Bill Text: IL HB2658 | 2017-2018 | 100th General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: Amends the Department of Veterans Affairs Act. Provides that the Department of Veterans' Affairs shall provide training to frontline employees at veterans service organizations established under the Act on mental health services to identify veterans who might be at risk of suicidal thoughts. Provides that the training may include, but not be limited to, mental health first aid training and amplified suicide advanced training programs. Provides that the Department shall provide assistance to Veterans Assistance Commissions established under 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. Provides that the Department shall find combat veterans to serve as veteran service officers at veterans service organizations established under the Act for the purpose of having veteran services officers who are able to properly relate to fellow combat 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 [HB2658 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2017-HB2658-Introduced.html


100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
HB2658

Introduced , by Rep. Stephanie A. Kifowit

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
20 ILCS 2805/2h new

Amends the Department of Veterans Affairs Act. Provides that the Department of Veterans' Affairs shall provide training to frontline employees at veterans service organizations established under the Act on mental health services to identify veterans who might be at risk of suicidal thoughts. Provides that the training may include, but not be limited to, mental health first aid training and amplified suicide advanced training programs. Provides that the Department shall provide assistance to Veterans Assistance Commissions established under 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. Provides that the Department shall find combat veterans to serve as veteran service officers at veterans service organizations established under the Act for the purpose of having veteran services officers who are able to properly relate to fellow combat veterans. Requires the Department of Veterans' Affairs to adopt any rules necessary to implement these provisions.
LRB100 08181 MJP 18277 b
FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

HB2658LRB100 08181 MJP 18277 b
1 AN ACT concerning State government.
2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
4 Section 5. The Department of Veterans Affairs Act is
5amended by adding Section 2h as follows:
6 (20 ILCS 2805/2h new)
7 Sec. 2h. Mental health services training; veterans'
8organizations. The Department shall provide training to
9frontline employees at veterans service organizations
10established under this Act on mental health services to
11identify veterans who might be at risk of suicidal thoughts.
12This training may include, but not be limited to, mental health
13first aid training and amplified suicide advanced training
14programs. The Department shall provide assistance to Veterans
15Assistance Commissions established under Section 9 of the
16Military Veterans Assistance Act and veterans' service
17associations, including, but not limited to, the American
18Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and AMVETS, in providing the
19training under this paragraph to the employees of the Veterans
20Assistance Commissions and veterans' service associations.
21 The Department shall find combat veterans to serve as
22veteran service officers at veterans service organizations
23established under this Act for the purpose of having veteran

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1services officers who are able to properly relate to fellow
2combat veterans. The Department shall adopt any rules necessary
3to implement this Section.
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