104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026 HB3259 Introduced , by Rep. Brad Halbrook SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: See Index Amends the Military Veterans Assistance Act. Expands the Act to allow for the formation of multi-county Veterans Assistance Commissions. Provides that veteran service organizations located in 2 or more adjacent counties having a population of 60,000 or less may enter into an agreement to come together and jointly form a multi-county Veterans Assistance Commission to serve the adjacent counties in accordance with the Act. Provides that a multi-county Veterans Assistance Commission may also be formed under an agreement between an existing county Veterans Assistance Commission and a veteran service organization located in an adjacent county that is without a veterans assistance commission and has a population of 60,000 or less. Requires an agreement to form and maintain a multi-county Veterans Assistance Commission to set forth: (i) the distribution of funding with respect to each member county; (ii) the location of the Commission's office; (iii) the type of services provided; (iv) the superintendent selection or appointment process; (v) Commission rules and policies; and (vi) the composition of delegates and alternates on the Commission. Provides that multi-county Veterans Assistance Commissions shall have the same powers and duties under the Act as Veterans Assistance Commissions that serve one county. Makes corresponding changes in the Counties Code, the Illinois Public Aid Code, the Drug Court Treatment Act, the Veterans and Servicemembers Court Treatment Act, and the Mental Health Court Treatment Act. Effective immediately. LRB104 06042 KTG 16075 b A BILL FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026 HB3259 Introduced , by Rep. Brad Halbrook SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: See Index See Index Amends the Military Veterans Assistance Act. Expands the Act to allow for the formation of multi-county Veterans Assistance Commissions. Provides that veteran service organizations located in 2 or more adjacent counties having a population of 60,000 or less may enter into an agreement to come together and jointly form a multi-county Veterans Assistance Commission to serve the adjacent counties in accordance with the Act. Provides that a multi-county Veterans Assistance Commission may also be formed under an agreement between an existing county Veterans Assistance Commission and a veteran service organization located in an adjacent county that is without a veterans assistance commission and has a population of 60,000 or less. Requires an agreement to form and maintain a multi-county Veterans Assistance Commission to set forth: (i) the distribution of funding with respect to each member county; (ii) the location of the Commission's office; (iii) the type of services provided; (iv) the superintendent selection or appointment process; (v) Commission rules and policies; and (vi) the composition of delegates and alternates on the Commission. Provides that multi-county Veterans Assistance Commissions shall have the same powers and duties under the Act as Veterans Assistance Commissions that serve one county. Makes corresponding changes in the Counties Code, the Illinois Public Aid Code, the Drug Court Treatment Act, the Veterans and Servicemembers Court Treatment Act, and the Mental Health Court Treatment Act. Effective immediately. LRB104 06042 KTG 16075 b LRB104 06042 KTG 16075 b A BILL FOR
104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026 HB3259 Introduced , by Rep. Brad Halbrook SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
See Index See Index
See Index
Amends the Military Veterans Assistance Act. Expands the Act to allow for the formation of multi-county Veterans Assistance Commissions. Provides that veteran service organizations located in 2 or more adjacent counties having a population of 60,000 or less may enter into an agreement to come together and jointly form a multi-county Veterans Assistance Commission to serve the adjacent counties in accordance with the Act. Provides that a multi-county Veterans Assistance Commission may also be formed under an agreement between an existing county Veterans Assistance Commission and a veteran service organization located in an adjacent county that is without a veterans assistance commission and has a population of 60,000 or less. Requires an agreement to form and maintain a multi-county Veterans Assistance Commission to set forth: (i) the distribution of funding with respect to each member county; (ii) the location of the Commission's office; (iii) the type of services provided; (iv) the superintendent selection or appointment process; (v) Commission rules and policies; and (vi) the composition of delegates and alternates on the Commission. Provides that multi-county Veterans Assistance Commissions shall have the same powers and duties under the Act as Veterans Assistance Commissions that serve one county. Makes corresponding changes in the Counties Code, the Illinois Public Aid Code, the Drug Court Treatment Act, the Veterans and Servicemembers Court Treatment Act, and the Mental Health Court Treatment Act. Effective immediately.
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A BILL FOR
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1 AN ACT concerning military service.
2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
4 Section 5. The Counties Code is amended by changing
5 Sections 3-9005 and 5-2006 as follows:
6 (55 ILCS 5/3-9005) (from Ch. 34, par. 3-9005)
7 Sec. 3-9005. Powers and duties of State's Attorney.
8 (a) The duty of each State's Attorney shall be:
9 (1) To commence and prosecute all actions, suits,
10 indictments and prosecutions, civil and criminal, in the
11 circuit court for the county, in which the people of the
12 State or county may be concerned.
13 (2) To prosecute all forfeited bonds and
14 recognizances, and all actions and proceedings for the
15 recovery of debts, revenues, moneys, fines, penalties and
16 forfeitures accruing to the State or the county, or to any
17 school district or road district in the county; also, to
18 prosecute all suits in the county against railroad or
19 transportation companies, which may be prosecuted in the
20 name of the People of the State of Illinois.
21 (3) To commence and prosecute all actions and
22 proceedings brought by any county officer in the county
23 officer's official capacity.
104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026 HB3259 Introduced , by Rep. Brad Halbrook SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
See Index See Index
See Index
Amends the Military Veterans Assistance Act. Expands the Act to allow for the formation of multi-county Veterans Assistance Commissions. Provides that veteran service organizations located in 2 or more adjacent counties having a population of 60,000 or less may enter into an agreement to come together and jointly form a multi-county Veterans Assistance Commission to serve the adjacent counties in accordance with the Act. Provides that a multi-county Veterans Assistance Commission may also be formed under an agreement between an existing county Veterans Assistance Commission and a veteran service organization located in an adjacent county that is without a veterans assistance commission and has a population of 60,000 or less. Requires an agreement to form and maintain a multi-county Veterans Assistance Commission to set forth: (i) the distribution of funding with respect to each member county; (ii) the location of the Commission's office; (iii) the type of services provided; (iv) the superintendent selection or appointment process; (v) Commission rules and policies; and (vi) the composition of delegates and alternates on the Commission. Provides that multi-county Veterans Assistance Commissions shall have the same powers and duties under the Act as Veterans Assistance Commissions that serve one county. Makes corresponding changes in the Counties Code, the Illinois Public Aid Code, the Drug Court Treatment Act, the Veterans and Servicemembers Court Treatment Act, and the Mental Health Court Treatment Act. Effective immediately.
