COUNCIL LEGISLATIVE REPORTS
For detailed
information concerning any of the bills listed in the following reports, go to
STATE LEGISLATION.
The following report was approved at the Council meeting on April 12, 2008.
A. VETERANS CLAIMS AND SERVICES
AB 1814 Veterans: claims. (Chuck DeVore, Irvine, and Paul Cook, Yucaipa)
DESCRIPTION: Existing law authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to contract with nationally chartered veteran service organizations for the purpose of assisting veterans to pursue claims for benefits from the federal government. However, at the present time, the Department is precluded from using state funds for such contracts until the budget for the subvention funds provided to Counties for the Veteran Service Offices is increased to $5 million. This bill would remove that restriction.
STATUS: Referred to Assembly Committee on Veterans Affairs with a hearing scheduled on April 15.
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: Sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of California.
AB 2577 Veterans: County Veterans Service Offices. (Mary Salas, Chula Vista)
DESCRIPTION: States that Veteran service officers, within the Department of Veterans Affairs, should not be included in the proposed cuts to California’s budget for the 2008–09 fiscal year.
STATUS: No action taken to date.
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: Officially supported by the California State Commanders Veterans Council; Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of California.
SB 1222 County veteran service officers: funding (Gilbert Cedillo, Los Angeles)
DESCRIPTION: Would appropriate an amount equal to the aggregate sum of $3 per veteran, from the General Fund to the Department of Veterans Affairs for allocation during the 2008–09 fiscal year, for purposes of funding the activities of county veteran service officers. This bill would also provide for future appropriations in the annual Budget Act, and would require the department to annually determine the total number of veterans who meet the residency requirements set forth in Section 516 of the Vehicle Code, during the preceding fiscal year and to report its determination to the Department of Finance and the Legislature.
As amended, the bill also provides that the $3 per veteran would be allocated by the Department of Veterans Affairs:
A. $2.35 shall be applied to fund the activities of the County Veterans Service Officers;
B. $0.50 shall be applied to fund a competitive grant program to allow veteran service organizations to work in conjunction with County Veteran Service Officers in veteran outreach programs.
C. $0.15 is to fund increase in staffing in the Veterans Service Division for increased grant and contract administration.
(Note: Based on the current estimate of 2.2 million veterans in the state, the above formulas would be expected to provide $5.17 million for County Veteran Service Officers, $1.1 million for the grant programs, and $330,000 for the Veterans Service Division.)
STATUS: Passed by the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs March 25 (vote 5-0). Referred to the Senate Committee on Appropriations with a hearing scheduled on April 14.
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: Officially supported by the California Association of County Veteran Service Officers.
SB 1778 County Veterans Service Officers; funding. (Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs.)
DESCRIPTION: Existing law declares that 50% of the amount annually budgeted for county veteran service officers is approximately $5,000,0000, and that it is an efficient and reasonable use of state funds to increase the annual budget for county veteran service officers in an amount not to exceed $5,000,000.
This bill would make changes to those declarations by increasing the amount that is annually budgeted for, and that is an efficient and reasonable use of state funds to increase the annual budget for, county veteran service officers, from $5,000,000 to $11,000,000.
STATUS: Referred to Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs with a hearing scheduled on April 22.
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that all of these bills be actively supported by the Council as a package. Although it may appear that there is some redundancy here, each of the bills takes a different approach and the entire package is important. Active Council support should include having a representative attend committee hearings when these bills are scheduled and to testify on their behalf.
B. VETERANS SERVICES – HEALTH CARE
AB 2828 Veterans' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Fund. (Mary Salas, Chula Vista)
DESCRIPTION: Would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to submit a grant application to the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for the purposes of funding community-based organizations, certified by the department, to provide substance abuse and mental health services to veterans.
Would also require the department to develop a process by which to certify community-based organizations that receive funding, and require the department to establish criteria of success for the purposes of determining renewal of funding to those community-based organizations.
STATUS: Referred to Assembly Committee on Veterans Affairs with a hearing scheduled on April 15.
RECOMMENDATION: Support.
