceased person would
have received under subsection (b).
(d) The Department shall establish rules and regulations to govern the
provisions of this Section.
(Source: P.A. 99-933, eff. 1-27-17.)
(20 ILCS 2805/2c)
Sec. 2c. 
		(Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 89-324, eff. 8-13-95.  Repealed by P.A. 91-833, eff. 1-1-01;
91-836,
eff. 1-1-01.)
(20 ILCS 2805/2d)
Sec. 2d. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 91-836, eff. 1-1-01. Repealed by P.A. 97-297, eff. 1-1-12.)
(20 ILCS 2805/2e)
Sec. 2e. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07. Repealed by P.A. 97-297, eff. 1-1-12.)
(20 ILCS 2805/2f)
Sec. 2f. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07. Repealed by P.A. 97-297, eff. 1-1-12.)
(20 ILCS 2805/2g)
Sec. 2g. The Illinois Veterans' Homes Fund. The Illinois Veterans' Homes Fund is hereby created as a special fund in the State treasury. From appropriations to the Department from the Fund the Department shall purchase needed equipment and supplies to enhance the lives of the residents at and for the operations of veterans' homes in Illinois, including capital improvements, building rehabilitation, and repairs.
(Source: P.A. 100-392, eff. 8-25-17.)
(20 ILCS 2805/2h)
Sec. 2h. Task Force on Veterans' Suicide recommendations. The provisions of this Section are based on the recommendations in the final report of the Task Force on Veterans' Suicide, published on December 1, 2016. The Department shall adopt any rules necessary to implement this Section. The Department shall seek available federal funding, grants, or private funding to help fund the requirements of this Section; or the Department shall collaborate with other departments, existing veterans' organizations, nonprofit organizations, or private organizations to implement the requirements of this Section.
(1) The Department shall reach out and coordinate     with  the United States Department of Veterans' Affairs  in order to identify veterans returning from service in combat units. The Department shall establish a proactive outreach program for veterans that served in  combat units.
(2) The Department or the Department in collaboration     with not-for-profit organizations shall engage in a public awareness campaign concerning the trauma and internal injuries suffered by veterans in order to promote understanding and acceptance from the general public. The public awareness campaign shall work to dispel the myths associated with grieving, suicide, and mental health healing. The Department shall evaluate existing programs, including, but not limited to, the Suicide Prevention Alliance under the Suicide Prevention, Education, and Treatment Act, and coordinate messaging using messaging guidelines that existing programs have found to be successful.
(3) The Department shall provide training to     frontline employees at veterans service organizations established under this Act on mental health services to identify veterans who might be at risk of suicidal thoughts. This training may include, but not be limited to, mental health first aid training and amplified suicide advanced training programs. The Department shall provide assistance to Veterans Assistance Commissions established under Section 9 of the Military Veterans Assistance Act and veterans' service associations, including, but not limited to, the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and AMVETS, in providing the training under this paragraph to the employees of the Veterans Assistance Commissions and veterans' service associations that seek participation in the Department's training events.
The Department shall have priority for hiring combat     veterans to serve as veteran service officers at veterans service organizations established under this Act for the purpose of having veteran services officers who are able to properly relate to fellow combat veterans.
(4) The Department shall collaborate with     institutions of higher education to address environmental factors that could negatively impact a veteran's ability to learn in a traditional classroom setting. The Department, in coordination with institutions of higher education, shall provide proactive outreach as part of an educational success program for veterans experiencing difficulties in higher education.
(5) The Department shall coordinate with existing     veterans' associations and military organizations to provide a family preparation course concerning the emotional cycle of deployment that is designed to help a family unit adjust to changes in discharged and returning veterans and inform the family members of where to go to seek assistance. This course shall be made available to the family of a veteran prior to the discharge and homecoming of the veteran.
(6) The Department shall reach out to the United     States Department of Veterans' Affairs to obtain information on returning veterans and develop a transition program for returning veterans that reside in the State including information on local organizations that provide resources or services for veterans that a veteran can access.
(7) The Department shall collaborate with     non-profits, businesses, and employers in the State that focus on the needs of employees who are veterans seeking employment and that support employees who are veterans.
(8) The Department, in collaboration with veterans'     organizations in the State, shall coordinate with the United States Department of Veterans' Affairs to promote their peer specialist program and collaborate with outside programs to establish a peer-to-peer program.
(Source: P.A. 100-482, eff. 6-1-18.)
(20 ILCS 2805/2.01) (from Ch. 126 1/2, par. 67.01)
Sec. 2.01. Veterans Home admissions.
(a) Any honorably discharged veteran
is entitled to admission to an Illinois
Veterans Home if the applicant meets the requirements of this Section.
(b)

The veteran must:
(1) have served in the armed forces of the United     States at least 1 day in World War II, the Korean Conflict, the Viet Nam Campaign, or the Persian Gulf Conflict between the dates recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or between any other present or future dates recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as a war period, or have served in a hostile fire environment and has been awarded a campaign or expeditionary medal signifying his or her service, for purposes of eligibility for domiciliary or nursing home care;
(2) have served and been honorably discharged or     retired from the armed forces of the United States for a service connected disability or injury, for purposes of eligibility for domiciliary or nursing home care;
(3) have served as an enlisted person at least 90     days on active duty in the armed forces of the United States, excluding service on active duty for training purposes only, and entered active duty before September 8, 1980, for purposes of eligibility for domiciliary or nursing home care;
(4) have served as an officer at least 90 days on     active duty in the armed forces of the United States, excluding service on active duty for training purposes only, and entered active duty before October 17, 1981, for purposes of eligibility for domiciliary or nursing home care;
(5) have served on active duty in the armed forces of     the United States for 24 months of continuous service or more, excluding active duty for training purposes only, and enlisted after September 7, 1980, for purposes of eligibility for domiciliary or nursing home care;
(6) have served as a reservist in the armed forces of     the United States or the National Guard and the service included being called to federal active duty, excluding service on active duty for training purposes only, and who completed the term, for purposes of eligibility for domiciliary or nursing home care;
(7) have been  discharged for reasons of hardship or     released from active duty due to a reduction in the United States armed forces prior to the completion of the required period of service, regardless of the actual time served, for purposes of eligibility for domiciliary or nursing home care; or
(8) have served in the National Guard or Reserve     Forces of the United States and completed 20 years of satisfactory service, be  otherwise eligible to receive reserve or active duty retirement benefits, and have been an Illinois resident for at least one year before applying for admission for purposes of eligibility for domiciliary care only.