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A BILL FOR
See Index
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1 (4) To defend all actions and proceedings brought
2 against the county, or against any county or State
3 officer, in the county or State officer's official
4 capacity, within the county.
5 (5) To attend the examination of all persons brought
6 before any judge on habeas corpus, when the prosecution is
7 in the county.
8 (6) To attend before judges and prosecute charges of
9 felony or misdemeanor, for which the offender is required
10 to be recognized to appear before the circuit court, when
11 in the State's Attorney's power so to do.
12 (7) To give the State's Attorney's opinion, without
13 fee or reward, to any county officer in the county, upon
14 any question or law relating to any criminal or other
15 matter, in which the people or the county may be
16 concerned.
17 (8) To assist the Attorney General whenever it may be
18 necessary, and in cases of appeal from the county to the
19 Supreme Court, to which it is the duty of the Attorney
20 General to attend, the State's Attorney shall furnish the
21 Attorney General at least 10 days before such is due to be
22 filed, a manuscript of a proposed statement, brief and
23 argument to be printed and filed on behalf of the people,
24 prepared in accordance with the rules of the Supreme
25 Court. However, if such brief, argument or other document
26 is due to be filed by law or order of court within this
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1 10-day period, then the State's Attorney shall furnish
2 such as soon as may be reasonable.
3 (9) To pay all moneys received by the State's Attorney
4 in trust, without delay, to the officer who by law is
5 entitled to the custody thereof.
6 (10) To notify, by first class mail, complaining
7 witnesses of the ultimate disposition of the cases arising
8 from an indictment or an information.
9 (11) To perform such other and further duties as may,
10 from time to time, be enjoined on the State's Attorney by
11 law.
12 (12) To appear in all proceedings by collectors of
13 taxes against delinquent taxpayers for judgments to sell
14 real estate, and see that all the necessary preliminary
15 steps have been legally taken to make the judgment legal
16 and binding.
17 (13) To notify, by first-class mail, the State
18 Superintendent of Education, the applicable regional
19 superintendent of schools, and the superintendent of the
20 employing school district or the chief school
21 administrator of the employing nonpublic school, if any,
22 upon the conviction of any individual known to possess a
23 certificate or license issued pursuant to Article 21 or
24 21B, respectively, of the School Code of any offense set
25 forth in Section 21B-80 of the School Code or any other
26 felony conviction, providing the name of the certificate
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1 holder, the fact of the conviction, and the name and
2 location of the court where the conviction occurred. The
3 certificate holder must also be contemporaneously sent a
4 copy of the notice.
5 (b) The State's Attorney of each county shall have
6 authority to appoint one or more special investigators to
7 serve subpoenas and summonses, make return of process, and
8 conduct investigations which assist the State's Attorney in
9 the performance of the State's Attorney duties. In counties of
10 the first and second class, the fees for service of subpoenas
11 and summonses are allowed by this Section and shall be
12 consistent with those set forth in Section 4-5001 of this Act,
13 except when increased by county ordinance as provided for in
14 Section 4-5001. In counties of the third class, the fees for
15 service of subpoenas and summonses are allowed by this Section
16 and shall be consistent with those set forth in Section
17 4-12001 of this Act. A special investigator shall not carry
18 firearms except with permission of the State's Attorney and
19 only while carrying appropriate identification indicating the
20 special investigator's employment and in the performance of
21 the special investigator's assigned duties.
22 Subject to the qualifications set forth in this
23 subsection, special investigators shall be peace officers and
24 shall have all the powers possessed by investigators under the
25 State's Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor's Act.
26 No special investigator employed by the State's Attorney
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1 shall have peace officer status or exercise police powers
2 unless the special investigator successfully completes the
3 basic police training course mandated and approved by the
4 Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board or such
5 board waives the training requirement by reason of the special
6 investigator's prior law enforcement experience or training or
7 both. Any State's Attorney appointing a special investigator
8 shall consult with all affected local police agencies, to the
9 extent consistent with the public interest, if the special
10 investigator is assigned to areas within that agency's
11 jurisdiction.
12 Before a person is appointed as a special investigator,
13 the person's fingerprints shall be taken and transmitted to
14 the Department of State Police. The Department shall examine
15 its records and submit to the State's Attorney of the county in
16 which the investigator seeks appointment any conviction
17 information concerning the person on file with the Department.
18 No person shall be appointed as a special investigator if the
19 person has been convicted of a felony or other offense
20 involving moral turpitude. A special investigator shall be
21 paid a salary and be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred
22 in performing the special investigator's assigned duties. The
23 county board shall approve the salary and actual expenses and
24 appropriate the salary and expenses in the manner prescribed
25 by law or ordinance.
26 (c) The State's Attorney may request and receive from
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1 employers, labor unions, telephone companies, and utility
2 companies location information concerning putative fathers and
3 noncustodial parents for the purpose of establishing a child's
4 paternity or establishing, enforcing, or modifying a child
5 support obligation. In this subsection, "location information"
6 means information about (i) the physical whereabouts of a
7 putative father or noncustodial parent, (ii) the putative
8 father or noncustodial parent's employer, or (iii) the salary,
9 wages, and other compensation paid and the health insurance
10 coverage provided to the putative father or noncustodial
11 parent by the employer of the putative father or noncustodial
12 parent or by a labor union of which the putative father or
13 noncustodial parent is a member.
14 (d) (Blank).
15 (e) The State's Attorney shall have the authority to enter
16 into a written agreement with the Department of Revenue for
17 pursuit of civil liability under subsection (E) of Section
18 17-1 of the Criminal Code of 2012 against persons who have
19 issued to the Department checks or other orders in violation
20 of the provisions of paragraph (1) of subsection (B) of
21 Section 17-1 of the Criminal Code of 2012, with the Department
22 to retain the amount owing upon the dishonored check or order
23 along with the dishonored check fee imposed under the Uniform
24 Penalty and Interest Act, with the balance of damages, fees,
25 and costs collected under subsection (E) of Section 17-1 of
26 the Criminal Code of 2012 or under Section 17-1a of that Code
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1 to be retained by the State's Attorney. The agreement shall
2 not affect the allocation of fines and costs imposed in any
3 criminal prosecution.
4 (f) In a county with less than 2,000,000 inhabitants, and
5 only upon receipt of a written request by the superintendent
6 of the county or multi-county Veterans Assistance Commission
7 for the county in which the State's Attorney is located, the
8 State's Attorney shall have the discretionary authority to
9 render an opinion, without fee or reward, upon any question of
10 law relating to a matter in which the county or multi-county
11 Veterans Assistance Commission may be concerned. The State's
12 Attorney shall have the discretion to grant or decline such a
13 request.