AB 2055 Military Personnel: Combat Stress Support Team Program. (Mary Salas, Chula Vista)
DESCRIPTION: Would require the Military Department to create a Combat Stress Support Team Program to provide emergency crisis counseling, referral and personal support, combat stress evaluations, and mental health support for state military personnel and their families.
This bill would also require each support team to consist of a state psychologist with training in combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder.
Note: The bill is the same as AB 581 which was introduced in 2007 but which failed to pass the Senate Committee on Appropriations.
STATUS: Referred to Assembly Committee on Veterans Affairs, with a hearing scheduled for April 15.
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: Officially supported by California State Commanders Veterans Council; Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of California.
AB 3082 Veterans: benefits. (Assembly Committee on Veterans Affairs: Mary Salas, Chula Vista, Chair; Jim Beall, San Jose; Wilmer Carter, Rialto; and Lois Wolk, Davis.)
DESCRPTION: This bill would declare legislative intent to implement the Public Assistance and Reporting Information System (PARIS) interstate-federal match to allow the department to identify veterans enrolled in the Medi-Cal program who could receive medical benefits through the federal Veterans Benefits Administration that would either replace or supplement Medi-Cal benefits.
STATUS: Referred to Assembly Committees on Health and on Veterans Affairs. A hearing is scheduled by the Committee on Health on April 15.
RECOMMENDATION: Support.
AB 3083 Mental Health: veterans. (Assembly Committee on Veterans Affairs: Mary Salas, Chula Vista, Chair; Jim Beall, San Jose; Wilmer Carter, Rialto; and Lois Wolk, Davis.)
DESCRIPTION: Would require counties to assist veterans in accessing federal mental health care services. Would also provide that a veteran shall not be denied services based on his or her ability to obtain services through another entity as long as the mental health needs of the veteran are not currently being met. The bill would also specifically include post-traumatic stress disorder in the definition of "serious mental disorder."
STATUS: Referred to Assembly Committees on Health and on Veterans Affairs. A hearing is scheduled by the Committee on Health on April 15.
RECOMMENDATION: Support.
SB 1401 Armed Forces: traumatic brain injury screening. (S. Joseph Simitian, Palo Alto.)
DESCRIPTION: Would require the California Department of Veterans Affairs to assist a veteran in obtaining a best practice health screening for traumatic brain injury, and would require the Secretary, CDVA, to develop a plan for outreach to eligible veterans regarding traumatic brain injury.
As amended, the bill would also require the Adjutant General to develop a plan for outreach to eligible members of the California National Guard who have returned from combat and remain on duty.
Note: An important weakness in this bill is that it does not provide for any funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs to carry out the proposed mandate. If this bill were to pass the Legislature, it would be a prime candidate for veto by the Governor.
STATUS: Passed by the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs March 25 (vote 5-0). Referred to the Senate Committee on Appropriations with a hearing scheduled on April 14.
RECOMMENDATION: Support.
C. VETERANS SERVICES – HOUSING/HOMELESS VETERANS
AB 1818 Housing: veterans (Felipe Fuentes, San Fernando)
DESCRIPTION: The bill has been amended to provide that:
The sponsor of a supportive housing development may restrict occupancy to veterans, if all of the following conditions apply:
(A) The veterans to be served possess significant barriers to social reintegration and employment that require specialized treatment and services and are due to a physical or mental disability, substance abuse, or the effects of long-term homelessness;
(B) The sponsor also provides, or assists in providing, the specialized treatment and services;
(C) The project is located on property owned by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, and leased to the sponsor for a term of at least 55 years.
STATUS: Passed by the Assembly Committee on Judiciary on April 1 (vote 10-0). Referred to Assembly Committee on Veterans Affairs with a hearing date of April 15.
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: Officially supported by A Community of Friends, Inc. (sponsor); California State Commanders Veterans Council; California Association of Veterans Service Agencies; Century Housing; New Directions, Inc.; Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation.
