C. CAL-VET FARM AND HOME LOAN PROGRAM
AB 3067 Military and Veterans: Veterans farm and home
purchase. (Assembly Committee on
Veterans Affairs: Mary Salas, Chair, Chula Vista; Jim Beall, San Jose;
Wilmer Carter, San Bernardino; Ted Lieu, El Segundo; and Lois Wolk,
Vacaville) [UPDATED JUNE 29] [FAILED
PASSAGE SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS]
DESCRIPTION:
Would expand the definition of "home" to include multifamily housing for
eligibility for loans under the California Veterans Farm and Home Loan
Program. Would authorize the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide rental
housing for veterans, including veterans with low income and disabled veterans
with special housing needs. This bill would also authorize the Department of
Veterans Affairs to create a Veterans’ Rental Housing Debenture Finance
Committee, to issue debentures to finance veterans’ rental housing. Revenues
generated from the sale of the debentures would be used to promote projects that
would provide rental housing for veterans.
STATUS: Passed by
Assembly Committee on Veterans Affairs April 15 (vote 6-0 with 3 abstentions),
and by the Committee on Appropriations May 14 (vote 12-5). Passed by the
Assembly May 27 (vote 50-21).
Note: This bill has become controversial for its treatment of the existing
CAL-VET Farm and Home Loan Program, and other issues.
In the Senate, held without recommendation by Senate Committee on Veterans
Affairs.
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: Supported by Veterans Village of San Diego.
SB 1572 Veterans Bond Act of 2008.
(Mark Wyland, San Juan Capistrano/Carlsbad.
Principal coauthor, Assembly: Mary Salas, Chula Vista. Coauthors, Senate:
Lou Correa, Santa Ana; Jeff Denham, Merced; Tom Harman, Costa Mesa; Tom
McClintock, Thousand Oaks; Gloria Negrete McLeod, Chino; and Patricia Wiggins,
Santa Rosa. Coauthors, Assembly: Jim Beall, San Jose; Paul Cook,
Yucaipa; Chuck DeVore, Irvine; Ted Lieu, Torrance; Sharon Runner, Lancaster;
Cameron Smyth, Santa Clarita; and Lois Wolk, Davis.)
[UPDATED JULY 16] [CHAPTERED]
DESCRIPTION: Provides for submission of a bond proposal to the voters
during the November 2008 election to provide for issuance of General
Obligation Bonds to support the CAL-VET Farm and Home Loan Program.
The new bonds are expected to be needed to fund new applications from
veterans of OIF/OEF who will be eligible for the program with the expected
changes to federal laws which were recently passed.
STATUS:
Passed by the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs March 25 (vote 5-0), and
by the Committee on Appropriations April 14 (vote 16-0). Passed by the
Senate April 21 (vote 38-0).
In the Assembly, passed by the CommitteeS on Veterans Affairs June 18 (vote 8-0),
and Appropriations July 2 (vote 17-0). In a rushed action, passed by the
Assembly July 3 as urgency bill (vote 75-0).
Senate concurred in Assembly amendments July 7 (vote 39-0).
Enrolled and to the Governor July 8.
Approved by the Governor July 15. CHAPTERED.
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: Officially supported by the California Department of Veterans Affairs (sponsor); California Association of County Veteran Service Officers; National Guard Association of California. Officially supported by Western Center on Law and Poverty if amended to include low cost rental housing. The Center, with a membership of attorneys, apparently is unaware that the bond financing used for the Cal-Vet Loan Program cannot be used, under federal law, for rental housing programs.
SB 1675 Veterans Revenue Debenture Act of 1970.
(Dave Cox, Roseville)
[UPDATED JULY 16] [ENROLLED]
DESCRIPTION: Twenty-two veterans bonds have been passed since 1943 to
guarantee the funding of the Cal-Vet program, but according to the CDVA, the
attorney general's office has recently raised concerns as to whether the
department actually has authority in issuing such things as variable rate bonds.
This bill gives specific statutory authority to the Secretary of CDVA to set
several debenture terms.
STATUS: Passed by
the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs March 25 (vote 5-0), and by the
Senate Committee on Appropriations April 14. Passed by the Senate April
17.
In the Assembly, passed by the Committees on Veterans Affairs June 18 (vote 8-0),
and Appropriations July 2 (vote 17-0). Passed by the Assembly July 15.
Enrolled and to the Governor August 4.
Returned by the Governor at
the request of the Senate August 7. (NOTE: The Governor had stated
an intention of vetoing all bills sent to his desk until the Budget bill was
passed by the Legislature.)
This is a technical bill involving bond issues for the Cal-Vet Program.
Last modified: 09/03/08