14 (Source: P.A. 101-275, eff. 8-9-19; 102-56, eff. 7-9-21.)
15 (55 ILCS 5/5-2006) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-2006)
16 Sec. 5-2006. Tax for Veterans Assistance Commission. The
17 county board of each county having a population of less than 3
18 million in which there is a Veterans Assistance Commission or
19 which is a part of a multi-county Veterans Assistance
20 Commission as provided in Section 9 of the Military Veterans
21 Assistance Act may levy a tax of not to exceed .03% of the
22 assessed value annually on all taxable property of the county,
23 for the purpose of providing assistance to military veterans
24 and their families pursuant to such Act. Whenever not less
25 than 10% of the electors of the county petition the county
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1 board to levy the tax at not to exceed .04% of the assessed
2 value, the county board shall certify the proposition to the
3 proper election officials who shall submit the proposition at
4 the next general election in accordance with the general
5 election law. If a majority of the electors vote in favor of
6 the proposition, the county board may, annually, levy the tax
7 as authorized. The proceeds of any tax so levied shall be used
8 exclusively for the assistance purposes authorized thereunder,
9 and a portion thereof may be expended for the salaries of any
10 officers or employees of the county or multi-county Veterans
11 Assistance Commission, for the authorized reimbursement of any
12 officer or employee of the county or multi-county Veterans
13 Assistance Commission, as provided in Section 10 of the
14 Military Veterans Assistance Act, or for any other expenses
15 incident to the administration of such assistance.
16 The tax shall be separate from all other taxes which the
17 county is authorized to levy on the aggregate valuation of the
18 property within the county and shall not be included in any tax
19 limitation of the rate upon which taxes are required to be
20 extended, but shall be excluded therefrom and in addition
21 thereto. The tax shall be levied and collected in like manner
22 as the general taxes of the county, and, when collected, shall
23 be paid into a special fund in the county treasury and used
24 only as herein authorized, or disbursed from the county
25 treasury of a county in which a properly organized county or
26 multi-county Veterans Assistance Commission is authorized
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1 under Section 3-11008 of this Code.
2 The limitations on tax rates herein provided may be
3 increased or decreased under the referendum provisions of the
4 General Revenue Law of Illinois.
5 If a county has levied the tax herein authorized or
6 otherwise meets the conditions set out in Section 12-21.13 of
7 the Illinois Public Aid Code, to qualify for State funds to
8 supplement local funds for public purposes under Articles III,
9 IV, V, VI, and IX of that Code and otherwise meets the
10 conditions set out in Article XII of that Code for receipt of
11 State aid, the Illinois Department of Human Services shall
12 allocate and pay to the county such additional sums as it
13 determines to be necessary to meet the needs of assistance to
14 military veterans and their families in the county and
15 expenses incident to the administration of such assistance. In
16 counties where a county or multi-county Veterans Assistance
17 Commission has been properly created, those County Veterans
18 Assistance Commissions or Multi-County Veterans Assistance
19 Commissions shall be in charge of the administration of such
20 assistance provided under the Illinois Public Aid Code for
21 military veterans and their families.
22 (Source: P.A. 102-732, eff. 1-1-23; 102-1132, eff. 2-10-23.)
23 Section 10. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by
24 changing Sections 12-3, 12-21.5, and 12-21.13 as follows:
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1 (305 ILCS 5/12-3) (from Ch. 23, par. 12-3)
2 Sec. 12-3. Local governmental units. As provided in
3 Article VI, local governmental units shall provide funds for
4 and administer the programs provided in that Article subject,
5 where so provided, to the supervision of the Illinois
6 Department. Local governmental units shall also provide the
7 social services and utilize the rehabilitative facilities
8 authorized in Article IX for persons served through Article
9 VI, and shall discharge such other duties as may be required by
10 this Code or other laws of this State.
11 In counties not under township organization, the county
12 shall provide funds for and administer such programs.
13 In counties under township organization (including any
14 such counties in which the governing authority is a board of
15 commissioners) the various towns other than those towns lying
16 entirely within the corporate limits of any city, village or
17 incorporated town having a population of more than 500,000
18 inhabitants shall provide funds for and administer such
19 programs.
20 Cities, villages, and incorporated towns having a
21 population of more than 500,000 inhabitants shall provide
22 funds for public aid purposes under Article VI but the
23 Department of Human Services shall administer the program for
24 such municipality. For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2003,
25 however, the municipality shall decrease by $5,000,000 the
26 amount of funds it provides for public aid purposes under
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1 Article VI. For each fiscal year thereafter, the municipality
2 shall decrease the amount of funds it provides for public aid
3 purposes under Article VI in that fiscal year by an additional
4 amount equal to (i) $5,000,000 or (ii) the amount provided by
5 the municipality in the preceding fiscal year, whichever is
6 less, until the municipality does not provide any funds for
7 public aid purposes under Article VI.
8 Incorporated towns which have superseded civil townships
9 shall provide funds for and administer the public aid program
10 provided by Article VI.
11 In counties of less than 3 million population having a
12 County Veterans Assistance Commission or a Multi-County
13 Veterans Assistance Commission in which there has been levied
14 a tax as authorized by Section 5-2006 of the Counties Code for
15 the purpose of providing assistance to military veterans and
16 their families, the County Veterans Assistance Commission or
17 Multi-County Veterans Assistance Commission shall administer
18 the programs provided by Article VI for such military veterans
19 and their families as seek aid through the County Veterans
20 Assistance Commission or Multi-County Veterans Assistance
21 Commission.
22 (Source: P.A. 92-111, eff. 1-1-02; 92-597, eff. 6-28-02.)
23 (305 ILCS 5/12-21.5) (from Ch. 23, par. 12-21.5)
24 Sec. 12-21.5. Veterans Assistance Commission as local
25 governmental unit.
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1 In counties having less than 3 million inhabitants in
2 which there is created a County Veterans Assistance Commission
3 or a Multi-County Veterans Assistance Commission, the
4 Superintendent of Veterans Assistance shall be selected and
5 other employees appointed as provided in Section 10 of the
6 Military Veterans Assistance Act and the compensation of the
7 Superintendent and other employees shall be as therein
8 provided.
9 (Source: P.A. 87-796.)
10 (305 ILCS 5/12-21.13) (from Ch. 23, par. 12-21.13)
11 Sec. 12-21.13. Local funds required to qualify for state
12 aid. To qualify for State funds to supplement local funds for
13 public aid purposes, a local governmental unit shall, except
14 as hereinafter provided, levy within the time that such levy
15 is authorized to be made a tax of an amount which, when added
16 to the unobligated balance available for such purposes at the
17 close of the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year for which
18 the tax is levied will equal .10% of the last known total
19 equalized value of all taxable property in the governmental
20 unit.
