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C.  VETERANS HOUSING AND
CAL-VET FARM AND HOME LOAN PROGRAM

AB 498  Affordable housing: veterans Vehicles: special interest license plates and decals.  (Mary Hayashi, Hayward.  Coauthor Ted Lieu, Torrance.)  [TWO YEAR BILL]  [UPDATED FEBRUARY 14, 2010]
DESCRIPTION: Existing law authorizes a sponsor of a supportive housing development funded by the Multifamily Housing Program, to restrict occupancy of a project to persons with veteran status under specified circumstances.
This bill would
express the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation relating to affordable housing for veteran renter households.
  require the Department of Veterans Affairs to collaborate with the Department of Housing and Community Development to facilitate the development of multifamily housing for military veterans and their families. The bill would require the department to take action to ensure that if land is donated to the state for the express purpose of providing land for military veterans’ housing, or if the department receives funding for a housing project restricted for the use of military veterans, any such housing built on that land, or using that source of funds shall, only be used for housing for military veterans.
This bill would also require the department, in collaboration with the Department of Housing and Community Development, not later than July 1, 2010, to prepare and submit to the Legislature a study evaluating the most effective ways to increase the supply of affordable housing for military veterans and their families, including specified information and recommendations, as prescribed.
The bill would also require a ballot measure to be submitted to the voters at the November 2020 election to modify the Veterans Bond Act of 2008 to provide that the bonds issued can be used for rental housing instead of the Cal-Vet Farm and Home Loan Program.
As amended 2010 -- Allows any former American POW who is otherwise eligible for a special interest license plate to instead apply for a veterans' organization license plate and decal and be afforded the same fee exemptions as are granted for POW plates

STATUS:
Introduced February 25, 2009.  Referred to Assembly Committees on Veterans Affairs, and on Housing and Community Development.  A hearing is scheduled by the Committee on Veterans Affairs on April 28.
TWO YEAR BILL -- Re-referred to Committee on Transportation.  Passed by Assembly Committee on Transportation January 12 (vote 14-0), and by Committee on Appropriations January 21 (vote 17-0).  Passed by the Assembly January 27 (vote 72-1).
In the Senate, referred to the Committee on Transportation and Housing.

SUPPORT/OPPOSITION:
Officially supported by Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of California (sponsor).

COMMENT:
The single "no" vote that was cast in the Assembly Floor vote was by Tom Berryhill of Modesto.  His particular reason is unknown.  The staff analysis of the bill did note that there would be significant administrative costs to implement the proposed procedures, compared to the few persons who might actually change their license plates.
Recommend send letters of support on this bill to members of the Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing:
Alan S. Lowsenthall, Long Beach
Bob Huff, Glendora
Roy Ashburn, Bakersfield
Mark DeSaulnier, Antioch
Tom Harman, Huntington Beach
Christine Kehoe, San Diego
Jenny Oropeza, Long Beach
Fran Pavley, Santa Monica
Joe Simitian, Palo Alto
The address for all State Senators is California State Senate, State Capitol, Sacramento, CA 95814.

 

AB 2651 Veterans farm and home purchases.  (Stephen Knight, Lancaster)
DESCRIPTION:  The acts authorizing the various bonds issues for CAL-VET Farm and Home Loan Program require the Controller to pay, from the General Fund, the principal and interest on the bonds when due, and to be reimbursed for those costs from the Veterans’ Farm and Home Building Fund of 1943.
This bill would authorize the Controller to establish a zero-balance account within the General Fund and to transfer to that account, from the Veterans’ Home Building Fund of 1943, those amounts necessary to make future payments for the principal and interest on the bonds as it comes due.
The effect of this change would be to provide an increase in the funds available to the State General Fund and so reduce at least the appearance of the state's deficit.  It would be another accounting gimmick in trying to balance the State Budget.

STATUS: Introduced February 19.

 

SB 1383 Veterans' loans.   (Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs:  Jeff Denham, Merced, Chair; Lou Correa, Vice Chair, Santa Ana; Gil Cedillo, DESCRIPTION:  Los Angeles; Abel Maldonado, Santa Maria; Gloria Negrete McLeod, Chino; Patricia Wiggins, Santa Rosa; and Mark Wyland, Escondido.)
This is a spot bill on the CAL-VET Farm and Home Loan Program.

 

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Last modified: 03/05/10