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2005 Illinois Code - 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. 86‑1324.)

    (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 2805/1.5)
    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.
(Source: P.A. 89‑324, eff. 8‑13‑95.)

    (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 a volunteer field force of accredited
    
representatives, representing educational institutions, labor organizations, veterans organizations, employers, churches, and farm organizations;
        (4) Conduct informational and training services;
        (5) Conduct educational programs through newspapers,
    
periodicals 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) Encourage the State to implement more programs
    
to address the wide range of issues faced by Persian Gulf War Veterans, especially those who took part in combat, by creating an official commission to further study Persian Gulf War Diseases. The commission shall consist of 9 members appointed as follows: the Speaker and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives and the President and Minority Leader of the Senate shall each appoint one member from the General Assembly, the Governor shall appoint 4 members to represent veterans' organizations, and the Department shall appoint one member. The commission members shall serve without compensation; and
        (12) Conduct an annual review of the benefits
    
received by Illinois veterans that compares benefits received by Illinois veterans with the benefits received by veterans in all other states and U.S. territories. The required annual review shall include, but not be limited to, (1) the average benefit paid to individual veterans from Illinois, in direct comparison to the average benefit paid to individual veterans of each of the other states and U.S. territories; (2) the number of veterans receiving benefits in Illinois for the first time during the year compared to the number of claims filed by Illinois veterans during the year; (3) the aggregate number of Illinois veterans receiving benefits compared to the number of veterans from each of the other states and U.S. territories receiving benefits; and (4) a categorical analysis of the types of injuries and disabilities for which benefits are being paid in Illinois and each of the other states and U.S. territories. The benefits review shall be reported to the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Illinois Congressional delegation upon the completion of the report each year.
    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 Korean War Veterans National Museum and Library Fund, to private organizations for the benefit of the Korean War Veterans National Museum and Library.
    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. 93‑839, eff. 7‑30‑04; 94‑167, eff. 1‑1‑06.)

    (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 Veterans Fund.
    (a) There is created within the State Treasury a fund to be known as the Persian Gulf Conflict Veterans Fund. All moneys received from any income tax checkoff for the Persian Gulf Conflict Veterans Fund as provided in Section 507H of the Illinois Income Tax Act shall be deposited into the fund.
    (b) All moneys in the Persian Gulf Conflict Veterans Fund, together with any other excess amounts appropriated for bonus payments to war veterans and peacetime crisis survivors as allocated by the Department, shall be used to compensate persons who served on active duty with the armed forces of the United States on or after August 2, 1990. 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. 87‑119; 87‑895; 88‑11.)

    (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. The National World War II Memorial Fund. There is created in the State treasury the National World War II Memorial Fund. The Department must make grants from the Fund for the construction of a National World War II Memorial.
(Source: P.A. 91‑833, eff. 1‑1‑01; 91‑836, eff. 1‑1‑01.)

    (20 ILCS 2805/2e)
    (Text of Section from P.A. 93‑131)
    Sec. 2e. The World War II Illinois Veterans Memorial Fund. There is created in the State treasury the World War II Illinois Veterans Memorial Fund. The Department must make grants from the Fund for the construction of a World War II Illinois Veterans Memorial in Springfield, Illinois.
(Source: P.A. 93‑131, eff. 7‑10‑03.)
 
    (Text of Section from P.A. 93‑142)
    Sec. 2e. LaSalle Veterans Home capacity.
    (a) The Department finds that the Illinois Veterans Home at LaSalle requires an increase in capacity to better serve the north central region of Illinois and to accommodate the increasing number of Illinois veterans eligible for care.
    (b) Subject to appropriation, the Department shall increase by at least 80 beds the capacity of the Illinois Veterans Home at LaSalle and shall request and expend federal grants for this Veterans Home addition.
(Source: P.A. 93‑142, eff. 7‑10‑03.)

    (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 to enhance the operations of veterans' homes in Illinois.
(Source: P.A. 93‑776, eff. 7‑21‑04.)

    (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 be disabled 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
    
LaSalle and Manteno and for admission to the John Joseph Kelly Veteran's Home, the veteran must be disabled 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 subsection (a)(1) 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.
(Source: P.A. 94‑588, eff. 8‑15‑05.)