21 In a county of less than 3 million population in which
22 there is created a County Veterans Assistance Commission or a
23 Multi-County Veterans Assistance Commission, the county shall
24 levy for assistance to military veterans and their families,
25 within the time that such levy is authorized to be made, a tax
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1 of an amount which, when added to the unobligated balance
2 available for such purpose at the close of the preceding
3 fiscal year will equal .02% of the last known assessed value of
4 the taxable property in the county, or which will equal .03% of
5 such assessed value if such higher amount is authorized by the
6 electors of the county, as provided in Section 5-2006 of the
7 Counties Code.
8 If, however, at the latest date in the year on which the
9 aforesaid taxes are authorized to be levied there is in the
10 unobligated balance of the local governmental unit an amount
11 equal to .10%, or .02% in the case of Veterans' Assistance, of
12 the last known total equalized value of all taxable property
13 in the governmental unit, then no tax need be levied in that
14 year in order for the local governmental unit to qualify for
15 State funds.
16 In determining the amount of the unobligated balance which
17 is to be applied in producing the required levy for receipt of
18 State funds, or which is to be applied in determining whether a
19 tax levy is required, there shall be deducted from the gross
20 unobligated balance of funds available at the close of the
21 preceding fiscal year the total amount of State funds
22 allocated to the governmental unit during that year and the
23 total amount of any monies transferred to a township's general
24 town fund under Section 235-20 of the Township Code during
25 that year, and only the remainder shall be considered in
26 determining the amount of the deficiency needed to produce an
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1 amount equal to the qualifying levy for the current year.
2 (Source: P.A. 87-796; 88-670, eff. 12-2-94.)
3 Section 15. The Military Veterans Assistance Act is
4 amended by changing Sections 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, and 10 as
5 follows:
6 (330 ILCS 45/1) (from Ch. 23, par. 3081)
7 Sec. 1. Definitions. As used in this Act:
8 "Commission" means a county Veterans Assistance Commission
9 or a multi-county Veterans Assistance Commission, or both,
10 unless the context requires a different meaning.
11 "Member county" means any county that is served by a
12 multi-county Veterans Assistance Commission established in
13 accordance with subsection (a-1) of Section 9.
14 "Veteran service organization" means a post, ship, camp,
15 chapter, or detachment of a congressionally chartered or state
16 chartered organization that (i) is formed by and for veterans,
17 (ii) has a paid membership of at least 15 individuals, and
18 (iii) provides responsible aid, assistance, or services to the
19 veteran community.
20 "Administrator of military veterans assistance" means the
21 commanders of the various veteran service organizations, the
22 superintendent of a County Veterans Assistance Commission, or
23 other persons whose duty it is, under the existing statutes,
24 to care for, relieve or maintain, wholly or in part, any person
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1 who may be entitled to such assistance under the statutes of
2 the State of Illinois. This Act shall not infringe upon the
3 mandated powers and authorities vested in the Illinois
4 Department of Veterans' Affairs.
5 (Source: P.A. 102-732, eff. 1-1-23; 102-1132, eff. 2-10-23.)
6 (330 ILCS 45/2) (from Ch. 23, par. 3082)
7 Sec. 2. The purpose of this Act is, in part, to provide, in
8 accordance with this Section, just and necessary assistance
9 and services to military veterans who served in the Armed
10 Forces of the United States and whose last discharge from the
11 service was honorable or general under honorable conditions,
12 to their families, and to the families of deceased veterans
13 with service who need such assistance and services. The
14 following actions shall be taken in support of that purpose:
15 (1) The supervisor of general assistance or the county
16 board shall provide such sums of money as may be just and
17 necessary to be drawn by the commander, quartermaster or
18 commandant of any veterans service organization, in the
19 city or town, or the superintendent of any county or
20 multi-county Veterans' Assistance Commission of the
21 county, upon the recommendation of the assistance
22 committee of that veterans service organization or county
23 or multi-county Veterans' Assistance Commission.
24 (A) Funding for county and multi-county Veterans
25 Assistance Commissions may be derived from 3 sources,
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1 if applicable:
2 (i) a tax levied under Section 5-2006 of the
3 Counties Code and Section 12-21.13 of the Illinois
4 Public Aid Code;
5 (ii) funds from the county general corporate
6 fund or, in the case of a multi-county Veterans
7 Assistance Commission, from the county general
8 corporate fund of each member county; and
9 (iii) State funds from the Department of Human
10 Services.
11 (B) The minimum amount to be provided annually to
12 county and multi-county Veterans Assistance
13 Commissions is provided in Section 12-21.13 of the
14 Illinois Public Aid Code, unless the delegates of the
15 County or Multi-County Veterans Assistance Commission
16 determine that a lesser amount covers the just and
17 necessary sums.
18 (2) If any supervisor of general assistance or county
19 board fails or refuses after such recommendation to
20 provide just and necessary sums of money for such
21 assistance, then the veteran service organization or the
22 superintendent of any county or multi-county Veterans'
23 Assistance Commission located in the district of such
24 supervisor of general assistance or such county board
25 shall apply to the circuit court of the district or county
26 for relief by mandamus upon the supervisor of general
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1 assistance or county board requiring him, her or it to
2 pay, or to appropriate and pay such sums of money, and upon
3 proof made of the justice and necessity of the claim, the
4 circuit court shall grant the sums so requested.
5 (3) Such sums of money shall be drawn in the manner now
6 provided under Section 5-2006 of the Counties Code and
7 Section 12-21.13 of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Orders
8 of commanders, quartermasters, commandants, or
9 superintendents of those veterans service organizations or
10 those county or multi-county Veterans' Assistance
11 Commissions shall be proper warrants for the expenditure
12 of such sums of money.
13 (Source: P.A. 102-732, eff. 1-1-23; 102-1132, eff. 2-10-23.)
