Bill Text: IL HB6123 | 2015-2016 | 99th General Assembly | Engrossed

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

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Bill Title: Amends the Military Code of Illinois. Provides that all members of the Illinois National Guard shall undergo pre-deployment and post-deployment testing for depleted uranium. Requires the Department of Military Affairs to cover the costs associated with such testing. Amends the Department of Veterans Affairs Act. Requires the Department of Veterans' Affairs to provide assistance to any resident of Illinois who served on active duty for any component of the U.S. Armed Forces, excluding the Illinois National Guard, who requests a pre-deployment or post-deployment test for depleted uranium. Effective June 30, 2017.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 15-7)

Status: (Passed) 2016-08-05 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 99-0719 [HB6123 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2015-HB6123-Engrossed.html

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HB6123 Engrossed LRB099 19687 MJP 44084 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 Military Code of Illinois is amended by
adding Section 93.1 as follows:
(20 ILCS 1805/93.1 new)
Sec. 93.1. Pre-deployment and post-deployment testing. All
members of the Illinois National Guard shall undergo
pre-deployment and post-deployment testing for depleted
uranium. The Department shall cover the costs associated with
such testing. If a federal law requiring pre-deployment and
post-deployment testing for depleted uranium for members of the
National Guard takes effect, then this Section 93.1 shall be
inoperative on and after the effective date of that federal
law.
Section 10. The Department of Veterans Affairs Act is
amended by changing Section 2 as follows:
(20 ILCS 2805/2) (from Ch. 126 1/2, par. 67)
Sec. 2. Powers and duties. The Department shall have the
following powers and duties:
To perform such acts at the request of any veteran, or his

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or her spouse, surviving spouse or dependents as shall be
reasonably necessary or reasonably incident to obtaining or
endeavoring to obtain for the requester any advantage, benefit
or emolument accruing or due to such person under any law of
the United States, the State of Illinois or any other state or
governmental agency by reason of the service of such veteran,
and in pursuance thereof shall:
(1) Contact veterans, their survivors and dependents
and advise them of the benefits of state and federal laws
and assist them in obtaining such benefits;
(2) Establish field offices and direct the activities
of the personnel assigned to such offices;
(3) Create and maintain a volunteer field force; the
volunteer field force may include representatives from the
following without limitation: educational institutions,
labor organizations, veterans organizations, employers,
churches, and farm organizations; the volunteer field
force may not process federal veterans assistance claims;
(4) Conduct informational and training services;
(5) Conduct educational programs through newspapers,
periodicals, social media, television, and radio for the
specific purpose of disseminating information affecting
veterans and their dependents;
(6) Coordinate the services and activities of all state
departments having services and resources affecting
veterans and their dependents;

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(7) Encourage and assist in the coordination of
agencies within counties giving service to veterans and
their dependents;
(8) Cooperate with veterans organizations and other
governmental agencies;
(9) Make, alter, amend and promulgate reasonable rules
and procedures for the administration of this Act;
(10) Make and publish annual reports to the Governor
regarding the administration and general operation of the
Department;
(11) (Blank); and
(12) (Blank); and .
(13) Provide non-monetary assistance to any resident
of Illinois who served on active duty in Afghanistan, Iraq,
Kuwait, or Qatar with any component of the U.S. Armed
Forces, including the Illinois National Guard, who
requests a pre-deployment or post-deployment test for
depleted uranium in accessing federal resources for
pre-deployment and post-deployment testing for depleted
uranium; if a federal law requiring pre-deployment and
post-deployment testing for depleted uranium for past and
present members of any component of the U.S. Armed Forces
takes effect, then this paragraph (13) shall be inoperative
on and after the effective date of that federal law.
The Department may accept and hold on behalf of the State,
if for the public interest, a grant, gift, devise or bequest of

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money or property to the Department made for the general
benefit of Illinois veterans, including the conduct of
informational and training services by the Department and other
authorized purposes of the Department. The Department shall
cause each grant, gift, devise or bequest to be kept as a
distinct fund and shall invest such funds in the manner
provided by the Public Funds Investment Act, as now or
hereafter amended, and shall make such reports as may be
required by the Comptroller concerning what funds are so held
and the manner in which such funds are invested. The Department
may make grants from these funds for the general benefit of
Illinois veterans. Grants from these funds, except for the
funds established under Sections 2.01a and 2.03, shall be
subject to appropriation.
The Department has the power to make grants, from funds
appropriated from the Korean War Veterans National Museum and
Library Fund, to private organizations for the benefit of the
Korean War Veterans National Museum and Library.
The Department has the power to make grants, from funds
appropriated from the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund, for
benefits authorized under the Survivors Compensation Act.
(Source: P.A. 99-314, eff. 8-7-15.)