New laws strengthens Illinois' support for veterans

[August 16, 2013]  CHICAGO -- Last weekend was good for Illinois veterans, with Gov. Pat Quinn signing six acts into law at two events -- a visit to Hero Street in Silvis on Saturday and Veterans Day at the Illinois State Fair on Sunday. In a ceremony before the bill-signing at the state fair, Quinn also recognized Ms. Linda Kay Crites of Springfield as the Illinois Veteran of the Month for July 2013. The governor was assisted in the ceremony by Rodrigo Garcia, assistant director of the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs.

"We are pleased with all these new laws, and especially HB2353, which strengthens Illinois' support for veterans on campus," said Erica Borggren, director of the IDVA. "We appreciate the General Assembly's efforts and thank Gov. Quinn for his leadership and longstanding commitment to serving, equipping and honoring our veterans."

New laws signed at the Hero Street event:

• House Bill 2353 allows veterans using Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to be considered as in-state students for the purpose of tuition in state-supported institutions of higher learning in Illinois, resulting in veterans being better able to afford a full education. This will also help draw talented young veterans to Illinois universities. HB 2353 was sponsored by Rep. Kathleen Willis, D-Northlake, and is effective immediately.

• Senate Bill 2229, sponsored by state Sen. Mike Frerichs, D-Champaign, and state Rep. Deborah Conroy, D-Villa Park, provides that anyone with at least 10 years of service in the Illinois National Guard will be eligible for six years of tuition waivers instead of the current maximum of four years, recognizing that older service members may take a longer time to complete their studies. The new waiver takes effect in the upcoming 2013-14 school year.

New laws signed on Veterans Day at the Illinois State Fair:

• House Bill 3346, sponsored by state Rep. Barbara Wheeler, R-Crystal Lake, and state Sen. Pamela Althoff, R-McHenry, requires the Illinois Discharged Service Member Task Force to evaluate the needs of women veterans and, as part of its fiscal 2014 report, to make recommendations regarding how to meet those needs. The law goes into effect immediately.

• House Bill 2408, sponsored by state Rep. Jerry Costello II, D-Belleville, and state Sen. Michael Hastings, D-Matteson, allows small businesses owned by veterans and service-disabled to also register as minority, disabled and women-owned businesses when applicable, giving these businesses more opportunity to do business with the state of Illinois. The law goes into effect immediately.

• Senate Bill 1824, sponsored by state Sen. John M. Sullivan, D-Rushville, and state Rep. Joe Sosnowski, R-Rockford, requires those who build veteran memorials on public property to raise enough funds to cover the maintenance and preservation of the memorial as well as its construction. The law goes into effect immediately.

• Senate Bill 2231, sponsored by state Sen. Kwame Raoul, D-Chicago, and state Sen. Natalie Manley, D-Joliet, increases penalties for criminal damage and defacement of veteran and military memorials. The law goes into effect Jan. 1, 2014.

[Text from Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs file received from the Illinois Office of Communication and Information]