14 (330 ILCS 45/4) (from Ch. 23, par. 3084)
15 Sec. 4. Upon the taking effect of this Act, the commander
16 of any veteran service organization or any properly created
17 county or multi-county Veterans Assistance Commission, which
18 shall undertake the assistance of military veterans and their
19 families, as hereinbefore provided, before the acts of the
20 commander, quartermaster, or commandant shall be operative in
21 any city or town, shall file with the city clerk of such city
22 or town clerk of such town, or administrator of military
23 veterans assistance of such town or county, a notice that said
24 veteran service organization or county or multi-county
25 Veterans Assistance Commission intends to undertake such
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1 assistance as is provided by this Act, and such notice shall
2 contain the names of the assistance committee of the veteran
3 service organization or county or multi-county Veterans
4 Assistance Commission in such city or town, and the commander
5 and other officers of said veteran service organization or
6 county or multi-county Veterans Assistance Commission. And the
7 commander of the veteran service organization or county or
8 multi-county Veterans Assistance Commission shall annually
9 thereafter, during the month of October, file a similar notice
10 with the city or town clerk, or the administrator of military
11 veterans assistance, also a detailed statement of the amount
12 of assistance furnished during the preceding year, with the
13 names of all persons to whom such assistance shall have been
14 furnished, together with a brief statement in such case from
15 the assistance committee upon whose recommendation the orders
16 were drawn. Any person who fails or neglects so to do at the
17 time required by this Act shall be guilty of a petty offense
18 and fined $250 to be recovered in the name of the county in the
19 circuit court.
20 (Source: P.A. 102-732, eff. 1-1-23.)
21 (330 ILCS 45/5) (from Ch. 23, par. 3085)
22 Sec. 5. The auditing board of any city or town or county
23 auditor, or the administrator of military veterans assistance
24 of any city, town, or county, may require of the commander,
25 quartermaster, or commandant of any veteran service
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1 organization, or superintendent of any properly organized
2 county or multi-county Veterans Assistance Commission,
3 undertaking such assistance in any city or town, a bond with
4 sufficient and satisfactory sureties for the faithful and
5 honest discharge of their duties under this Act.
6 (Source: P.A. 102-732, eff. 1-1-23.)
7 (330 ILCS 45/8) (from Ch. 23, par. 3088)
8 Sec. 8. The commander, quartermaster, or commandant of any
9 veteran service organization or the superintendent of any
10 county or multi-county Veterans' Assistance Commission of
11 Illinois shall annually report to the Governor, on or before
12 the first day of January of each year, such portions of the
13 transactions of the aforementioned veteran service
14 organization or county or multi-county Veterans Assistance
15 Commission relating thereto as the commander or superintendent
16 may deem to be of interest to that organization and the people
17 of the State. A copy of that report shall be provided to the
18 president or chairperson of the county board and shall be made
19 publicly available online.
20 (Source: P.A. 102-732, eff. 1-1-23; 102-1132, eff. 2-10-23.)
21 (330 ILCS 45/9) (from Ch. 23, par. 3089)
22 Sec. 9. Veterans Assistance Commission.
23 (a) In counties having 2 or more veteran service
24 organizations as may be recognized by law, the veteran service
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1 organizations may come together to form a Veterans Assistance
2 Commission of such county.
3 (a-1) Beginning on and after the effective date of this
4 amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly, veteran service
5 organizations located in 2 or more adjacent counties having a
6 population of 60,000 or less may enter into an agreement to
7 come together and jointly form a multi-county Veterans
8 Assistance Commission to serve the adjacent counties in
9 accordance with this Act. A multi-county Veterans Assistance
10 Commission may also be formed under an agreement between an
11 existing county Veterans Assistance Commission and a veteran
12 service organization located in an adjacent county that is
13 without a veterans assistance commission and has a population
14 of 60,000 or less. An agreement to form and maintain a
15 multi-county Veterans Assistance Commission shall be in
16 accordance with this Act and shall set forth the following:
17 (i) the distribution of funding with respect to each member
18 county as provided in Section 2; (ii) the location of the
19 Commission's office; (iii) the type of services provided; (iv)
20 the superintendent selection or appointment process; (v)
21 Commission rules and policies including those provided in
22 subsection (g-5); and (vi) the composition of delegates and
23 alternates on the Commission. Multi-county Veterans Assistance
24 Commissions shall have the same powers and duties under this
25 Act as county Veterans Assistance Commissions, including
26 powers and duties provided under Sections 2 and 9 and those
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1 powers and duties set out in the terms of the agreement
2 establishing the multi-county Veterans Assistance Commission.
3 (a-5) The county or multi-county Veterans Assistance
4 Commission of such county may act as the central service
5 office for all veterans and their families and for the
6 families of deceased veterans. The Commission shall be
7 composed of delegates and alternates from a majority of such
8 veteran service organizations selected annually as determined
9 by each veteran service organization located within the county
10 or within the respective member counties. When so organized a
11 Commission shall be clothed with all the powers and may be
12 charged with all the duties theretofore devolving upon the
13 different veteran service organizations within the county or
14 member counties as provided in Section 2.
15 (1) Every January 1, all county and multi-county
16 Veterans Assistance Commissions shall publish a notice to
17 each veteran service organization within their respective
18 county or member counties calling on them to select
19 delegates and alternates for the county or multi-county
20 that county's Veterans Assistance Commission by the
21 methods provided in this subsection. The Veterans
22 Assistance Commissions shall allow each veteran service
23 organization until March 1 to respond, at which time those
24 selected and duly appointed delegates and alternates shall
25 begin their term of office with full voting rights. Once
26 selected, delegates and alternates are bound by the Public
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1 Officer Prohibited Activities Act.
2 (2) Except as provided in paragraph (3), veteran
3 service organizations shall be permitted to select one
4 delegate and one alternate.
5 (3) In counties with 5 or more of the same veteran
6 service organizations, all the constituent veteran service
7 organizations shall be permitted to select up to 5
8 delegates and 5 alternates to represent that veteran
9 service organization instead of each constituent veteran
10 service organization selecting one delegate and one
11 alternate. For the purposes of meeting the majority
12 requirement of this subsection, when the constituent
13 groups of a veteran service organization choose to select
14 those delegates and alternates, those selected and duly
15 appointed delegates and alternates shall represent the
16 aggregate percentage of the constituent groups.
17 (4) Except as provided in an agreement establishing a
18 multi-county Veterans Assistance Commission under
19 subsection (a-1), if If a veteran service organization
20 serves more than one county, then it shall be permitted to
21 select one delegate and one alternate for the Veterans
22 Assistance Commission in each county in which at least 25%
23 of its members reside.
24 (5) All undertakings of, or actions taken by, the
25 Commission shall require a vote from a majority of the
26 full commission membership. No committee or other subgroup
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1 of delegates and alternates formed by the Commission,
2 whether selected or appointed, may be granted the power or
3 authority to act in the place of or on behalf of the full
4 body of the duly selected or appointed Commission
5 membership.
