HB2647 EngrossedEnrolled LRB100 08180 MJP 18276 b AN ACT concerning State government.

(1) The Department shall reach out toand coordinate with the United States Department of DefenseVeterans' Affairs in order to identify veterans returning from service in heavycombat casualtyunits. units, units that experienced high conflict areas, or units where at least one service member committed suicide following his or her service.

The Department shall establish a proactive outreach program for veterans that served in highcombat casualtyunits. HB2647 Engrossed - 2 - LRB100 08180 MJP 18276 b units, in units that experienced high conflict areas, and in units where at least one service member committed suicide following his or her service.

(2) The Department or the Department in collaboration with not-for-profit organizations shall engage in a public HB2647 Enrolled - 2 - LRB100 08180 MJP 18276 b awareness campaign concerning the trauma and internal injuries suffered by veterans in order to promote understanding and acceptance from the general public.

The Department shall provide assistance to Veterans Assistance Commissions established under Section 9 of the Military Veterans Assistance Act and veterans' service associations, including, but not limited to, the HB2647 Engrossed - 3 - LRB100 08180 MJP 18276 b American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and AMVETS, in providing the training under this paragraph to the employees of the Veterans Assistance Commissions and veterans' service associations.associations that seek participation in the Department's training events.

HB2647 Enrolled - 3 - LRB100 08180 MJP 18276 b The Department shall hirehave priority for hiring combat veterans to serve as veteran service officers at veterans service organizations established under this Act for the purpose of having veteran services officers who are able to properly relate to fellow combat veterans.

SuchThe factorsDepartment, include,in butcoordination arewith notinstitutions limitedof to,higher expandingeducation, veterans'shall accessprovide toproactive onlineoutreach learning;as part of an educational success program for veterans experiencing difficulties in higher education.

desk(5) placementThe awayDepartment fromshall windows,coordinate crowdedwith hallways,existing orveterans' orientation;associations and military organizations to provide a family preparation course concerning the emotional cycle of deployment that is designed to help a family unit adjust to changes in discharged and returning veterans and inform the family members of where to go to seek assistance.

grouping veterans together in a class;

and veterans' only instructional periods.

The Department, in coordination with institutions of higher education, shall provide proactive outreach as part of an educational success program for veterans experiencing difficulties in higher education due to undiagnosed mental health issues that prevent them from succeeding.

(5) The Department shall provide a family preparation course concerning the emotional cycle of deployment that is designed to help a family unit adjust to changes in discharged and returning veterans and inform the family HB2647 Engrossed - 4 - LRB100 08180 MJP 18276 b members of where to go to seek assistance.

(6) The Department shall reach out to the United States Department of Veterans' Affairs to obtain information on returning veterans and develop a licensingtransition program for therapyreturning dogs,veterans withthat areside possiblein extensionthe toState otherincluding therapyHB2647 animals,Enrolled - 4 - LRB100 08180 MJP 18276 b information on local organizations that provide resources or services for veterans.veterans that a veteran can access.

(7) The Department shall developcollaborate standardswith fornon-profits, businesses, and employers in the trainingState andthat identificationfocus on the needs of therapyemployees dogswho forare veterans seeking employment and that support employees who are veterans.

(8) The designationDepartment, ofin therapycollaboration dogwith underveterans' thisorganizations paragraphin the State, shall notcoordinate qualifywith the dogUnited States Department of Veterans' Affairs to bepromote atheir servicepeer animalspecialist asprogram providedand undercollaborate anywith otheroutside Actprograms into thisestablish State.a peer-to-peer program.

(7) The Department shall reach out to the United States Department of Defense to obtain information on returning veterans and develop a transition program for returning veterans that reside in the State.

The program developed under this paragraph shall include a veteran-to-veteran connection program and information on local organizations that provide resources or services for veterans that a veteran can access.

(8) The Department shall reach out to the United States Department of Defense in order to develop a system that allows veterans to file a federal DD Form 214 immediately upon discharge.

(9) The Department shall collaborate with chambers of commerce in the State to create an employer training program that focuses on the needs of employees that are HB2647 Engrossed - 5 - LRB100 08180 MJP 18276 b veterans.

The Department shall develop a program that identifies companies that are trained on the circumstances that are unique to veterans seeking employment and that support employees that are veterans.

(10) The Department, in collaboration with veterans' organizations in the State, shall establish a standard statewide peer-to-peer training program to familiarize veterans with the veterans' services available at the local, State, and federal levels.