AB 2670 Department of Veterans Affairs: qualified residential rental project programs. (Mary Salas, Chula Vista)
DESCRIPTION: Would require authorize the Department of Veterans Affairs to apply to the California Debt Limit Allocation Committee for the issuance of a private activity bond under the qualified residential rental project program, as provided.
Under existing law, state or local agency applicants may apply for the issuance of tax-exempt private activity bonds under six different programs, including the qualified residential rental project program.
As amended, would also authorize the Department to issue revenue bonds to fund multifamily housing projects sponsored by a nonprofit veteran service agency.
(This program, under the CDVA, would be intended to provide rental housing for homeless veterans.)
STATUS: Passed by the Assembly Committee on Veterans Affairs April 1 (vote 6-0 with 3 abstentions). Referred to Assembly Committee on Housing and Community Development with a hearing scheduled on April 16.
RECOMMENDATION: Support.
SB 1220 Housing: Multifamily Housing Program: veterans. (Gilbert Cedillo, Los Angeles)
DESCRIPTION: Would authorize a sponsor, as defined, of a project funded by the Multifamily Housing Program, to restrict occupancy of a project to persons with veteran status if the veterans to be served possess significant barriers to social reintegration and employment due to a physical or mental disability, substance abuse, or the effects of long-term homelessness that require specialized treatment and services, and the sponsor also provides, or assists in providing, the specialized treatment and services.
STATUS: Passed by Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing April 1 (vote 11-0). To third reading for a Floor vote.
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: Officially supported by the California State Commanders Veterans Council; A Community of Friends; American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME); American GI Forum of California; Century Housing; Los Angeles Business Council; New Directions, Inc.; Swords to Plowshares; Tenderloin Neighborhood Development.
D. VETERANS SERVICES – EMPLOYMENT.
AB 3065 Public Employment: veterans. (Assembly Committee on Veterans Affairs: Mary Salas, Chair, Chula Vista; Paul Cook, Yucaipa; Jim Beall, San Jose; Wilmer Carter, San Bernardino; Chuck DeVore, Irvine; Ted Lieu, El Segundo; Sharon Runner, Lancaster; and Lori Saldana, San Diego.
DESCRIPTION: Would permit a person retired from the United States military honorably discharged from active military duty with a service-connected disability, or honorably discharged from active duty, to be eligible to apply for promotional civil service examinations, including examinations for career executive assignments, in the State Legislature.
STATUS: Referred to Assembly Committees on Veterans Affairs, and on Public Employees, Retirement, and Social Security. Passed by the Committee on Veterans Affairs April 1 (vote 9-0). Passed by the Committee on P.E.R. & S.S. April 9 (vote 6-0), and re-referred to the Committee on Veterans Affairs.
RECOMMENDATION: Support.
E. NATIONAL GUARD – EDUCATION BENEFITS
AB 1758 Postsecondary Education. (Chuck DeVore, Irvine. Coauthors, Assembly: Martin Garrick, Carlsbad; Doug LaMalfa, Redding; James Silva, Huntington Beach. Coauthors, Senate: Jim Battin, Palm Desert; Bob Dutton, Rancho Cucamonga; Dennis Hollingsworth, Temecula; George Runner, Lancaster; Mark Wyland, San Juan Capistrano.)
DESCRIPTION: Would create the California National Guard Education Assistance Program, for the purpose of promoting recruitment and retention of members of the California National Guard.
STATUS: Amended (to remove language that would have repealed the provision in the Code that permits persons who do not have legal residency status in the U.S. to attend state universities and colleges while paying at the rate of state residents) and passed by the Assembly Committee on Higher Education March 25 (vote 7-0). Referred to the Assembly Committee on Veterans Affairs.
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: Officially supported by California State Commanders Veterans Council; Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of California; California Federation of Republican Women; Californians for Population Stabilization.
Officially opposed by American Civil Liberties Union; California State PTA; California State University; California Teachers Association; Community College league of California; Faculty Association of California Community Colleges; and a long list of groups representing immigrants and minorities. Many individuals present at the Committee hearing stating that they would remove their opposition if the bill was amended.