6 (6) No superintendent or any other employee of the
7 county or multi-county Veterans Assistance Commission may
8 retain the position of delegate or alternate or any voting
9 rights while employed by the Veterans Assistance
10 Commission.
11 (7) No committee or other subgroup of delegates and
12 alternates formed by the Commission, whether selected or
13 appointed, may bar any other duly appointed Commission
14 member from attending or otherwise being present during
15 any closed meetings or sessions of that committee or
16 group.
17 (8) The county or member counties may, at its
18 discretion, appoint a representative to the Commission who
19 may attend any public meeting of the Commission. That
20 representative shall be a veteran, may not have voting
21 rights, may not hold any office or title on the
22 Commission, and may not be present during any nonpublic
23 meeting of the Commission, except as authorized in this
24 Act. For matters of executive session, the non-voting
25 county appointee may attend meetings that are closed in
26 accordance with paragraphs (1), (3), (5), (6), or (11) of
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1 subsection (c) of Section 2 of the Open Meetings Act for
2 litigation matters not relating to litigation between the
3 Commission and the county or member counties County.
4 (b) The Commission and its selected or appointed
5 superintendent shall have oversight of the distribution of all
6 moneys and supplies appropriated for the benefit of military
7 veterans and their families, subject to such rules,
8 regulations, administrative procedures or audit reviews as are
9 required by this Act and as are necessary as approved by the
10 Commission to carry out the spirit and intent of this Act. No
11 warrant authorized under this Act may be issued for the
12 payment of money without the presentation of an itemized
13 statement or claim, approved by the superintendent of the
14 Commission.
15 (c) The superintendent of the county or multi-county
16 Veterans Assistance Commission, selected, appointed, or hired
17 by the Commission is an at-will employee who shall be
18 answerable to, and shall report to, the Commission.
19 (d) The superintendent shall be evaluated annually and a
20 written report shall be generated. A copy of the report from
21 the evaluation shall be provided to the entire Commission
22 membership.
23 (e) A superintendent may be removed from office if, after
24 delegates from no less than 3 different veteran service
25 organizations file a written request calling for the
26 superintendent's removal, there is a vote from a majority of
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1 the full Commission membership in favor of such removal.
2 (f) Each county and multi-county Veterans Assistance
3 Commission shall establish and maintain bylaws that outline
4 the framework, policies, and procedures for conducting the
5 business of the Commission and for the rules and regulations
6 that apply to its members. Those bylaws shall reflect
7 compliance with all relevant laws at the time they are
8 established and shall be revised as necessary to remain in
9 compliance with current law. The establishment of those
10 bylaws, and any revisions thereafter, shall require a minimum
11 two-thirds majority vote of approval from a majority of the
12 full Commission membership.
13 (g) Each county Veterans Assistance Commission shall, in
14 writing, adopt all applicable policies already established and
15 in place in its respective county, including, but not limited
16 to, policies related to compensation, employee rights, ethics,
17 procurement, and budget, and shall adapt those policies to fit
18 its organizational structure. Those policies shall then be
19 considered the policies of the county Veterans Assistance
20 Commission and they shall be implemented and adhered to,
21 accordingly, by the superintendent and by the Commission. The
22 Commission shall amend its adopted policies whenever a county
23 board amends an applicable policy within 60 days of the county
24 board amendment.
25 (g-5) Each multi-county Veterans Assistance Commission
26 shall, in writing, adopt policies related to compensation,
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1 employee rights, ethics, procurement, and budget that fit the
2 Commission's organizational structure. Those policies shall
3 then be considered the policies of the multi-county Veterans
4 Assistance Commission and they shall be implemented and
5 adhered to, accordingly, by the superintendent and by the
6 Commission. The agreement establishing the multi-county
7 Veterans Assistance Commission, as provided in subsection
8 (a-1), shall set forth a process for reviewing and amending
9 Commission policies.
10 (h) No warrant authorized under this Act may be issued for
11 the payment of money without the presentation of an itemized
12 statement or claim, approved by the superintendent of the
13 Commission and reported to the full Commission membership.
14 (i) Each county and multi-county Veterans Assistance
15 Commission shall perform an annual audit in accordance with
16 the Governmental Account Audit Act using either the auditing
17 services provided by its respective county or one of its
18 member counties or the services of an independent auditor
19 whose services shall be paid for by the Commission. A copy of
20 that audit report shall be provided to the president or
21 chairperson of the county board or, in the case of a
22 multi-county Veterans Assistance Commission, the president or
23 chairperson of each county board of those counties served by
24 the Commission.
25 (j) County Veterans Assistance Commissions, multi-county
26 Veterans Assistance Commissions, and county boards subject to
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1 this Act shall cooperate fully with the boards, commissions,
2 agencies, departments, and institutions of the State. The
3 funds held and made available by the county or member
4 counties, the State, or any other source shall be subject to
5 financial and compliance audits in accordance with the
6 Illinois State Auditing Act.
7 (k) The county or multi-county Veterans Assistance
8 Commission shall be in charge of the administration of any
9 benefits provided under Articles VI and IX of the Illinois
10 Public Aid Code for military veterans and their families.
11 (l) The county or multi-county Veterans Assistance
12 Commission shall represent veterans in their application for
13 or attempts to obtain benefits and services through State and
14 federal agencies, including representing veterans in their
15 appeals of adverse decisions.
16 (m) The superintendent of the county or multi-county
17 Veterans Assistance Commission and its employees must comply
18 with the procedures and regulations adopted by the county or
19 multi-county Veterans Assistance Commission and the
20 regulations of the Department of Human Services.
21 (n) To further the intent of this Act of assisting
22 military veterans, this Act is to be construed so that the
23 county or multi-county Veterans Assistance Commission shall
24 provide needed services to eligible veterans.
25 (Source: P.A. 102-484, eff. 8-20-21; 102-732, eff. 1-1-23;
26 102-1132, eff. 2-10-23.)
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1 (330 ILCS 45/10) (from Ch. 23, par. 3090)
2 Sec. 10. Superintendents and counties.
3 (a) The executive powers of the county or multi-county
4 Veterans Assistance Commission shall be vested in a
5 superintendent selected or appointed by a vote from a majority
6 of the full Commission membership and who shall have received
7 an honorable discharge from the armed forces of the United
8 States.
9 (b) Superintendent vacancies shall be filled, whether
10 long-term or temporarily, at the next regularly scheduled full
11 Commission meeting or within 30 days at a specially convened
12 meeting, whichever comes sooner, and shall be selected by a
13 vote from a majority of the full Commission membership.