(c) The veteran must have service accredited to the State of Illinois or
have been a resident of this State for one year immediately
preceding the date of application.
(d) For admission to the Illinois Veterans Homes at Anna and
Quincy, the veteran must have developed a disability by disease, wounds, or otherwise and because
of the disability be incapable of earning a living.
(e) For admission to the Illinois Veterans Homes at Chicago, LaSalle, and Manteno,
the veteran must have developed a disability by disease, wounds, or otherwise and, for purposes of eligibility
for nursing home care, require nursing care because of the disability.
(f) An individual who served during a time of conflict as set forth in paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of this Section has preference over all other qualifying candidates, for purposes of eligibility for domiciliary or
nursing home care at any Illinois Veterans Home.
(g) A veteran or spouse, once admitted to an Illinois Veterans Home facility, is considered a resident for interfacility purposes.
(h) A non-veteran spouse shall only have the same priority for admission to a Veterans Home as a veteran if the non-veteran spouse and his or her veteran spouse are admitted at the same time to live together at the Veterans Home.
(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15; 99-314, eff. 8-7-15; 99-642, eff. 7-28-16; 100-392, eff. 8-25-17; 100-942, eff. 1-1-19.)
(20 ILCS 2805/2.01a) (from Ch. 126 1/2, par. 67.01a)
Sec. 2.01a. Members benefits fund; personal property. The
Department
shall direct the expenditure of all money which
has been or may be received by any officer of an Illinois Veterans Home
including profit on sales from commissary stores. The money shall be deposited
into the members benefits fund and expenditures from the fund
shall be made
under the direction of the Department for the special comfort, pleasure, and
amusement of residents and employees, provided that amounts expended for
comfort, pleasure,
and amusement of employees shall not exceed the amount of profits derived from
sales made to employees by such commissaries, as determined by the Department. The Department may also make expenditures from the fund, subject to approval by the Director of Veterans' Affairs, for recognition and appreciation programs for volunteers who assist the Veterans Homes.
Expenditures from the fund may not be used to supplement a
shortfall in the ordinary and contingent operating expenses of the Home and
shall be expended only for the special comfort, pleasure, and amusement of the
residents.
The Department shall prepare a quarterly report on all locally held 
member's benefits funds from each Illinois Veterans Home. The report shall contain the amount of donations received for each veterans' home, including monetary and nonmonetary items, the expenditures and items disbursed, and the end of quarter balance of the locally held 
member's benefits funds. The Department shall submit the quarterly report to the General Assembly and to the Governor and publish the report on its website.
Money received as interest and income on funds deposited for residents
of an Illinois Veterans Home shall be paid to the individual accounts of the residents.
If home residents choose to hold savings accounts or other
investments outside the Home, interest or income on the individual savings
accounts or investments of residents shall
accrue
to the individual accounts of the residents.
Any money belonging to residents separated by death, discharge, or
unauthorized absence from an Illinois Veterans Home, in custody of officers
thereof, may, if unclaimed by the resident or the legal
representatives thereof for a period of 2 years, be expended at the
direction of the Department for the purposes and in the manner specified
above. Articles of personal property, with the exception of clothing left
in the custody of officers, shall, if unclaimed for the period of
2 years, be sold and the money disposed of in the same manner.
Clothing left at a Home by residents at the time of separation
may be used as determined by the Home if unclaimed by the resident
or legal representatives thereof within 30 days after notification.
(Source: P.A. 102-549, eff. 1-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)
(20 ILCS 2805/2.01b)
Sec. 2.01b. Illinois Veterans Home at Chicago.  The Illinois Veterans Home at Chicago is established. The Department shall operate and maintain the Illinois Veterans Home at Chicago.
(Source: P.A. 100-392, eff. 8-25-17.)
(20 ILCS 2805/2.01c)
Sec. 2.01c. Veterans Home; notice of infectious disease.
(a) As used in this Section, "infectious disease" means any disease caused by a living organism or other pathogen, including a fungus, bacteria, parasite, protozoan, prion, or virus, that has a history of or potential for a significant mortality rate among elderly or vulnerable populations, including, but not limited to, strains of influenza, Legionnaires' disease, and pneumonia.
(b) If a Veterans Home administrator or a member of the administrative staff is notified that, within one month or less, 2 or more persons residing within the Veterans Home are diagnosed with an infectious disease by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches; a hospital licensed under the Hospital Licensing Act or organized under the University of Illinois Hospital Act; a long-term care facility licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act; a freestanding emergency center licensed under the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act; a local health department; or any other State agency or government entity, then, within  24 hours after the facility is notified of the second diagnosis, the Veterans Home must:
(1)  provide a written notification of the incidence     of the infectious disease to each resident of the facility and the resident's emergency contact or next of kin;
(2) post a notification of the incidence of the     infectious disease in a conspicuous place near the main entrance to the Veterans Home; and
(3) provide a written notification to the Department     of Veterans' Affairs and the Department of Public Health of the incidence of the infectious disease and of compliance with  the written notification requirements of paragraph (1).In addition to the initial written notifications, the Veterans Home must provide written notifications of any updates on the incidence of the infectious disease and any options that are available to the residents.