    (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. 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.
    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. 92‑671, eff. 7‑16‑02.)

    (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 2805/2.03) (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.
    Payment of maintenance charges shall be made first and to the fullest extent possible from sources of income other than pension or compensation paid by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
    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.
    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. 89‑324, eff. 8‑13‑95; 90‑168, eff. 7‑23‑97.)

    (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, (iv) the Quincy Veterans Home Fund, and (v) the John Joseph Kelly 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 administrator of each Veterans Home shall establish a locally‑held 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, 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.
(Source: P.A. 91‑634, eff. 8‑19‑99; 92‑671, eff. 7‑16‑02.)

    (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, 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.
    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. 88‑160; 89‑324, eff. 8‑13‑95.)

    (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)
    (Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 94‑703)
    Sec. 2.07. The Department shall employ and maintain sufficient and qualified staff at the veterans' homes 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.
    All contracts between the State and outside contractors to provide workers to staff and service the Anna Veterans Home shall be canceled in accordance with the terms of those contracts. Upon cancellation, each worker or staff member shall be offered certified employment status under the Illinois Personnel Code with the State of Illinois. To the extent it is reasonably practicable, the position offered to each person shall be at the same facility and shall consist of the same duties and hours as previously existed under the canceled contract or contracts.
(Source: P.A. 93‑597, eff. 8‑26‑03.)
 
    (Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 94‑703)
    Sec. 2.07. The Department shall employ and maintain sufficient and qualified staff at the veterans' homes 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 225 ILCS 65/5‑15(g) or 225 ILCS 5‑15(i) of the Nursing and Advanced Practice Nursing Act.
    All contracts between the State and outside contractors to provide workers to staff and service the Anna Veterans Home shall be canceled in accordance with the terms of those contracts. Upon cancellation, each worker or staff member shall be offered certified employment status under the Illinois Personnel Code with the State of Illinois. To the extent it is reasonably practicable, the position offered to each person shall be at the same facility and shall consist of the same duties and hours as previously existed under the canceled contract or contracts.
(Source: P.A. 93‑597, eff. 8‑26‑03; 94‑703, eff. 6‑1‑06.)

    (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.
(Source: P.A. 90‑168, eff. 7‑23‑97.)

    (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;
    3. Cause to be maintained, at its various offices, case files containing records of services rendered to each applicant, progress cards, and a follow‑up system to facilitate the completion of each request.
(Source: P.A. 79‑376.)

    (20 ILCS 2805/4) (from Ch. 126 1/2, par. 69)
    Sec. 4. A service officer shall be assigned to each field office. He must be an honorably discharged veteran from service in the Armed Forces of the United States. He 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. 88‑275.)

    (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 who is a resident of Illinois and disabled 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 disabled veteran is one who is permanently disabled 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 is so severely disabled 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. 89‑445, eff. 2‑7‑96.)

    (20 ILCS 2805/7)
    Sec. 7. Veterans' Memorial Commission. The Veterans' Memorial Commission is created within the Department. The Commission shall gather information on memorial preservation and management and advise State and local governments and other entities in the creation, custody, care, and upkeep of veterans' memorials. The Commission shall conduct studies and make reports regarding the various laws and rules affecting veteran's memorials to determine whether consolidation or other changes in the laws or rules are needed to facilitate memorial preservation and to raise awareness of issues affecting veterans' memorials. The Commission shall be composed of 12 members as follows: 2 members appointed by the President of the Senate, 2 members appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate, 2 members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, 2 members appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, one representative of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and 3 representatives of different veterans service organizations appointed by the Director of the Department. Members shall serve 2‑year terms, without compensation.
(Source: P.A. 94‑448, eff. 8‑4‑05.)

    (20 ILCS 2805/10)
    Sec. 10. Long term care bed space study. The Department of Veterans Affairs shall study the feasibility of the State of Illinois using existing United States Department of Veterans Affairs long‑term care bed space to meet the future long‑term care needs of the State's veterans. The Department shall issue a final report to the Governor and General Assembly by July 1, 1999.
(Source: P.A. 90‑752, eff. 8‑14‑98.)

    (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 17 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.
    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.
    (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. 93‑779, eff. 7‑21‑04.)

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