14 (c) Any individual who may be tasked with assuming the
15 duties of or may be vested with the executive powers of a
16 superintendent, whether as acting or interim superintendent,
17 must be selected or appointed by a vote from a majority of the
18 full Commission membership and must have received an honorable
19 discharge from the armed forces of the United States.
20 (d) The designated superintendent of a county the Veterans
21 Assistance Commission of the county shall, under the direction
22 of the Commission, have charge of and maintain an office in the
23 county building or a central location within the county, to be
24 used solely by the Commission for providing the just,
25 necessary, and needed services mandated by law. The designated
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1 superintendent of a multi-county Veterans Assistance
2 Commission shall, under the direction of the Commission, have
3 charge of and maintain an office as set forth in the agreement
4 establishing the Commission as provided in subsection (a-1) of
5 Section 9.
6 (e) The county or member counties served by a Commission
7 shall provide for the funding of the office and provide all
8 necessary furnishings, supplies, and services as passed by the
9 county board or the county boards of the respective member
10 counties in its or their annual appropriation, and the county
11 or member counties shall provide or fund services, including,
12 but not limited to, human resources and payroll support;
13 information technology services and equipment; telephone
14 services and equipment; printing services and equipment;
15 postage costs; and liability insurance. Any litigation or
16 legal settlement that has a financial impact to the county or
17 one of the member counties is subject to the approval of the
18 respective county board.
19 (f) The county or member counties served by a Commission
20 shall also provide to the employees of the Commission all
21 benefits available to county employees, including, but not
22 limited to, benefits offered through the Illinois Municipal
23 Retirement Fund or any other applicable county retirement
24 fund; health, life, and dental insurance; and workers
25 compensation insurance. Employer contributions and costs for
26 these benefits, services, and coverages may come from
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1 Commission funds. Counties not currently providing benefits to
2 Commission employees must comply with this subsection within
3 90 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the
4 102nd General Assembly.
5 (g) The county board shall, in any county where a county or
6 multi-county Veterans Assistance Commission is organized or
7 maintained, in addition to sums appropriated for these just,
8 necessary, and needed services as provided by law and approved
9 by the Commission under this Act, appropriate such additional
10 sums, upon recommendation of the county or multi-county
11 Veterans Assistance Commission, to properly compensate, in
12 accordance with the requirements of subsections subsection (g)
13 and (g-5) of Section 9 and subsection (e) of this Section, the
14 officers and employees required to administer such assistance.
15 The county board shall also provide funds to the Commission to
16 reimburse the superintendent, officers, delegates and
17 employees for certain expenses which are approved by the
18 Commission. The superintendent and other employees shall be
19 employees of the county or multi-county Veterans Assistance
20 Commission, and no provision in this Section or elsewhere in
21 this Act shall be construed to mean that they are employees of
22 the county or any member county.
23 (h) Superintendents, subject to rules formulated by the
24 Commission, shall select, as far as possible, Veteran Service
25 Officers and other employees from among military veterans,
26 including those who have served or may still be serving as
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1 members of the Illinois National Guard or a reserve component
2 of the armed forces of the United States, who did not receive a
3 bad conduct or dishonorable discharge or other equivalent
4 discharge thereof, or their spouses, surviving spouses, or
5 children. Employees of the Commission shall be at-will
6 employees.
7 (i) In a county with less than 2,000,000 inhabitants, the
8 superintendent may, in conformance with subsection (f) of
9 Section 3-9005 of the Counties Code, request from the State's
10 Attorney serving the county in which the county or
11 multi-county Veterans Assistance Commission is located or
12 maintained, an opinion upon any question of law relating to a
13 matter in which the county or multi-county Veterans Assistance
14 Commission may be concerned. With regard to matters involving
15 Section 8 or 9 or subsection (a), (b), or (c) of Section 10,
16 the State's Attorney shall confer with the Office of the
17 Attorney General before rendering an opinion.
18 (j) Superintendents of all counties subject to this Act,
19 when required by the Commission, shall give bond in the sum of
20 $2,000 for the faithful performance of their duties.
21 (k) All persons selected or appointed to fill positions
22 provided for in this Section shall be exempt from the
23 operation and provisions of any civil service act or laws of
24 this State, and the secretary of the Commission shall be
25 appointed by the superintendent.
26 (Source: P.A. 102-56, eff. 7-9-21; 102-732, eff. 1-1-23;
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1 102-1132, eff. 2-10-23.)
2 Section 20. The Drug Court Treatment Act is amended by
3 changing Section 30 as follows:
4 (730 ILCS 166/30)
5 Sec. 30. Mental health and substance use disorder
6 treatment.
7 (a) The drug court program shall maintain a network of
8 substance use disorder treatment programs representing a
9 continuum of graduated substance use disorder treatment
10 options commensurate with the needs of the participant.
11 (b) Any substance use disorder treatment program to which
12 participants are referred must hold a valid license from the
13 Department of Human Services Division of Substance Use
14 Prevention and Recovery, use evidence-based treatment, and
15 deliver all services in accordance with 77 Ill. Adm. Code
16 2060, including services available through the United States
17 Department of Veterans Affairs, the Illinois Department of
18 Veterans' Affairs, a county or multi-county or Veterans
19 Assistance Commission, or an equivalent standard in any other
20 state where treatment may take place.
21 (c) The drug court program may, at its discretion, employ
22 additional services or interventions, as it deems necessary on
23 a case by case basis.
24 (d) The drug court program may maintain or collaborate
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1 with a network of mental health treatment programs
2 representing a continuum of treatment options commensurate
3 with the needs of the participant and available resources,
4 including programs with the State and community-based programs
5 supported and sanctioned by the State. Partnerships with
6 providers certified as mental health or behavioral health
7 centers shall be prioritized when possible.
8 (Source: P.A. 102-1041, eff. 6-2-22.)
9 Section 25. The Veterans and Servicemembers Court
10 Treatment Act is amended by changing Section 10 as follows:
11 (730 ILCS 167/10)
12 Sec. 10. Definitions. In this Act:
13 "Certification" means the process by which a
14 problem-solving court obtains approval from the Supreme Court
15 to operate in accordance with the Problem-Solving Court
16 Standards.
17 "Clinical treatment plan" means an evidence-based,
18 comprehensive, and individualized plan that: (i) is developed
19 by a qualified professional in accordance with the Department
20 of Human Services substance use prevention and recovery rules
21 under 77 Ill. Adm. Code 2060 or an equivalent standard in any
22 state where treatment may take place; and (ii) defines the
23 scope of treatment services to be delivered by a court
24 treatment provider.