AB 2082 Student financial aid: military service. (Mary Salas, Chula Vista)
DESCRIPTION: Existing law requires that priority for the Cal Grant B Entitlement awards be given to students with the lowest expected family contribution and the highest level of academic merit.
This bill would require that priority also be given to students serving in the California National Guard with at least 2 years of service.
NOTE: The Governor's budget proposes to end the Competitive Cal Grant Program. Although current law authorizes 22,500 new competitive awards annually, the Governor's budget includes no funding for new awards under this program in 2008-09. The Administration intends that the program be entirely phased out as existing recipients graduate or otherwise leave the program.
STATUS: Passed by the Assembly Committee on Higher Education March 25 (vote 7-0). Referred to the Assembly Committee on Veterans Affairs with a hearing scheduled for April 15.
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: Supported by the California State Commanders Veterans Council.
SB 1290 National Guard: Educational Benefits. (Mark Wyland, San Juan Capistrano/Carlsbad)
DESCRIPTION: Would require any campus of the University of California, the California State University, or the California Community Colleges to provide a tuition and fee waiver, as specified, to any qualified member of the California National Guard.
NOTE: This bill is similar to AB 1758, above.
STATUS: Referred to Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs.
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: Officially supported by the California State Commanders Veterans Council.
SB 1752 California National Guard Education Assistance Award Program. (Mark Wyland, San Juan Capistrano/Carlsbad)
DESCRIPTION: Establishes the California National Guard Education Assistance Award Program on behalf of the members of the National Guard, the State Military Reserve, and the Naval Militia. The program would be administered by the state Student Aid Commission and would provide benefits equivalent to the sum of the mandatory systemwide fees and mandatory campus-based fees charged to California resident undergraduate students at the University of California, or the cost of attendance at a qualifying institution.
STATUS: Passed by the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs March 25 (vote 5-0). Placed on Suspense File by the Senate Committee on Education April 9.
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: Officially supported by the Adjutant General, California Military Department (sponsor). Also sponsored by the Office of the Governor.
F. NATIONAL GUARD – EMPLOYMENT
AB 2449 Military service: privileges: job protection. (Mike Davis, Los Angeles)
DESCRIPTION: Existing law provides protections for members of the National Guard ordered into active state or federal service for emergency purposes, and for reservists called to active duty. Protections are provided for these persons during their period of military service with respect to their private employment rights upon return from service, and authorizes a district attorney of the county in which an employer maintains a place of business to act as an attorney on behalf of a service member in any action against an employer who fails or refuses to comply with those provisions.
This bill would expand those provisions by additionally allowing a city attorney of the city in which an employer maintains a place of business to act as an attorney on behalf of a service member against an employer who fails or refuses to comply with those provisions.
STATUS: Referred to Assembly Committees on Veterans Affairs and Judiciary. Passed by the Committee on Veterans Affairs April 1 (vote 9-0), and by the Judiciary Committee on April 8 (vote 10-0). Referred to Assembly Committee on Appropriations.
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: Officially sponsored and supported by California State Commanders Veterans Council.
AB 2641 Military service protection: ombudsman. (Paul Cook, Yucaipa)
DESCRIPTION: Would require the Governor and each state agency and department to appoint an ombudsman to take complaints, as specified, and to resolve and coordinate the resolution of those complaints from state employees that are members of the California National Guard or members of a reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States.
STATUS: Referred to Assembly Committee on Veterans Affairs with a hearing scheduled on April 15.
RECOMMENDATION: Support.
AB 3020 Small business programs: National Guard members. (Mary Salas, Chula Vista)
DESCRIPTION: Would add National Guard members who qualify as owning a small business to the population assisted by the Office of Small Business and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Services.
STATUS: No action taken to date.
SB 1353 State employees: military benefits. (Gloria Negrete McLeod, Chino)
DESCRIPTION: Existing law authorizes a state employee who is a member of the California National Guard or a United States military reserve organization to receive specified compensation benefits for a period not to exceed 365 days if he or she is ordered to serve on active duty on and after September 11, 2001, as a result of the War on Terrorism.