The Department of Veterans' Affairs and the Department of Public Health must post the notification of the incidence of the infectious disease, any updates, and any options that are available to the residents on their websites as soon as practicable after receiving the notification, but in no event shall the notice be posted later than the end of the next business day.
(Source: P.A. 100-632, eff. 7-27-18.)
(20 ILCS 2805/2.02) (from Ch. 126 1/2, par. 67.02)
Sec. 2.02. 
		
		Any widow or widower of any honorably discharged veteran who
meets the qualifications specified in Section 2.01 and who was a resident
of the State of Illinois for a continuous period of one year immediately
before making application, who has no adequate means of support, and is
unable to earn a living is entitled to admission to the Illinois Veterans
Homes at Anna and Quincy should vacant beds exist.  Preference for filling
vacant beds or for filling vacant beds from a waiting list shall be granted
first to eligible veterans.
(Source: P.A. 89-324, eff. 8-13-95.)
(20 ILCS 2805/2.02a)
Sec. 2.02a. Gold Star Family. Any natural father, natural mother, mother through adoption, father through adoption, or spouse of a  veteran killed in the line of duty, (also known as a Gold Star Family member) deemed eligible by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs who was a resident of the State of Illinois for a continuous period of one year immediately before making application is entitled to admission to any of the Illinois Veterans Homes should vacant beds exist.  Preference for filling vacant beds or for filling vacant beds from a waiting list shall be granted first to eligible veterans.
(Source: P.A. 97-302, eff. 1-1-12; 97-927, eff. 1-1-13.)
(20 ILCS 2805/2.03) (from Ch. 126 1/2, par. 67.03)
Sec. 2.03. Admissions. Admissions to an Illinois Veterans Home are
subject to the rules and regulations adopted by the Department of Veterans'
Affairs to govern the admission of applicants.
Each resident of a Home is liable for the payment of sums
representing maintenance charges for care at the Home at a rate to
be determined by the Department, based on the resident's ability to pay.
However, the charges shall not exceed the average annual per
capita cost of maintaining the resident in the Home.  The Department,
upon being furnished proof of payment, shall in its discretion
make allowances for unusual expenses in determining the
ability of the resident to pay maintenance charges.
The basis upon which the payment of maintenance charges shall be
calculated by the Department is the average per capita cost
for the care of all residents at each Home for the fiscal year
immediately preceding the period for which the rate for each
Home is being calculated.
The Department may require residents to pay charges monthly,
quarterly, or otherwise as may be most suitably arranged for the
individual members.  The amounts received from each Home for the
charges shall be transmitted to the Treasurer of the State of Illinois
for deposit in each Veterans Home Fund, respectively, except that receipts attributable to the Illinois Veterans Home at Chicago shall be deposited into the Illinois Veterans' Homes Fund.
The Department may investigate the financial condition of residents
of a Home to determine their ability to pay maintenance charges and
to establish standards as a basis of judgment for such determination.
Such standards shall be recomputed periodically to reflect
changes in the cost of living and other pertinent factors.
Refusal to pay the maintenance charges is cause for discharge
of a resident from a Home.
The Department may collect any medical or health benefits
to which a resident may become entitled through tax
supported or privately financed systems of insurance, as a
result of his or her care or treatment in the facilities provided by the
Department, or because of care or treatment in other facilities
when such care or treatment has been paid for by the Department.
Admission of a resident is not limited or conditioned in any manner
by the financial status of the resident or his or her ability to pay
maintenance charges.
The Department may accept and hold on behalf of the State, if for the
public interest, a grant, gift, devise, or bequest of money or property to
the Department made in trust for the maintenance or support of a resident
of an Illinois Veterans Home or for any other legitimate purpose.  The Department shall cause each gift, grant,
devise, or bequest to be kept as a distinct fund and shall invest the same
in the manner provided by the laws of this State relating to securities in
which the deposit in savings banks may be invested.  However, the
Department may, at its discretion, deposit in a proper trust company, bank,
or savings bank, during the continuance of the trust, any fund left in
trust for the life of a person and shall adopt rules and regulations
governing the deposit, transfer, or withdrawal of the fund. The Department
shall, on the expiration of any trust as provided in any instrument
creating the trust, dispose of the fund in the manner
provided in the instrument.  The Department shall include in its required
reports a statement showing what funds are so held by it and the condition
of the funds; provided that monies found on residents at the time of their
admission or accruing to them during their residence at a Home and monies
deposited with the administrators by relatives, guardians, or friends of
residents for the special comfort and pleasure of the resident shall
remain in the custody of the administrators who shall act as trustees for
disbursement to, on behalf of, or for the benefit of the resident.  All
types of retirement and pension benefits from private and public sources
may be paid directly to the administrator of a Home for deposit to
the resident trust fund account.
(Source: P.A. 100-392, eff. 8-25-17.)
(20 ILCS 2805/2.04) (from Ch. 126 1/2, par. 67.04)
Sec. 2.04. 
There shall be established in the State Treasury special funds
known as (i) the LaSalle Veterans Home Fund, (ii) the Anna Veterans Home Fund,
(iii) the Manteno Veterans Home Fund, and (iv) the Quincy Veterans Home
Fund.
All moneys received by an Illinois Veterans Home from Medicare and from
maintenance charges to veterans, spouses, and surviving  spouses residing at
that Home shall be paid into that Home's Fund.  All moneys
received from the
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for patient care shall be transmitted to
the Treasurer of the State for deposit in the Veterans Home Fund for the Home
in which the veteran resides.  Appropriations shall be made from a Fund only
for the needs of the Home, including capital improvements, building
rehabilitation, and repairs. The Illinois Veterans' Homes Fund shall be the Veterans Home Fund for the Illinois Veterans Home at Chicago.
