Summary as Introduced
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.
Staff Analysis
House Bill 1352 proposes to allow for the formation of multi-county Veterans Assistance Commissions (VAC). Specifically, it enables veteran service organizations located in two or more adjacent counties, each with a population of 60,000 or less, to establish a unified Veterans Assistance Commission.
Here’s how it would affect existing commissions:
1. Structural Changes for Smaller Counties
• Currently, each county with a VAC operates independently. HB 1352 would allow counties with populations of 60,000 or less to create a single, regional Veterans Assistance Commission.
• This change would provide smaller counties with more flexibility in organizing and delivering veterans’ assistance programs.
2. Increased Resource Sharing
• By establishing regional VACs across multiple counties, resources such as funding, personnel, and services could be pooled, potentially enhancing efficiency and allowing for broader outreach.
• This could benefit rural areas where individual county VACs may struggle with funding or staffing shortages.
3. Potential Governance Adjustments
• The bill may require existing VACs in affected counties to adjust their governance structures to align with a regional model.
• Decision-making processes, leadership appointments, and operational procedures may need to be revised to accommodate representation from multiple counties.
4. Possible Impact on Local Control
• While multi-county VACs could improve service coordination, there may be concerns about reduced local control, as decisions would need to be made collectively rather than at the individual county level.
• Some counties may prefer to maintain independent VACs rather than join a multi-county commission.
5. Financial Implications
• Multi-county VACs could lead to cost savings by consolidating administrative functions.
• However, transitional costs (such as merging databases, reallocating staff, and adjusting operational procedures) might be incurred in the short term.
Overall Impact
• For rural counties, HB 1352 could provide a more sustainable and coordinated approach to veteran services.
• For larger counties or those with established VACs, the bill may have little to no impact unless they choose to collaborate with neighboring counties.
Amendment 1
On March 12, 2025, House Amendment 1 to HB 1352 was filed. This amendment introduces additional provisions to the bill, including:
• On page 27, immediately below line 24, specific language was inserted to further detail the operational framework of the proposed multi-county Veterans Assistance Commissions.
The amendment also provides that each participating county shall levy a tax at the minimum amount of 0.02% of the total equalized assessed value of property in the county and deposit the proceeds into the county treasury of the seat of that judicial circuit.