Existing law authorizes the Governor to extend these benefits by executive order by up to an additional 365 days.
This bill instead would authorize the Governor to extend these benefits by executive order by up to an additional 1,460 days.
STATUS: Referred to the Senate Committee on Public Employment and Retirement with a hearing scheduled for April 14.
RECOMMENDATION: Support.
G. EDUCATION
AB 2429 Extracurricular activities: Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) programs. (Audra Strickland, Westlake Village)
DESCRIPTION: Would require that a school or school district that prohibits Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) programs from being established or conducting activities on its campus or campuses, or that prohibits or hinders its pupils from participating in an off-campus JROTC program, be prohibited from expending state funds on any extracurricular activity.
STATUS: Referred to Assembly Committee on Education.
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: Officially supported by the California State Commanders Veterans Council; Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of California.
AB 2994 Pupil Records: release of information. (Sally Lieber, Mountain View)
DESCRIPTION: Would require that a school district that requires the parent or guardian of a student to provide current emergency information to the school to advise the parent or guardian of the right to request that the student's name, address and telephone number not be released to military recruiters, institutions of higher education, or prospective employers. The bill would also place restrictions on the use of personal information that is obtained from the admission on campus of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test by military recruiters.
STATUS: Referred to Assembly Committees on Education and Veterans Affairs. A hearing is scheduled by the Committee on Education on April 9.
RECOMMENDATION: Oppose.
H. VEHICLES, LICENSE PLATES
AB 2557 Vehicles: special license plates. (Chuck DeVore, Irvine. Coauthors: Assembly: Anthony Adams, Monrovia; Sam Blakeslee, San Luis Obispo; Mervyn Dymally, Compton; Cathleen Galgiani, Stockton; Shirley Horton, Lemon Grove; and Anthony Portantino, Pasadena. Coauthor: Senate: Jim Battin, Palm Desert.)
DESCRIPTION: Would provide for the issuance of special license plates for an active member of the California National Guard who furnishes a certificate provided by the Adjutant General and would exempt these license plates from the payment of a $40 application fee and a $30 transfer fee.
STATUS: Passed by Assembly Committee on Transportation April 7 (vote 10-0). Referred to Assembly Committee on Appropriations.
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: Officially supported by the California State Commanders Veterans Council; Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of California.
AB 2896 Vehicles: special license plates. (Nell Soto, Ontario)
DESCRIPTION: Would authorize a surviving family member of a person who was killed in action in military service to have a special license plate with the Gold Star and the inscription, "Gold Star Family."
Note: These license plates would be issued under the environmental license plate program which requires a special application fee of $40 and an annual renewal fee of $30 in addition to the normal registration and license plate fees for the vehicle.
.STATUS: Referred to Assembly Committee on Transportation with a hearing scheduled on April 14.
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: Officially supported by the California State Commanders Veterans Council.
SB 1455 Disabled person and disabled veteran license plates. (Dave Cogdill, Fresno; and Jeff Denham, Modesto.)
DESCRIPTION: As currently amended, provides for the establishment of a Gold Star license plate program. The bill also provides for the establishment of a fund, in the Department of Veterans Affairs, to receive donations to pay the administrative costs of the program. No license plates could be issued until there are sufficient funds available to cover the costs.
STATUS: Referred to Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing.
NOTE: These two bills are essentially on the same subject, but with a slightly different approach. AB 2896 would require the persons who wanted the plates to pay for them. SB 1455 would provide for separate funding but the availability of the plates could be delayed for some time while the funds were being raised.
This is a similar situation to last year when separate bills were also introduced in both houses, but neither bill was approved by the committees in the house of origin.
the House of origin
RECOMMENDATION: Support both bills to see if one can be passed.
SB 1229 Vehicles: special license plates: disabled veterans. (Abel Maldonado, San Luis Obispo.)
DESCRIPTION: Would provide for the issuance of special license plates for a veteran who has suffered a service-connected disability while serving with the Armed Forces of the United States, and whose disability has been rated by the Department of Veterans Affairs as permanent and total.
STATUS: No action has been taken.
