Bill Text: IL HB3270 | 2011-2012 | 97th General Assembly | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Amends the Department of Veterans Affairs Act and the State Finance Act. Requires the Department of Veterans' Affairs to establish and administer the Illinois Homeless Veterans Program to provide grants and per diems to facilities providing shelter and assistance to homeless persons who served as members of the Armed Forces of the United States, the Illinois National Guard, or any reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States, and who were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. Provides that the primary components of the program shall include advocacy for homeless veterans and increasing public awareness on the issue of homelessness among veterans and its root causes. Requires the Department to solicit federal and State funding, donations, and grants for the purpose of implementing the program. Creates the Illinois Homeless Veterans Program Fund as a special fund in the State Treasury for the purpose of implementing the program. Establishes the Homeless Veterans Service Coordinating Committee to discuss and research ways in which the veterans services provided by public and private agencies can be made more easily available and better focused to serve homeless veterans. Effective immediately.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 4-0)

Status: (Failed) 2013-01-08 - Session Sine Die [HB3270 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2011-HB3270-Introduced.html

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97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2011 and 2012 HB3270 Introduced 2/24/2011, by Rep. David Harris - Patricia R. Bellock - Jil Tracy - Richard Morthland SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
20 ILCS 2805/37 new
30 ILCS 105/5.786 new
Amends the Department of Veterans Affairs Act and the State Finance Act. Requires the Department of Veterans' Affairs to establish and administer the Illinois Homeless Veterans Program to provide grants and per diems to facilities providing shelter and assistance to homeless persons who served as members of the Armed Forces of the United States, the Illinois National Guard, or any reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States, and who were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. Provides that the primary components of the program shall include advocacy for homeless veterans and increasing public awareness on the issue of homelessness among veterans and its root causes. Requires the Department to solicit federal and State funding, donations, and grants for the purpose of implementing the program. Creates the Illinois Homeless Veterans Program Fund as a special fund in the State Treasury for the purpose of implementing the program. Establishes the Homeless Veterans Service Coordinating Committee to discuss and research ways in which the veterans services provided by public and private agencies can be made more easily available and better focused to serve homeless veterans. Effective immediately.
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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
A BILL FOR
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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 37 as follows:
(20 ILCS 2805/37 new)
Sec. 37. Illinois Homeless Veterans Program.
(a) The Department shall establish and administer the
Illinois Homeless Veterans Program. The purpose of the program
is to provide grants and per diems to facilities providing
shelter and assistance to homeless persons who served as
members of the Armed Forces of the United States, the Illinois
National Guard, or any reserve component of the Armed Forces of
the United States, and who were discharged under conditions
other than dishonorable. The mission of the Illinois Homeless
Veterans Program shall be to work toward the elimination of
homelessness and the prevention of the threat of homelessness
and its causes in the State's veteran population. The primary
components of the program shall be:
(1) Advocacy and public awareness. The program shall be
an advocate for homeless veterans, and work to increase
public awareness on the issue of homelessness among
veterans and its root causes. The program shall advocate

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legislation and policies on the local, State, and national
level to address these issues.
(2) Information services. The program shall monitor
and research issues relating to homeless veterans and
disseminate information and opportunities throughout its
network.
(3) Technical assistance. The program, through
conferences and training workshops with federal and State
agencies, shall provide guidance and direction in applying
for grants and benefits for homeless veterans. The program
shall provide peer-to-peer consulting and on-site
technical support.
(4) Facilities. The program, through grants and other
sources of funding, shall provide facilities as
appropriate in support of the program.
(b) The Department shall solicit federal and State funding,
donations, and grants for the purpose of implementing the
program established under this Section.
(c) The Illinois Homeless Veterans Program Fund is created
as a special fund in the State Treasury for the purpose of
implementing the Illinois Homeless Veterans Program. All
monies received pursuant to this Section shall be deposited
into the Illinois Homeless Veterans Program Fund. Funding for
the program shall be used to develop a statewide network of:
(1) Veterans services that provide treatment for
addictions, including but not limited to alcohol, drug use,

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and gambling.
(2) Veterans services that lead to permanent housing.
(3) Veterans services that lead to employment.
(4) Concerned citizens and non-profit agencies that
provide shelter to homeless veterans.
(d) A Homeless Veterans Service Coordinating Committee
shall be established. The committee's membership shall be
comprised of representatives of public and private agencies who
provide services that may be used by homeless veterans. The
Director of the Department shall designate the agencies
represented on the committee. The committee shall discuss and
research ways in which veterans services provided by public and
private agencies can be made more easily available and better
focused to serve homeless veterans.
Section 10. The State Finance Act is amended by adding
Section 5.786 as follows:
(30 ILCS 105/5.786 new)
Sec. 5.786. The Illinois Homeless Veterans Program Fund.
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.