The administrator of each Veterans Home shall establish a locally held

member's benefits fund. The Director may authorize the Veterans Home to conduct limited fundraising in accordance with applicable laws and regulations for which the sole purpose is to benefit the Veterans Home's member's benefits fund. Revenues accruing to an Illinois Veterans Home,
including any donations, grants for the operation of the Home, profits from
commissary stores, and funds received from any individual or other source, including limited fundraising,
shall be  deposited into that Home's benefits fund.  Expenditures from the benefits funds
shall
be solely for the special comfort, pleasure, and amusement of residents.
Contributors of unsolicited private donations may specify the purpose for which
the private donations are to be used.
Upon request of the Department, the State's Attorney of the county in which
a resident or living former resident of an Illinois Veterans Home
who is liable under this Act
for payment of sums representing maintenance charges resides shall file
an action in a court of competent jurisdiction against any such person who
fails or refuses to pay such sums. The court may order the payment of sums
due to maintenance charges for such period or periods of time as the
circumstances require.
Upon the death of a person who is or has been a resident of an
Illinois Veterans Home who is
liable for maintenance charges and who is possessed of property, the
Department may present a claim for such sum or for the balance due in
case less than the rate prescribed under this Act has been paid.  The
claim shall be allowed and paid as other lawful claims against the estate.
The administrator of each Veterans Home shall establish a locally held

trust fund to maintain moneys held for residents.  Whenever the Department
finds it necessary to preserve order,
preserve health, or enforce discipline, the resident shall deposit in a
trust account at the Home such monies from any source of income as may
be determined necessary, and disbursement of these funds to the resident
shall be made only by direction of the administrator.
If a resident of an Illinois Veterans Home has a
dependent child, spouse, or parent the administrator may
require that all monies
received be deposited in a trust account with dependency contributions
being made at the direction of the administrator.  The balance retained
in the trust account shall be disbursed to the resident at the time of
discharge from the Home or to his or her heirs or legal representative
at the time of the resident's death, subject to Department regulations
or order of the court.
The Director of Central Management Services, with the
consent of the Director of Veterans' Affairs, is authorized
and empowered to lease or let any real property held by the Department of
Veterans' Affairs for an Illinois Veterans Home to entities or
persons upon terms and conditions which are considered to be in the best
interest of that Home.  The real property must not be needed for any direct
or immediate purpose of the Home.  In any leasing or letting, primary
consideration shall be given to the use of real property for agricultural
purposes, and all moneys received shall be transmitted to the Treasurer of
the State for deposit in the appropriate Veterans Home Fund.
Each administrator of an Illinois Veterans Home who has an established locally held 
member's benefits fund shall prepare and submit to the Department a monthly report of all donations received, including donations of a nonmonetary nature. The report shall include the end of month balance of the locally held 
member's benefits fund.
(Source: P.A. 102-549, eff. 1-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)
(20 ILCS 2805/2.05) (from Ch. 126 1/2, par. 67.05)
Sec. 2.05. 
When any veteran is a resident or becomes a
resident of the Illinois Veterans Homes at Anna or Quincy, the
spouse of the veteran may be admitted as a resident of the Home, subject to the
rules and regulations of the Home governing the admission of applicants and in accordance with subsection (h) of Section 2.01, if (i)
the spouse was married to the veteran for at least 5 years
preceding the date of making application for admission, and (ii) the spouse
has no adequate means of support and is unable to earn a living.
Preference for filling vacant beds or for filling beds from a waiting list
shall first be granted to eligible veterans, except as provided under subsection (h) of Section 2.01.
Every veteran residing in a Home whose spouse is also a
resident shall deposit in his or her trust account at the Home such
monies from any source of income as may be deemed necessary
by the administrator for the personal comfort needs of
the spouse.  If the veteran does not have a monthly income or cash assets, the
personal comfort needs of the resident spouse shall be provided by the State.
Upon the death of a veteran who has been a resident of a Home, the
surviving spouse, if he or she so desires, may thereafter remain for life
in the Illinois Veterans Home at Quincy or the Illinois Veterans Home at
Anna, subject to the rules and
regulations of the Home.
(Source: P.A. 100-942, eff. 1-1-19.)
(20 ILCS 2805/2.06) (from Ch. 126 1/2, par. 67.06)
Sec. 2.06. 
		
		The Department shall make reasonable rules and
regulations to govern the admission, maintenance, and discharge
of residents of the Illinois Veterans Homes consistent
with the spirit and provisions of Sections 2.01 through 2.06.
Whenever an applicant is admitted, the Department shall
notify him or her of such rules and regulations.
(Source: P.A. 88-160; 89-324, eff. 8-13-95.)
(20 ILCS 2805/2.07) (from Ch. 126 1/2, par. 67.07)
Sec. 2.07. The Department shall employ and maintain sufficient and
qualified staff at the veterans' homes (i) to fill all beds, subject to appropriation, and (ii) to
fulfill the requirements of this Act.  The Department shall report to
the General Assembly, by January 1 and July 1 of each year, the number of
staff employed in providing direct patient care at their veterans' homes,
the compliance or noncompliance with staffing standards established by the
United States Department of Veterans Affairs for
such care, and in the event of
noncompliance with such standards, the number of staff required for compliance. For purposes of this Section, a nurse who has a license application pending with the State shall not be deemed unqualified by the Department if the nurse is in compliance with Section 50-15 of the Nurse Practice Act.
A veterans home is subject to the Health Care Violence Prevention Act.