RECOMMENDATION: No position. There already is a provision for disabled veteran license plates.
I. 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)
DESCRIPTION: Would expand the definition of "home" to include multifamily housing for eligibility for loans under the California Veterans Farm and Home Loan Program.
STATUS: Referred to Assembly Committee on Veterans Affairs with a hearing scheduled on April 15.
RECOMMENDATION: Support.
SB 1572 Veterans Bond Act of 2008. (Mark Wyland, San Juan Capistrano/ Carlsbad)
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.
STATUS: Passed by the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs March 25 (vote 5-0).
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: Officially supported by the California Department of Veterans Affairs (sponsor). Officially supported by Western Center on Law and Poverty if amended.
RECOMMENDATION: Support.
SB 1675 Veterans Revenue Debenture Act of 1970. (Dave Cox, Roseville)
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). Referred to Senate Committee on Appropriations with a hearing scheduled on April 14.
RECOMMENDATION: No position. This is a technical bill involving bond issues for the Cal-Vet Program.
J. MISCELLANEOUS SUBJECTS
AB 1919 Sales and use taxes: exemptions: thrift stores operated by nonprofit organizations on military installations. (James Silva, Huntington Beach)
DESCRIPTION: This bill would exempt from sales and use tax, the sale of tangible personal property by a nonprofit organization that operates a thrift store on a military installation, whose purpose is to assist members of the Naval Services of the United States, and eligible family members and survivors.
STATUS: Passed by Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation March 24 (vote 9-0). Referred to Assembly Committee on Appropriations.
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: Officially supported by the California Board of Equalization (sponsor).
SB 1450 Sales and use taxes: exemptions: thrift stores operated by nonprofit organizations on military installations. (Bob Dutton, Rancho Cucamonga)
DESCRIPTION: Would exempt from sales and use taxes the sales by a nonprofit organization that operates a thrift store on a military installation, whose purpose is to assist members of the Naval Services of the U.S., and eligible family members and survivors.
STATUS: No action taken.
NOTE: These two bills are exactly the same. Recommend support AB 1919 which is actually receiving committee reviews. I would expect that SB 1450 will be held as a spot bill for some other subject.
AB 2238 Dependent children: out-of-home placements. (Cameron Smyth, Valencia
DESCRIPTION: Would provide that it is the right of a child in foster care who is 17 years of age or older to enter into a program for delayed entry into military service or to immediately enlist in active military service, with the consent of his or her foster parent or social worker. The bill would also delete a current provision of state law that a child in foster care who enlists in the military service is considered to be an emancipated minor for purposes of receiving certain foster care benefits.
STATUS: Referred to Assembly Committees on Human Services, and on Veterans Affairs. Failed passage by the Committee on Human Services April 1 (vote 2-3 with 2 Committee members not voting.)
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: Officially supported by California State Commanders Veterans Council.
Officially opposed by Children's Law Center of Los Angeles; County Welfare Directors Association of California.
AB 2615 Transportation funding: City of Berkeley: United States Marine Corps. (Guy Houston, Livermore. Coauthors: Assembly: Anthony Adams, Monrovia; Joel Anderson, El Cajon; John Benoit, Riverside; Chuck DeVore, Irvine; Michael Duvall, Brea; Bill Emmerson, Rancho Cucamonga; Ted Gaines, Roseville; Bonnie Garcia, Cathredral City; Martin Garrick, Carlsbad; Shirley Horton, Lemon Grove; Kevin Jeffries, Murrieta; Rick Keene, Chico; Doug LaMalfa, Redding; Bill Maze, Visalia; Roger Niello, Sacramento; George Plescia, San Diego; Jim Silva, Huntington Beach; Cameron Smyth, Valencia; Van Tran, Costa Mesa; and Mike Villines, Fresno.)
DESCRIPTION: Would prohibit the State Controller from allocating any funds under various state programs for street construction and port security to the City of Berkeley until it is determined that the City Council has revoked and withdrawn those items regarding the U.S. Marine Corps Recruiting station which were passed by the Council on January 29, 2008.