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1 "Combination Veterans and Servicemembers court program"
2 means a type of problem-solving court that allows an
3 individual to enter a problem-solving court before a plea,
4 conviction, or disposition while also permitting an individual
5 who has admitted guilt, or been found guilty, to enter a
6 problem-solving court as a part of the individual's sentence
7 or disposition.
8 "Community behavioral health center" means a physical site
9 where behavioral healthcare services are provided in
10 accordance with the Community Behavioral Health Center
11 Infrastructure Act.
12 "Community mental health center" means an entity:
13 (1) licensed by the Department of Public Health as a
14 community mental health center in accordance with the
15 conditions of participation for community mental health
16 centers established by the Centers for Medicare and
17 Medicaid Services; and
18 (2) that provides outpatient services, including
19 specialized outpatient services, for individuals who are
20 chronically mental ill.
21 "Co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders
22 court program" means a program that includes an individual
23 with co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorder
24 diagnoses and professionals with training and experience in
25 treating individuals with diagnoses of substance use disorder
26 and mental illness.
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1 "Court" means veterans and servicemembers court.
2 "IDVA" means the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs.
3 "Peer recovery coach" means a veteran mentor as defined
4 nationally by Justice for Vets and assigned to a veteran or
5 servicemember during participation in a veteran treatment
6 court program who has been approved by the court, and trained
7 according to curriculum recommended by Justice for Vets, a
8 service provider used by the court for substance use disorder
9 or mental health treatment, a local service provider with an
10 established peer recovery coach or mentor program not
11 otherwise used by the court for treatment, or a Certified
12 Recovery Support Specialist certified by the Illinois
13 Certification Board. "Peer recovery coach" includes
14 individuals with lived experiences of the issues the
15 problem-solving court seeks to address, including, but not
16 limited to, substance use disorder, mental illness, and
17 co-occurring disorders or involvement with the criminal
18 justice system. "Peer recovery coach" includes individuals
19 required to guide and mentor the participant to successfully
20 complete assigned requirements and to facilitate participants'
21 independence for continued success once the supports of the
22 court are no longer available to them.
23 "Post-adjudicatory veterans and servicemembers court
24 program" means a program that allows a defendant who has
25 admitted guilt or has been found guilty and agrees, with the
26 defendant's consent, and the approval of the court, to enter a
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1 veterans and servicemembers court program as part of the
2 defendant's sentence or disposition.
3 "Pre-adjudicatory veterans and servicemembers court
4 program" means a program that allows the defendant, with the
5 defendant's consent and the approval of the court, to enter
6 the Veterans and Servicemembers Court program before plea,
7 conviction, or disposition and requires successful completion
8 of the Veterans and Servicemembers Court programs as part of
9 the agreement.
10 "Problem-Solving Court Standards" means the statewide
11 standards adopted by the Supreme Court that set forth the
12 minimum requirements for the planning, establishment,
13 certification, operation, and evaluation of all
14 problem-solving courts in this State.
15 "Servicemember" means a person who is currently serving in
16 the Army, Air Force, Marines, Navy, or Coast Guard on active
17 duty, reserve status or in the National Guard.
18 "VA" means the United States Department of Veterans'
19 Affairs.
20 "VAC" means a county veterans assistance commission or a
21 multi-county veterans assistance commission as provided in
22 Section 9 of the Military Veterans Assistance Act.
23 "Validated clinical assessment" means a validated
24 assessment tool administered by a qualified clinician to
25 determine the treatment needs of participants. "Validated
26 clinical assessment" includes assessment tools required by
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1 public or private insurance.
2 "Veteran" means a person who previously served as an
3 active servicemember.
4 "Veterans and servicemembers court professional" means a
5 member of the veterans and servicemembers court team,
6 including, but not limited to, a judge, prosecutor, defense
7 attorney, probation officer, coordinator, treatment provider.
8 "Veterans and servicemembers court", "veterans and
9 servicemembers court program", "court", or "program" means a
10 specially designated court, court calendar, or docket
11 facilitating intensive therapeutic treatment to monitor and
12 assist veteran or servicemember participants with substance
13 use disorder, mental illness, co-occurring disorders, or other
14 assessed treatment needs of eligible veteran and servicemember
15 participants and in making positive lifestyle changes and
16 reducing the rate of recidivism. Veterans and servicemembers
17 court programs are nonadversarial in nature and bring together
18 substance use disorder professionals, mental health
19 professionals, VA professionals, local social programs, and
20 intensive judicial monitoring in accordance with the
21 nationally recommended 10 key components of veterans treatment
22 courts and the Problem-Solving Court Standards. Common
23 features of a veterans and servicemembers court program
24 include, but are not limited to, a designated judge and staff;
25 specialized intake and screening procedures; coordinated
26 treatment procedures administered by a trained,
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1 multidisciplinary professional team; close evaluation of
2 participants, including continued assessments and modification
3 of the court requirements and use of sanctions, incentives,
4 and therapeutic adjustments to address behavior; frequent
5 judicial interaction with participants; less formal court
6 process and procedures; voluntary participation; and a low
7 treatment staff-to-client ratio.
8 (Source: P.A. 102-1041, eff. 6-2-22.)
9 Section 30. The Mental Health Court Treatment Act is
10 amended by changing Section 30 as follows:
11 (730 ILCS 168/30)
12 Sec. 30. Mental health and substance use disorder
13 treatment.
14 (a) The mental health court program may maintain or
15 collaborate with a network of mental health treatment programs
16 and, if it is a co-occurring mental health and substance use
17 disorders court program, a network of substance use disorder
18 treatment programs representing a continuum of treatment
19 options commensurate with the needs of participants and
20 available resources.
21 (b) Any substance use disorder treatment program to which
22 participants are referred must hold a valid license from the
23 Department of Human Services Division of Substance Use
24 Prevention and Recovery, use evidence-based treatment, and
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1 deliver all services in accordance with 77 Ill. Adm. Code
2 2060, including services available through the United States
3 Department of Veterans Affairs, the Illinois Department of
4 Veterans Affairs, or a county or multi-county the Veterans
5 Assistance Commission, or an equivalent standard in any other
6 state where treatment may take place.
7 (c) The mental health court program may, at its
8 discretion, employ additional services or interventions, as it
9 deems necessary on a case by case basis.
10 (Source: P.A. 102-1041, eff. 6-2-22.)
11 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
12 becoming law.
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1 INDEX
2 Statutes amended in order of appearance
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1 INDEX
2 Statutes amended in order of appearance
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