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

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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

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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
HB2658 LRB100 08181 MJP 18277 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. Mental health services training; veterans'
organizations. 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.
The Department shall find combat veterans to serve as
veteran service officers at veterans service organizations
established under this Act for the purpose of having veteran

HB2658 - 2 - LRB100 08181 MJP 18277 b
services officers who are able to properly relate to fellow
combat veterans. The Department shall adopt any rules necessary
to implement this Section.