(Source: P.A. 100-1051, eff. 1-1-19.)
(20 ILCS 2805/2.08)
Sec. 2.08. State healthcare purchasing. On and after the date 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly, as provided in the Executive Order 1 (2012) Implementation Act, all of the powers, duties, rights, and responsibilities related to State healthcare purchasing under this Act that were transferred from the Department to the Department of Healthcare and Family Services by Executive Order 3 (2005) are transferred back to the Department.
(Source: P.A. 98-488, eff. 8-16-13.)
(20 ILCS 2805/2.10)
Sec. 2.10. Conflicts with the Nursing Home Care Act. If there is a
conflict between the provisions of this Act and the provisions of the
Nursing Home Care Act concerning an Illinois Veterans Home not operated by the
Department of Veterans' Affairs, then the provisions of the Nursing Home Care
Act shall apply. If there is a conflict between the provisions of this
Act and the provisions of the Nursing Home Care Act concerning
an Illinois Veterans Home operated by the Illinois Department
of Veterans' Affairs, then the provisions of this Act shall apply.
(Source: P.A. 96-703, eff. 8-25-09.)
(20 ILCS 2805/2.11)
Sec. 2.11. Advertising for employees at veterans medical facilities. The Department may spend up to $30,000 per fiscal year for the purpose of advertising seeking employees to fill open positions at veterans medical facilities.
(Source: P.A. 96-90, eff. 7-27-09.)
(20 ILCS 2805/2.12)
Sec. 2.12. Cemeteries. The Department may operate cemeteries at the Manteno Veterans Home and the Quincy Veterans Home for interment of veterans or their spouses as identified by the Department.
(Source: P.A. 99-314, eff. 8-7-15.)
(20 ILCS 2805/2.13)
Sec. 2.13. Veterans Homes; complaints; communicable disease reports.
(a) As used in this Section:
"Case" means a person that lived as a resident in a Veterans Home and had an illness due to a communicable disease.
"Communicable disease" means an illness due to a specific infectious agent or its toxic products that arises through transmission of that agent or its products from an infected person, animal, or inanimate source to a susceptible host, either directly or indirectly, through an intermediate plant or animal host, a vector, or the inanimate environment.
(b) The Department shall submit a bi-annual report to the General Assembly by January 1 and July 1 of each year about the health and welfare of residents at Veterans Homes. The report shall be filed electronically with the General Assembly, as provided under Section 3.1 of the General Assembly Organization Act, and shall be provided electronically to any member of the General Assembly upon request. Each report shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(1) the number and nature of complaints made by     residents, a resident's emergency contacts or next of kin, or a resident's power of attorney during the quarter;
(2) information on any epidemic reported at a     Veterans Home during the quarter; and
(3) the number of cases and information on the cases,     including, but not limited to, any dates a resident showed signs and symptoms of having a communicable disease, any dates of a confirmed diagnosis of any resident with a communicable disease, and the action taken by the Veterans Home to eradicate the spread of communicable disease, during the quarter.
(Source: P.A. 100-1103, eff. 8-27-18.)
(20 ILCS 2805/3) (from Ch. 126 1/2, par. 68)
Sec. 3.  The Department shall:
1. establish an administrative office in Springfield     and a branch thereof in Chicago;
2. establish such field offices as it shall find     necessary to enable it to perform its duties; and
3. maintain case files containing records of services     rendered to each applicant, service progress, and a follow-up system to facilitate the completion of each request.
(Source: P.A. 99-314, eff. 8-7-15.)
(20 ILCS 2805/3.01)
Sec. 3.01. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 102-758, eff. 1-1-23. Repealed internally, eff. 12-31-23.)
(20 ILCS 2805/4) (from Ch. 126 1/2, par. 69)
Sec. 4. A service officer shall be assigned to each field office. All service officers and any supervisors, including the field manager, within the field division 
must be an honorably discharged veteran from service in the Armed Forces
of the United States. They must have served during
a time of hostilities with a foreign country, and must meet
one or more of the following conditions:
(i) The veteran served a total of at least 6 months.
(ii) The veteran served for the duration of     hostilities regardless of the length of engagement.
(iii) The veteran was discharged on the basis of     hardship.
(iv) The veteran was released from active duty     because of a service-connected disability and was discharged under honorable conditions.
As used in this Section, "time of hostilities with a foreign country" means
any period of time in the past, present, or future during which a declaration
of war by the United States Congress has been or is in effect or during which
an emergency condition has been or is in effect that is recognized by the
issuance of a Presidential proclamation or a Presidential executive order and
in which the armed forces expeditionary medal or other campaign service medals
are awarded according to Presidential executive order.
(Source: P.A. 102-467, eff. 1-1-22.)
(20 ILCS 2805/4.5)
Sec. 4.5. Grants to veterans service organizations.
(a) Subject to appropriations for that purpose, the Department shall make grants to veterans service organizations for the purpose of furthering those organizations' work of providing assistance to veterans. The Department shall make grants only to veterans service organizations that maintain an office in the Veterans Affairs Regional Office (VARO) in Chicago. The Department shall apportion the grants equally between the qualifying veterans service organizations.
(b) To be eligible to receive a grant, a veterans service organization must have maintained a state headquarters in this State for at least 10 years before July 1, 2005. A veterans service organization that is being funded with State or county moneys under any other provision of law on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly may not receive any moneys for any grant under this Section.
(c) Grants made under this Section may not be used to replace or supplant services provided by employees of the Department.
(Source: P.A. 94-446, eff. 1-1-06.)
(20 ILCS 2805/5) (from Ch. 126 1/2, par. 70)
Sec. 5. 
