HB 5184

Abstract

Amends the Military Veterans Assistance Act. Provides that the "overseer of military veterans assistance" shall be construed to mean the commanders of the various congressionally chartered veteran service organizations, or the Superintendent of a County Veterans Assistance Commission. Provides that funding for Veterans Assistance Commissions shall be derived from: (i) a tax levied under the Counties Code and the Illinois Public Aid Code; (ii) funds from the county general corporate fund; and (iii) State funds from the Department of Human Services. Provides that congressionally chartered veteran service organizations and county Veterans Assistance Commissions, if applicable (rather than military veterans organizations), shall undertake the assistance of military veterans and their families. Provides that in a county having 2 or more congressionally chartered veteran service organizations, the congressionally chartered veteran service organizations may come together to form a Veterans Assistance Commission that shall act as the central office for all veterans and their families and for the families of deceased veterans. Amends the Counties Code. Provides that in a county having a population of less than 3,000,000 in which there is created a County Veterans Assistance Commission, the county shall levy for assistance to military veterans and their families a tax of an amount which, when added to the unobligated balance available for such purpose at the close of the preceding fiscal year will equal .02% of the last known assessed value of the taxable property in the county. Requires County Veterans Assistance Commissions to be in charge of the administration of general assistance benefits and other public aid benefits provided under the Illinois Public Aid Code for military veterans and their families. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires counties with less than 3,000,000 inhabitants that have a County Veterans Assistance Commission to levy for assistance to military veterans and their families a tax of an amount which, when added to the unobligated balance available for such purpose at the close of the preceding fiscal year, will equal .02% of the last known assessed value of the taxable property in the county, or will equal .03% of such assessed value if such higher amount is authorized by the electors of the county. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to: 305 ILCS 5/12-21.5 from Ch. 23, par. 12-21.5 305 ILCS 5/12-21.13 from Ch. 23, par. 12-21.13 Adds reference to: 330 ILCS 45/11 rep. Replaces everything after the enacting clause and reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with various changes. Eliminates Illinois Public Aid Code language that changed the placement of certain taxation provisions. Eliminates Counties Code language that added certain taxation provisions. Amends the Military Veterans Assistance Act. Changes the term "overseer of military veterans assistance" to "administrator of military veterans assistance". Deletes language concerning almshouses, orphan asylums, and facilities for indigent persons who are mentally ill. Deletes references to "military veterans organization". Makes changes concerning military discharges and other matters. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following changes: Further amends the Counties Code. In a provision permitting a county with a Veterans Assistance Commission to impose a tax on all taxable property for the purpose of providing assistance to military veterans and their families, provides that the tax shall be separate from all other taxes which the county is authorized to levy. Provides that in counties where a Veterans Assistance Commission has been properly created, those County Veterans Assistance Commissions shall be in charge of the administration of the assistance provided under certain provisions of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Further amends the Military Veterans Assistance Act. Makes changes to the definition of "veteran service organization". Provides that it shall be the duty of the commander, quartermaster, or commandant (rather than the commander) of each veteran service organization to send the commander, quartermaster, or commandant (rather than the commander) of every other organization a written list of the names of all persons to whom assistance has been granted during the preceding month. Provides that in a county having 2 or more veteran service organizations, the Veterans Assistance Commission of such county may (rather than shall) act as the central service office for all veterans and their families and for the families of deceased veterans. Makes other changes.