Bill Text: IL HB2653 | 2017-2018 | 100th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the Department of Veterans Affairs Act. Contains provisions concerning the establishment of various programs and services for the benefit of veterans including a proactive outreach program for veterans that served in high casualty units, in units that experienced high conflict areas, and in units where at least one service member committed suicide following his or her service; a public awareness campaign concerning the trauma and internal injuries suffered by veterans; and a licensing program for therapy dogs for veterans. Requires the Department of Veterans' Affairs to adopt any rules necessary to implement these provisions.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2019-01-08 - Session Sine Die [HB2653 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2017-HB2653-Introduced.html

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100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2017 and 2018 HB2653 Introduced , by Rep. Stephanie A. Kifowit SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
20 ILCS 2805/2h new
Amends the Department of Veterans Affairs Act. Contains provisions concerning the establishment of various programs and services for the benefit of veterans including a proactive outreach program for veterans that served in high casualty units, in units that experienced high conflict areas, and in units where at least one service member committed suicide following his or her service; a public awareness campaign concerning the trauma and internal injuries suffered by veterans; and a licensing program for therapy dogs for veterans. Requires the Department of Veterans' Affairs to adopt any rules necessary to implement these provisions.
LRB100 10892 MJP 21127 b
FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
A BILL FOR
HB2653 LRB100 10892 MJP 21127 b
AN ACT concerning State government.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Department of Veterans Affairs Act is
amended by adding Section 2h as follows:
(20 ILCS 2805/2h new)
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 30, 2016. The Department shall adopt any
rules necessary to implement this Section.
(1) The Department shall reach out to the United States
Department of Defense in order to identify veterans
returning from service in heavy casualty units, units that
experienced high conflict areas, or units where at least
one service member committed suicide following his or her
service. The Department shall establish a proactive
outreach program for veterans that served in high casualty
units, in units that experienced high conflict areas, and
in units where at least one service member committed
suicide following his or her service.
(2) The Department or the Department in collaboration
with not-for-profit organizations shall engage in a public

HB2653 - 2 - LRB100 10892 MJP 21127 b
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 develop a licensing program
for therapy dogs, with a possible extension to other
therapy animals, for veterans. The Department shall
develop standards for the training and identification of
therapy dogs for veterans. The designation of therapy dog
under this paragraph shall not qualify the dog to be a
service animal as provided under any other Act in this
State.