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"When men and women from Illinois are protecting our freedom abroad,
we owe it to them to protect their interests here at home,"
Blagojevich said. "But despite our efforts, some landlords,
businesses and utilities still are not getting the message. Now,
under this new law, companies that violate the special protections
we've set up for military families will face stiff financial
penalties."
House Bill 4703, sponsored by Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia, D-Aurora,
and Sen. Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, takes current state law one step
further and imposes a $1,000 fine on any company that violates those
safeguards.
Under the legislation originally signed by the governor last
August, active-duty military personnel have the following consumer
protections during and after deployment:
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Gas or electric
companies can't stop service for nonpayment and must give
military personnel the same amount of time to repay past-due
bills as the time of deployment.
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Life insurance
policies that meet certain guidelines can't be canceled because
of nonpayment of premiums for two years after the end of
military service.
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Retail sales
contracts or other contracts for the purchase of goods or
services cannot charge interest over 6 percent per year.
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Cell phone companies
can't charge soldiers and their families certain fees for
terminating a cell phone contract before it has been completed.
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Service members who
have been deployed on active duty may cancel car leases without
being charged early cancellation fees.
"Time and time again, I've heard about companies turning off the
gas at a soldier's house and life insurance policies being canceled
at a time when it's probably needed the most, but there was nothing
that could really be done about it until now. It was against the
law, but companies weren't worried because there was no penalties
involved," Chapa LaVia explained.
All fines collected under the law will be deposited into the
Illinois Military Family Relief Fund, which provides monetary grants
to families of Illinois National Guard members and Illinois
residents serving in U.S. Reserve components who were called to
active duty as a result of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
The new law takes effect immediately.
Blagojevich also signed
House Bill 4822, which protects Illinois veterans from
discrimination in employment and housing. The new law changes the
definition of military status in the state's Human Rights Act so
that military status now includes veterans of the armed forces of
the United States, Reserve components of the armed forces of the
United States, the Illinois Army National Guard and the Illinois Air
National Guard. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Ron Stephens,
R-Highland, and Sen. William Haine, D-Alton, is effective
immediately.
Since the beginning of his administration, Blagojevich has taken
executive and legislative action to help the state's 1 million
veterans get the federal and state benefits they have bravely earned
and to extend protections to active-duty military personnel.
[to top of second column]
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 Last month, the governor won legislative approval for his
landmark veterans' health insurance initiative, called Veterans
Care. Veterans Care will provide access to affordable, comprehensive
health care coverage for thousands of Illinois veterans who earn too
much to qualify for Veterans Health Administration coverage but who
do not have health insurance. The new program will be operated by
the Department of Healthcare and Family Services in collaboration
with the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs. The agencies
estimate that approximately 9,000 veterans will qualify for this new
program.
To be eligible for Veterans Care, a veteran must meet the
following criteria:
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Be between the ages
of 19 and 64.
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Have been uninsured
for the past six months.
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Be ineligible for
Veterans Health Administration and other health care programs
like FamilyCare.
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Have a household
income up to 25 percent of the federal poverty level above the
Veterans Health Administration threshold at the beginning of the
program, and if funds permit after six months of operation, up
to 50 percent of the federal poverty level above the threshold.
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Not have been
dishonorably discharged from service.
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Be willing to pay a
monthly premium of $40, plus co-payments for doctor visits and
prescriptions.
Additionally, the governor signed legislation earlier this year
to:
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Shield grieving
military families from protests during funerals and memorial
services of fallen soldiers. The "Let Them Rest in Peace Act"
requires protesters to stay at least 200 feet away from family
and friends as they mourn soldiers who made the ultimate
sacrifice.
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Punish individuals
who falsely claim to be decorated war heroes. The new law
creates criminal charges and imposes penalties on individuals
falsely representing themselves as recipients of various
military honors, including the Purple Heart, the Congressional
Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Navy Cross,
the Air Force Cross, the Silver Star and the Bronze Star.
On behalf of the governor, the Illinois Department of Veterans'
Affairs hosted a May 20 "Supermarket of Veterans Benefits," where
hundreds of central Illinois veterans were able to get information
about their federal benefits and services, as well as connect with
educational opportunities and job openings.
Earlier in May, the governor announced that just three months
after going on sale, the state's first lottery ticket designed to
benefit Illinois veterans and their families had generated more than
$1 million for veterans. Veterans Cash is the first instant ticket
in Illinois Lottery history to provide proceeds to help fund state
programs and services for veterans.
In April, building on efforts to help the state's veterans get
federal benefits and services, the governor announced that more than
5,500 additional veterans and their families were helped by the
state since the hiring and deployment of 25 more veteran service
officers across the state at the start of 2006.
[News release from the governor's
office] |
