Bill
HB 2777
Allows Illinois veterans to take up to 4 days per calendar year of VA-authorized medical appointments, at any provider, without charging sick leave.
Status snapshot
- Bill number: HB 2777
- Primary sponsors (House): Rep. Stephanie A. Kifowit; Rep. Brandun Schweizer listed later as chief sponsor. Senate chief sponsor: Sen. Mike Porfirio. Alternate/co‑sponsor added: Sen. Sue Rezin. Multiple co‑sponsors listed.
- Key procedural actions: Filed Feb 2025; passed House (3/9/2025, 116–0); referred to Senate Assignments and Veterans’/other committees; public hearings and committee consideration in March–May 2025. As of 2025‑05‑06 the bill “failed to receive affirmative vote in committee” (per the legislative actions record).
- Jurisdiction: Illinois (text amends the Illinois Personnel Code). Note: the packet provided also contains unrelated Arizona statutory language — the operative PERS/CD–VA language below is from Illinois.
Purpose and intent
- To modernize and broaden an existing leave benefit for State employees who are military veterans by (1) changing terminology from “veterans hospital visits” to “veterans medical appointments” and (2) clarifying and expanding where and for what purpose the 4‑day annual leave may be used.
Key provisions
- Amends Sections 8b and 8b.20 of the Illinois Personnel Code (20 ILCS 415):
- Replaces the phrase “veterans hospital visits” with “veterans medical appointments,” and updates cross‑references.
- Provides that an employee who is a veteran is permitted up to 4 days per calendar year to receive medical care authorized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) at any type of health care provider or facility (not limited to VA hospitals or clinics).
- Authorizes use of the 4 days for examination or treatment of a military service‑connected condition (language broadened from “examination” to “examination or treatment”).
- States the 4 days are not charged against the employee’s existing sick leave.
Who is affected
- State of Illinois employees who are veterans (covered by Jurisdiction B of the Personnel Code).
- State agencies and the Department of Central Management Services (CMS) — responsible for implementing posting/administration changes and leave accounting.
- Veterans receiving VA‑authorized medical care — may use this specific leave benefit for appointments at non‑VA providers when care is VA‑authorized.
Potential impacts and fiscal considerations
- Administrative: agencies will need to update leave policies and HR guidance to reflect the broader provider/facility eligibility and the absence of a sick‑leave charge.
- Fiscal: limited — the change preserves existing leave (4 days) but shifts where it can be used; no new paid leave days are created. Any minimal costs relate to scheduling/coverage for routine absences and administrative recordkeeping.
- Equity/access: potentially increases access for veterans who obtain VA‑authorized care outside VA facilities (e.g., community providers), by explicitly permitting use of the 4‑day leave for those appointments.
Other notes
- The bill also contains miscellaneous drafting/section renumbering edits within Jurisdiction B of the Personnel Code (application/posting language).
- The legislative packet included separate Arizona statutory language concerning expenditure limitations — that material is unrelated to the Illinois Personnel Code changes described above.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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