(330 ILCS 35/0.01)

(from Ch. 126 1/2, par. 57.60)

Sec. 0.01.

Short title.

This Act may be cited as the

Prisoner of War Bonus Act.

(Source: P.A. 86‑1324.)

(330 ILCS 35/1)

(from Ch. 126 1/2, par. 57.61)

Sec. 1.

Every person on active duty with the armed forces of the United States or employed by the United States Government on or after January 1, 1961, who was taken and held prisoner by hostile forces in Southeast Asia is entitled to receive compensation of $50 for each month or portion thereof he was held if (a) he had been a resident of the State of Illinois for at least 12 months immediately preceding his entry into the armed forces of the United States, or preceding his employment by the United States Government and (b) he is still on active service, is honorably separated or discharged from the armed forces, has been furloughed to a reserve unit or has been retired, or is still employed by the United States Government or has resigned or retired from such employment as the case may be.

This bonus is to be paid in addition to any other compensation that the recipient is entitled.

(Source: P.A. 78‑293.)

(330 ILCS 35/2)

(from Ch. 126 1/2, par. 57.62)

Sec. 2.

The widow or widower, child or children, mother, father, person standing in loco parentis, brothers and sisters, in the order named, of any deceased person shall be paid the compensation to which the deceased person would be entitled under Section 1 of this Act.

Where a preceding beneficiary fails to file a claim for compensation after the official notice of death the Illinois Veterans' Commission may proceed to process applications from succeeding beneficiaries and such beneficiaries may then proceed to qualify upon submission of satisfactory proof of eligibility.

(Source: P. A. 78‑293.)

(330 ILCS 35/3)

(from Ch. 126 1/2, par. 57.63)

Sec. 3.

No right or claim to compensation under this Act may be assigned.

(Source: P. A. 78‑293.)

(330 ILCS 35/4)

(from Ch. 126 1/2, par. 57.64)

Sec. 4.

The Department of Veterans' Affairs has complete charge and control of the general scheme of payments authorized by this Act and shall adopt general rules for the making of such payments, the ascertainment and selection of proper beneficiaries and the amount to which such beneficiaries are entitled, and for procedure.

If the person to whom compensation is payable under this Act is a person under legal disability, it shall be paid to the person legally vested with the care of such legally disabled person under the laws of this State of residence. If no such person has been so designated for the legally disabled person, payment shall be made to the chief officer of any hospital or institution under the supervision or control of any State or of the Veterans Administration of the United States in which such legally disabled person is placed, if such officer is authorized to accept moneys for the benefit of the legally disabled person. Any payments so made shall be held or used solely for the benefit of the legally disabled person.

As used in this Section, a person under legal disability means any person found to be so disabled by a court of competent jurisdiction of any State or the District of Columbia or by any adjudication officer of the Veterans Administration of the United States.

(Source: P.A. 85‑169.)

(330 ILCS 35/5)

(from Ch. 126 1/2, par. 57.65)

Sec. 5.

Any application for compensation under this Act must be made to the Department of Veterans' Affairs.

(Source: P.A. 79‑293.)

(330 ILCS 35/6)

(from Ch. 126 1/2, par. 57.66)

Sec. 6.

This Act takes effect upon its becoming a law.

(Source: P.A. 78‑293.)