(a) Every veteran with a disability who is a resident of Illinois 
shall be exempt from all camping and admission fees in parks under the control
of the Department of Natural Resources.  For the purpose
of this subsection (a), a resident veteran with a disability is one who has a permanent disability from service connected causes with 100% disability or one who has
permanently lost the use of a leg or both legs or an  arm or both arms or any
combination thereof or any person who has a disability so severe as to be unable
to move without the aid of crutches or a wheelchair.  The Department shall
issue free use permits to those eligible veterans.  To establish eligibility,
the veteran shall present an award letter or some other identifying disability
document, together with proper identification, to any office of the
Department.  Subject to the approval of the Department of Natural Resources,
the Department of Veterans' Affairs shall establish the form
or permit identifier to be issued.
(b) Every veteran who is a resident of Illinois and a former prisoner
of war shall be exempt from all camping and admission fees in parks under
the control of the Department of Natural Resources.  For
the purposes of this subsection (b), a former prisoner of war is a veteran who
was taken and held prisoner by a hostile foreign force while participating in
an armed conflict as a member of the United States armed forces.  Any
identification card or other form of identification issued by the Veterans'
Administration or other governmental agency which indicates the card-holder's
former prisoner of war status shall be sufficient to accord such card-holder
the fee-exempt admission or camping privileges under this subsection.
(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)
(20 ILCS 2805/7)
Sec. 7. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 97-297, eff. 1-1-12. Repealed internally, eff. 7-1-12.)
(20 ILCS 2805/8)
Sec. 8. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Outpatient Counseling Program. Subject to appropriations for that purpose, the Department, in consultation with the Department of Human Services, shall contract with professional counseling specialists to provide a range of confidential counseling and direct treatment services to war-affected Southwest Asia combat veterans and their family members, and to provide additional treatment services to Viet Nam War veterans for post-traumatic stress disorder, particularly those Viet Nam veterans whose post-traumatic stress disorder has intensified or initially emerged due to the war in the Middle East.  Any such contracts entered into by the Department must be with individuals and entities pre-approved by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and must be for the provision of services pre-approved by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. In consultation with the Department of Human Services, the Department shall, to the extent funds are available:
(1) develop an educational program designed to inform     and train primary health care professionals, including mental health professionals, about the effects of war-related stress and trauma;
(2) provide informational and counseling services for     the purpose of establishing and fostering peer-support networks throughout the State for families of deployed members of the reserves and the Illinois National Guard; and
(3) provide for veterans' families a referral network     of mental health providers who are skilled in treating deployment stress, combat stress, and post-traumatic stress.
As used in this Section, "Southwest Asia combat veteran" means an Illinois resident who is, or who was honorably discharged as, a member of the Armed Forces of the United States, a member of the Illinois National Guard, or a member of any reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States and who served on active duty in connection with Operation Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom, or Operation Iraqi Freedom.
(Source: P.A. 97-765, eff. 7-6-12.)
(20 ILCS 2805/9)
Sec. 9. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 95-576, eff. 8-31-07. Repealed by P.A. 97-738, eff. 7-5-12.)
(20 ILCS 2805/10)
Sec. 10. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 90-752, eff. 8-14-98. Repealed by P.A. 97-297, eff. 1-1-12.)
(20 ILCS 2805/15)
Sec. 15. Veterans advisory council.
(a) A veterans advisory council shall be established in the State of Illinois.  The council shall consist of at least 21 members as follows:
(1)  Four members of the General Assembly, appointed     one each by the President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, preferably from a legislative or representative district in which a State-operated veterans home is located.
(2)  Six veterans appointed by the Director of     Veterans' Affairs.
(3)  One veteran appointed by the commander or     president of each veterans service organization that is chartered by the federal government and by the State of Illinois and elects to appoint a member.
(4) One person appointed by the Adjutant General of     the Illinois National Guard.
(5) One person appointed by the Illinois Attorney     General.
(6) One person appointed by the Illinois Secretary of     State.
(7) One person appointed by the Director of the     Illinois Department of Employment Security.
(8) One person appointed by each military family     organization that is chartered by the federal government.
No member of the council shall be an employee or representative of the Department of Veterans' Affairs.
Members of the council shall serve without compensation or reimbursement.
(b) At the initial meeting of the council, the members shall elect from among themselves a chairman.  The members shall draw lots to determine the length of their terms so that 9 members have terms that expire on July 1, 2005 and the remaining members have terms that expire on July 1, 2006.  Thereafter, all members of the council shall be appointed for terms of 2 years.
The appointing authority may at any time make an appointment to fill a vacancy for the unexpired term of a member.
(c) The council shall meet quarterly or at the call of the chairman or at the call of the Director of Veterans' Affairs or the Governor.  The Department shall provide meeting space and clerical and administrative support services for the council.
(c-5) The council 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 council finds relevant to the re-entry process. By July 1, 2018 and by July 1 of each year thereafter, the council 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. The council's investigation and annual report responsibilities of this subsection shall be a continuation of the investigation and annual report responsibilities of the Illinois Discharged Servicemembers Task Force created under Section 20 of this Act.
(d) The council has the power to do the following:
(1) Advise the Department of Veterans' Affairs with     respect to the fulfillment of its statutory duties.
(2) Review and study the issues and concerns that are     most significant to Illinois veterans and advise the Department on those issues and concerns.
(3) Receive a report from the Director of Veterans'     Affairs or the Director's designee at each meeting with respect to the general activities of the Department.
(4) Report to the Governor and the General Assembly     annually describing the issues addressed and the actions taken by the council during the year as well as any recommendations for future action.
(e) The council established under this Section replaces any Illinois Veterans Advisory Council established under Executive Order No. 3 (1982).
(Source: P.A. 100-10, eff. 6-30-17.)
