IL SB0563

Repeals Section 19a of the Personnel Code and transfers the Interagency Committee on Employees with Disabilities to the Illinois Human Rights Act, with the Director of Veterans' Affairs as a committee member.

Creates a Division of Women Veterans Affairs within the Department of Veterans' Affairs to advocate for and assess the needs of women veterans regarding compensation, health care, rehabilitation, and community services.

Authorizes the Department of Veterans' Affairs to operate cemeteries at the Manteno and Quincy Veterans Homes for interment of veterans and their spouses.

Allows the Department of Veterans' Affairs to conduct limited fundraising for Veterans Home member's benefits funds and permits once-admitted veterans or spouses to transfer between Illinois Veterans Homes as residents.

Establishes procedures for pre-admission background checks at nursing facilities, exempting Illinois Veterans Homes from certain Nursing Home Care Act provisions and creating a facility plan review process for construction projects exceeding $100,000.

Adds "peer recovery coach" definition to the Veterans and Servicemembers Court Treatment Act and authorizes courts to establish mentorship programs pairing veteran participants with trained volunteer coaches.