Governor Quinn Signs Legislation to Benefit Families of Illinois' Veterans

CHICAGO – July 30, 2010. Governor Pat Quinn today signed a bill into law to expand eligibility to children and grandparents of active duty service men and women for unpaid leave under the Family Military Leave Act.

“This change to the Family Military Leave Act will allow the men and women who serve our country to spend valuable time with family members before deployment,” said Governor Quinn. “Grandparents and adult children working for companies employing more than 50 people will now be able to take unpaid leave from work and be with their loved ones before he or she goes to serve the call to active duty.”

“Not only is the Family Military Leave Act important for families but it also is critical for the personal well-being of those who serve in our armed forces,” said Illinois Department of Veterans director Dan W. Grant. “An impending deployment and having to part from family can be a stressful and emotional time for service men and women – the ability to be among family members that can help each other prepare is immeasurable.”

Senate Bill 3818 amends the Family Military Leave Act to include adult children and grandparents of individuals called to military service as eligible for the same leave provided to spouses and parents. Under the new law, employers with 50 or more employees will be required to provide up to 30 days of unpaid family military leave to a worker when their spouse, child, parent, or grandchild is being deployed.

Sponsored by Sen. Toi W. Hutchison (D-Chicago Heights) and Rep. Lisa M. Dugan (D-Kankakee), the new law is effective Jan. 1, 2011.

Governor Quinn also signed a bill today pertaining to specialty license plates for Veterans. House Bill 4778, sponsored by Rep. Don Moffitt (R-Gilson) and Sen. David Koehler (D-Peoria), allows Korean War Veterans, U.S. Veterans, Vietnam Veterans, World War II Veterans, Army Combat Veterans, and U.S. Army Veterans to obtain specialty license plates at no additional cost to the existing applicable registration fee. The new law amends the Illinois Vehicle Code and becomes effective Jan. 1, 2011.

The Governor also today signed House Bill 4667 and Senate Bill 3630 to benefit Veterans.