Quincy Reporter

State Senator Jil Tracy has succeeded in advancing two legislative measures aimed at improving access to services for veterans and charitable organizations in smaller Illinois communities. Her proposed bills, approved by the Senate on April 3, seek to streamline processes and enhance support mechanisms.

Senate Bill 1368 is designed to assist counties lacking a Veterans Assistance Commission. It permits these counties to join forces in creating a Jurisdictional Veterans Assistance Commission, which would offer services to veterans and their families within those jurisdictions. This initiative has a counterpart in the House of Representatives, where State Rep. Kyle Moore of Quincy is spearheading a similar proposal.

"This legislation expands on current Illinois law that already allows a county with one or more veterans’ organizations to form a Commission that will serve as a central service place for veterans and their families to search opportunities or questions they have about benefits," Senator Tracy explained. "Senate Bill 1368 will allow smaller counties to either join with a larger county, or form within a judicial circuit a multi-county Commission to do the same thing."

The second measure, Senate Bill 1599, proposes that the Attorney General provide the option for charitable organizations and trustees to file reports and statements electronically. This change aims to accommodate organizations with limited staff, allowing them to submit necessary documentation more efficiently. Tracy noted, "Electronic filing helps local groups, especially those with limited staff, file reports in a more-timely manner. Illinois has seen a growing trend in modernizing various administrative processes by electronic filing methods across different sectors."

Both bills passed unanimously in the Senate and will now proceed to the House of Representatives for additional deliberation.