Haine proposal to protect Quincy veterans signed into law

SPRINGFIELD –Since July of 2015, when Legionnaires’ disease was first discovered at the Illinois Veterans’ Home at Quincy, there have been three outbreaks of the deadly disease. In total, more than 50 residents contracted the disease and over a dozen veteran residents lost their lives due to the outbreak.

To ensure the Capital Development Board and Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs have the resources to address the health crisis, state Senator and Vietnam Veteran Bill Haine, D-Alton, passed Senate Bill 3128 through the Illinois General Assembly earlier this spring. Today, the legislation was signed into law.

“These veterans fought and sacrificed to protect our freedoms,” Haine (shown) said. “Thanks to this bipartisan proposal, the state will now finally have the ability to prevent further deadly outbreaks at the Quincy Veterans’ Home.”

Haine’s proposal:

• Gives the Department of Veterans’ Affairs authority to use the design-build method to rehabilitate the Veterans’ Home.
• Exempts services and products necessary for the renovation, restoration and rehabilitation from some portions of procurement code.
• Prevents the Capital Development Board from charging a 3 percent administrative fee to ensure all funds will be used solely for rehabilitation of the home.
• Requires the Governor’s office, Capital Development Board and Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs to provide the General Assembly with copies of all correspondence and communications from the federal Department of Veterans Affairs.
• Allows the Capital Development Board to use federal funds received for or as reimbursement for capital projects related to the Illinois Veterans’ Home at Quincy, rather than requiring these funds be used as debt service.