Veterans

Designates the portion of Interstate Route 80 of the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways within the State of Illinois, from mile marker 26 to mile marker 51, as the "U.S. Marine Corps Highway Semper Fidelis".

This bill designates the Fayette Avenue overpass at the intersection of Interstates 57 and 70 in Effingham as the "Sgt. Timothy Sayne Memorial Overpass." It honors Sergeant Timothy Sayne, a local resident who served in the U.S. Army and was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2011. The legislation requires the Illinois Department of Transportation to install signs or plaques at the site to officially mark the overpass with this new name. Copies of the resolution will be provided to Sergeant Sayne's family and the state transportation department to formalize the memorial.

This bill designates the Fourth Street Interstate 57 and 70 overpass in Effingham as the "Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christopher Donaldson Memorial Overpass" to honor a local resident who served in the U.S. Army. The legislation requires the Illinois Department of Transportation to install signs at the site to display the new name and to present copies of the resolution to the soldier's family, the mayor of Effingham, and the state transportation secretary. It directly affects the naming of a specific public infrastructure project in Effingham and involves the state transportation department in implementing the commemorative signage.

Designates U.S. Highway 250 from the intersection of U.S. Highway 50 and Illinois Route 130 in Olney to 10 miles West of Olney on U.S. Highway 50 as the "Sgt. Levi Ridgley Memorial Highway".

HJR 1 designates a specific section of Bond Avenue in Centreville, from South 43rd Street to South 47th Street, as the "Lt. Gregory Jonas Memorial Avenue." This bill honors Lt. Gregory Jonas by naming a public road after him.

HJR 6 designates a specific section of Illinois Route 140. This portion of the highway, as it travels through Meadowbrook, will be officially named the "Cpl. Tommy N. Miller Memorial Highway" in honor of Cpl. Tommy N. Miller.

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.

Amends the State Commemorative Dates Act. Provides that the Governor shall annually designate by official proclamation the third Friday of September in each year as POW/MIA Recognition Day (rather than the third Friday of September in each year is designated as POW/MIA Recognition Day) to be observed in honor and remembrance of the men and women who, as POWs, have suffered captivity in foreign countries while in active service with the United States armed forces or who, as MIAs, have been recognized as missing in action in a time of war or during a period of hostilities (rather than who were recognized as POWs or MIAs in a time of war or during a period of hostilities). Provides that the Governor shall request, in the Governor's annual designation by official proclamation, that some portion of the third Friday of September be used for solemn contemplation on the plight of members of the United States armed forces who have been held prisoners of war and members of the United States armed forces who have been missing in action and the resolve of families and friends who continue to seek the fullest possible accounting for missing loved ones. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Allows the Secretary of State to issue special registration plates designated as Air Medal plates to residents of this State who meet the eligibility requirements prescribed by the Secretary of State. Provides that the plates shall display the Air Medal. Provides that in all other respects, the design, color, and format of the plates shall be within the discretion of the Secretary.

Amends the School Code and the Deceased, Disabled, and MIA/POW Veterans' Dependents Educational Opportunity Grant Act. In provisions concerning the Deceased, Disabled, and MIA/POW Veterans' Dependents scholarship and the Deceased, Disabled, and MIA/POW Veterans' Dependents Educational Opportunity Grant program, provides that the Department of Veterans' Affairs shall determine, by rule, the eligibility of the persons who apply for the scholarship or grant (rather than the Department shall determine the eligibility of the persons who apply For the scholarship or grant).