HB2652 Summary

• Amends the Department of Veterans Affairs Act to implement recommendations from the Task Force on Veterans' Suicide final report published December 30, 2016.

• Requires the Department to collaborate with higher education institutions to create an educational success program addressing environmental factors affecting veterans' learning, including online learning options, classroom accommodations, and proactive outreach for veterans with undiagnosed mental health issues.

• Mandates the Department provide a family preparation course on deployment's emotional cycle to help families adjust to returning veterans and direct them to available assistance resources.

• Directs the Department to coordinate with the U.S. Department of Defense to develop a transition program for returning veterans in Illinois that includes veteran-to-veteran connections and information on local veteran resources.

• Requires the Department to work with chambers of commerce to create an employer training program educating companies about veterans' employment needs and establish a statewide peer-to-peer training program to familiarize veterans with available local, state, and federal services.

• Authorizes the Department to adopt rules necessary to implement all provisions.