Canty Legislation Streamlining Veterans Affairs Hiring Practices Passes House

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — A measure carried by state Rep. Mary Beth Canty, D-Arlington Heights, to streamline services and improve hiring practices in the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs (IDVA) passed the House last Wednesday.

“Hiring requirements that are currently on the books create unnecessary hindrances to getting adequate personnel at IDVA, and that’s getting in the way of providing care, attention and resources to veterans who have sacrificed so much to keep us safe,” Canty said. “Eliminating some unnecessary barriers that do little to improve quality of service is a commonsense step forward I’m happy to deliver for Illinois veterans.”

Canty’s House Bill 4891 streamlines the hiring process for IDVA service officers by removing requirements for active service in the armed services during a time of hostilities with a foreign country. The legislation also enables service officers and supervisors to be currently serving reservists or national guardsmen in good standing, in addition to honorably discharged veterans from active or reserve components of the U.S. Armed Forces.

This measure has the support the VFW-Illinois, Illinois Association of County Veterans Assistance Commissions and Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs. It passed the House with strong bipartisan support and will soon be heard in the Senate.