(20 ILCS 2805/16)
Sec. 16. SkillBridge program. Subject to appropriation for this purpose, the Department shall serve as the State's principal assistance organization under the United States Department of Defense's SkillBridge program for employers and transitioning service members. As the State's principal assistance organization under the United States Department of Defense's SkillBridge program for qualified businesses in this State and for transitioning service members who reside in, or who wish to reside in, this State, the Department shall:
(1) establish and maintain, as applicable, its     certification for the SkillBridge program or any other similar workforce training and transition programs established by the United States Department of Defense;
(2) educate businesses, business associations, and     transitioning service members regarding the SkillBridge program and its benefits, and educate military command and personnel within the State on the opportunities available to transitioning service members through the SkillBridge program;
(3) assist businesses in obtaining approval for     skilled workforce training curricula under the SkillBridge program, including, but not limited to, apprenticeships, internships, or fellowships; and
(4) match transitioning service members who are     deemed eligible for SkillBridge participation by their military command with training opportunities offered by participating businesses, with the intent of having transitioning service members achieve gainful employment in this State upon completion of their SkillBridge training.
The Department may adopt any rules necessary to implement this Section.
(Source: P.A. 102-1074, eff. 1-1-23.)
(20 ILCS 2805/20)
Sec. 20. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 100-863, eff. 8-14-18. Repealed internally, eff. 7-1-18.)
(20 ILCS 2805/25)
Sec. 25. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 96-699, eff. 8-25-09. Repealed by P.A. 99-576, eff. 7-15-16.)
(20 ILCS 2805/30)
Sec. 30. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 95-736, eff. 7-16-08. Repealed by P.A. 97-297, eff. 1-1-12.)
(20 ILCS 2805/35)
Sec. 35. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 96-85, eff. 7-27-09. Repealed internally, eff. 1-1-11.)
(20 ILCS 2805/36)
Sec. 36. 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 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 the following:
(1) Mental health screenings.
(2) Preventive health care.
(3) Crisis intervention.
(Source: P.A. 96-1459, eff. 8-20-10.)
(20 ILCS 2805/37)
Sec. 37. Illinois Joining Forces Foundation.
(a) The General Assembly finds that navigating the "sea of goodwill" for those who serve in uniform is one of the greatest challenges that transitioning veterans face; as a result, they risk being unable to access many of the federal, State, and non-profit resources available to them.   Recognizing this problem, the Department of Veterans' Affairs and the Department of Military Affairs acted to establish the Illinois Joining Forces initiative, a public-private network of military and veteran-serving organizations that are working together, in person and online, to create a system of support for the State's military and veteran communities.  Illinois Joining Forces is a nation-leading model, awarded by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs for its groundbreaking work in creating smarter, collaborative community support for those in uniform, past and present.  The foundation created by this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly will serve to ensure the long-term sustainability of Illinois Joining Forces, which is critically important for the support of the State's military and veteran communities.
(b) The Illinois Joining Forces Foundation shall benefit service members, veterans, and their families by:
(1) convening military and veteran support     organizations to build cross-sector relationships and mutual awareness;
(2) providing policy recommendations;
(3) educating community providers regarding military     and veteran culture and needs, thus improving the collective capacity of the support system; and
(4) outreaching directly to service members,     veterans, and their families regarding the system of support that Illinois Joining Forces provides to them.
(c) For the purpose of this Section,
"veterans service organization" means an organization that meets all of the following criteria:
(1) The organization is formed by and for United     States military     veterans.
(2) The organization is chartered by the United     States Congress and     incorporated in the State of Illinois.
(3) The organization has maintained a State     headquarters office in     Illinois for the 10-year period immediately preceding the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly.
(4) The organization maintains at least one office in     this State,     staffed by a veterans service officer.
(5) The organization is capable of preparing a power     of attorney     for a veteran and processing claims for veterans services.
(d) The General Assembly authorizes the Department of Veterans' Affairs, in accordance with Section 10 of the State Agency Entity Creation Act, to create the Illinois Joining Forces Foundation as a not-for-profit foundation. The Department shall file articles of incorporation as required under the General Not For Profit Corporation Act of 1986 to create the Foundation.
The Foundation's Board of Directors shall be appointed as follows: one member appointed by the Governor; one member appointed by the President of the Senate; one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; one member appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.
The Foundation may also include up to 18 additional voting members of the Board of Directors: up to 9 members to  be nominated and approved by the Board of Directors according to the Foundation's bylaws, and  up to 9 members to be appointed by the Director of Veterans' Affairs or the Director of Military Affairs.   The Board shall have an equal number of board or department appointed members. To ensure parity, no additional nominee may be considered by the Board of Directors unless a like appointment is made by the Department of Veterans' Affairs or the Department of Military Affairs, and vice versa.
In addition to any veterans service organization otherwise represented on the Board of Directors, a veterans service organization may designate in writing an ex officio, non-voting participant to the Board of Directors.  Any veterans service organization appointee under this provision does not count towards a quorum.
The Director of Veterans' Affairs, or the Director's designee, and a designee chosen by the Director of Military Affairs who is a senior management official of the Department of Military Affairs with the authority to make decisions on behalf of the agency shall serve as members of the Foundation's Board of Directors. Board of Director appointments shall be for 2-year terms. Vacancies shall be filled by the official who made the statutory appointment. No member of the Board of Directors may receive compensation for his or her services to the Foundation. Upon appointment, the Board of Directors, as members of a public entity, shall be represented and indemnified pursuant to the requirements of the State Employee Indemnification Act.
(e) The purposes of the Foundation are to: promote, support, assist, and sustain Illinois Joining Forces operations; solicit and accept grants and private donations and disburse them for the stated intent of the Foundation or the private donor; solicit and generate public and private funding and donations that assist in enhancing the Illinois Joining Forces mission, services, programs, and operations; and engage generally in other lawful endeavors consistent with the foregoing purposes. The foundation shall operate within the provisions of the General Not For Profit Corporation Act of 1986.
