IL HB5953

Appropriates $131,802,100 total to the Department of Veterans' Affairs for fiscal year beginning July 1, 2012, consisting of $69,047,600 in General Funds, $61,064,600 in Other State Funds, and $1,689,900 in Federal Funds

Funds central office operations including personal services ($3,387,800), contractual services ($607,400), and electronic data processing ($1,094,100)

Appropriates $1,296,500 for grants-in-aid including bonus payments to war veterans ($597,800), educational opportunities for children of veterans ($148,700), and veterans' headstones ($550,000)

Funds four state veterans' homes at Anna, Quincy, LaSalle, and Manteno with combined appropriations exceeding $73 million for personal services, employee retirement contributions, and facility operations

Provides funding for veterans' field services ($5,215,700), homeless veterans programs ($863,600), state approving agency ($1,309,600), and support programs including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder counseling, property tax relief, and the Troops to Teachers Program