Special to PN from the DuPage County Veterans Assistance Commission
At this time of year, people are saying goodbye to 2012 and hello to 2013. Who knows what 2013 will bring to everyone. Good news, bad news? (If I know what’s going to happen in 2013, I’m playing the lottery.) Well one thing for certain, at least here in Illinois, there are new state laws. So let’s take a look at some of those new state laws that will affect veterans.
Senate Bill 275: This legislation, known as the Illinois Military Family Licensing Act, supports military families as they seek employment by allowing service members and their spouses to obtain a 6-month professional licenses they need to continue working after the family relocates to Illinois due to their military service. The law takes effect January 1, 2013.
Senate Bill 2837: In order to improve Veterans’ access to state services, this new law directs the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office beginning July 1, 2015 to add a unique distinction on veteran driver’s licenses and identification cards.
Senate Bill 3241: This law increases the Hiring Veterans Tax Credit, which more than quadruples the annual cap from $1,200 to $5,000. The same bill also honors Gold Star families of fallen heroes across Illinois by making them eligible for the same property tax-relief available in some communities to the families of fallen firefighters and police officers.
House Bill 4586: Directs the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to partner with the IDVA, the Illinois Departments of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), and Employment Security (IDES), as well as the Illinois State Job Coordinating Council to add the Illinois Veteran Conservation Corps and Illinois Veteran Recreation Corps to the Illinois Conservation Corps.
This law has been around since the 1895, and it states that; any indigent veteran the dies in Illinois, the state will provide up to $900 towards the veteran’s burial. In DuPage County the Veterans Assistance Commission of DuPage County takes care of that.
This law passed in 2011, but you may not know about it, so here it is; House Bill 180: Expands Illinois’ “Let Them Rest in Peace Act” to prohibit protests within 300 feet of a funeral site and ensure that no protest can take place within 30 minutes before and after a funeral or memorial service.
On a separate note, if anyone plays the Illinois Lottery, there’s a game called Veterans Cash. It’s an instant lottery game and all the proceeds go to veteran affairs in Illinois, such as dental grants for veterans. If you do play the lottery, I encourage you to play Veterans Cash. Your “donation” will help the veterans in Illinois.