(f) The Board of Directors shall meet, organize, and designate, by majority vote, a chairperson, a treasurer, a secretary, and any additional officers that may be needed to carry out the activities of the Foundation and shall adopt bylaws of the Foundation. In consultation with the Foundation's Board of Directors, the Department of Veterans' Affairs or the Department of Military Affairs may provide assistance in adopting other rules deemed necessary to govern Foundation procedures.
(g) The Foundation may request and accept gifts, grants, donations, or bequests from the federal government or its agencies or officers or from any person, firm, or corporation, and may expend receipts on activities that it considers suitable to the performance of its duties under this Section and consistent with any requirement of the grant, gift, donation, or bequest. Funds collected by the Foundation shall be considered private funds and shall be held in an appropriate account outside of the State treasury. Private funds collected by the Foundation are not subject to the Public Funds Investment Act. The treasurer of the Foundation shall be the custodian of all Foundation funds. The treasurer shall be required to obtain a fidelity or surety bond on satisfactory terms and in sufficient amounts to protect the interests of the Foundation, the cost of which shall be reimbursed by the Foundation. The Foundation and its officers shall be responsible for the approval of the recording of receipts, approval of payments, and the proper filing of required reports. The Foundation may be assisted in carrying out its functions by Department of Military Affairs and Department of Veterans' Affairs personnel as determined by the respective Directors. The Department of Military Affairs and the Department of Veterans' Affairs may provide reasonable assistance to the Foundation to achieve the purposes of the Foundation as determined by the respective Directors. The Foundation shall cooperate fully with the boards, commissions, agencies, departments, and institutions of the State. The funds held and made available by the Illinois Joining Forces Foundation shall be subject to financial and compliance audits in accordance with the Illinois State Auditing Act. The Foundation shall not have any power of eminent domain. The Foundation shall not construct or make any permanent improvements to any real property.
(h)  The Foundation must provide a written notice to any entity providing a gift, grant, donation, or bequest to the Foundation that the Foundation is not subject to the provisions of the Public Funds Investment Act, which Act places limitations on the types of securities in which a public agency may invest public funds.
(i) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the Foundation is not eligible for any grant administered by the Department of Veterans' Affairs or the Department of Military Affairs, but may receive services, including, but not limited to, contractual services, provided by either Department.
(Source: P.A. 102-1140, eff. 1-1-24.)
(20 ILCS 2805/38)
Sec. 38. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 102-417, eff. 8-20-21. Repealed internally, eff. 12-31-23.)
(20 ILCS 2805/39)
Sec. 39. Veterans' Accountability Unit.
(a) The Department shall create a Veterans' Accountability Unit which shall receive complaints and recommendations from: (i) veterans and other Illinois residents who seek services from the Department; (ii) residents of Veterans' Homes, their families, and visitors; (iii) vendors and contractors of the Department; and (iv) staff of the Department.
(b) The Governor shall appoint, and the Senate shall confirm, the Director of the Veterans' Accountability Unit. The Director shall be appointed for a term of 4 years.
(c) The Director of the Veterans' Accountability Unit shall ensure that the Unit maintains regular office hours and establishes both a toll-free helpline and a dedicated electronic mail address for the purpose of accepting complaints, information, and recommendations. The Director shall provide a reasonable means for receiving complaints outside of office hours.
(d) The Veterans' Accountability Unit shall function independently of the Department. The salary and benefits of the Director of the Veterans' Accountability Unit and any other staff of the Unit, as deemed necessary by the Director, along with all other expenses of the Unit shall be paid from appropriations to the Department.
(e) The Director and staff of the Veterans' Accountability Unit shall have the authority to access the offices or facilities of the Department and the Veterans' Homes and shall have access to all information, documents, and personnel of the Department as needed to perform the duties of the Veterans' Accountability Unit. It is the duty of every employee of the Department to cooperate with the Veterans' Accountability Unit.  The Department shall provide the staff of the Veterans' Accountability Unit with physical space in each Department office and in each Veterans' Home to conduct confidential business as needed to perform the work of the Veterans' Accountability Unit.
(f) The Veterans' Accountability Unit shall ensure all complaints, allegations, or incidents of possible misconduct, misfeasance, malfeasance, or violations of rules, procedures, or laws by any employee, service provider, or contractor of the Department are reported to the Office of Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor.
(g) The Office of Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor shall assess the complaints, allegations, and incidents and shall determine whether to (i) investigate, (ii) refer to the appropriate agency, (iii) refer to any appropriate law enforcement agency, (iv) request a response from the Department to the complaint, allegations, or incident, or (v) refer to the Veterans' Accountability Unit to conduct further inquiry or review if necessary.
(h) The Director of the Veterans' Accountability Unit may recommend changes to the Director of Veterans' Affairs concerning Department policies or practices based upon information learned or observations made by the Veterans' Accountability Unit staff during the course of its duties.  The Director of the Veterans' Accountability Unit shall meet regularly with the Office of Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor to report this information to allow the Office to determine whether further investigation is necessary.
(i) The Veterans' Accountability Unit shall create an annual report that includes a summary of the complaints received and actions taken in response. This report shall not include any referrals to the Office of Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor that result in an investigation. The summaries shall not contain any confidential or identifying information concerning the subjects or complainants of the reports and investigations.
(j) Nothing in this Section shall limit investigations by the Department of Veterans' Affairs that may otherwise be
required by law or that may be necessary in that Department's
capacity as the central administrative authority on matters
concerning services to veterans, their survivors, and
dependents.
(Source: P.A. 102-695, eff. 6-1-22.)