STATUS: Scheduled for hearing by Assembly Committee on Transportation April 14.
RECOMMENDATION: Support.
AB 2671 Prisoners: veterans. (Mary Salas, Chula Vista)
DESCRIPTION:Requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) to establish an Incarcerated Veterans Transition Program (IVTP) to assist honorably discharged incarcerated veterans in successfully obtaining federal and state benefits. Specifically, this bill:
1)Requires the CDCR to establish an IVTP that provides for a pre-release application process for honorably discharged incarcerated veterans eligible for federal and state benefits.
2)Requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) and other appropriate state departments to provide staff assistance necessary to effectuate and operate the program.
3)Requires each county sheriff and the Secretary of CDCR to ascertain whether a newly committed prisoner is a military veteran. If the person is a veteran, the county sheriff or the Secretary of CDCR shall report the veteran status to the county veteran service officer.
STATUS: Referred to Assembly Committees on Public Safety and Veterans Affairs. Passed by the Committee on Public Safety on April 1 (vote 6-0). A hearing is scheduled by the Committee on Veterans Affairs April 15.
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: Officially sponsored and supported by the California State Commanders Veterans Council.
AB 3009 Sales and use taxes: consumers: itinerant vendors (veterans). (Julia Brownley, Woodland Hills.)
DESCRIPTION: Would provide that a person who was a member of the United States Armed Forces, who received an honorable discharge or a release from active duty under honorable conditions from service, and who, for the purposes of selling food products and beverages, has no permanent place of business in this state, is a qualified itinerant vendor who is a consumer of, and shall not be considered a retailer of, food products and nonalcoholic beverages that he or she sells.
STATUS: No action taken.
RECOMMENDATION: Support.
AB 1952 Business licensing: exemptions: veterans. (Patty Berg, Santa Rosa) [UPDATED APRIL 6]
DESCRIPTION: Under existing law, certain persons honorably discharged from the military, service of the United States who served during specified times are exempt from payment of specified state and local business license taxes or fees. This bill would remove the requirement that such persons be physically unable to obtain a livelihood by manual labor.
STATUS: Passed by Assembly Committees on Business and Professions April 1 (vote 9-0). Referred to Assembly Committee on Veterans Affairs with a hearing scheduled on April 15.
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: Officially supported by American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO; California Association of County Veterans Service Officers; Vietnam Veterans of America, Humboldt Memorial Chapter; The committee to Honor California Veterans.
RECOMMENDATION: Support.
SB 1245 California Mexican American Veterans' Memorial. (Gloria Negrete McLeod, Montclair)
DESCRIPTION: Would require the Department of General Services, in consultation with the California Mexican American Veterans’ Memorial Beautification and Enhancement Committee, to accomplish specified goals with respect to the design and construction of the memorial.
STATUS: Passed by the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs March 25 (vote 5-0), and referred to the Senate Committee on Appropriations.
RECOMMENDATION: No position. This is a technical bill to clear up certain details in previous legislation.
SB 1328 Bingo. (Gilbert Cedillo, Los Angeles)
DESCRIPTION: Would delete the $250 limitation on bingo game payouts, thereby allowing for an award of any denomination, and would limit the operation of bingo games to organizations that have been incorporated or in existence for 5 years or more. The bill would also allow an organization to use audio or video technology to electronically link any of its in-state facilities in order to broadcast a bingo game from a single location to multiple locations owned, leased, or rented by that organization or a subsidiary.
STATUS: No action.
RECOMMENDATION: No position. We were requested to support the bill by the author’s staff. However, I have been unable to establish any interest in this bill by posts of the veteran service organizations.
SB 1534 Veterans: Secretary of Veterans Affairs. (Jim Battin, Palm Desert)
DESCRIPTION: Would allow uniformed public safety personnel to wear military decorations during the week immediately preceding Veterans Day and Memorial Day, on those two days, and one day immediately following those days.
STATUS: Passed by the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs March 25 (vote 5-0).
RECOMMENDATION: Support.
AB 2568 Property Tax exemption: principal residence: veterans and their unmarried surviving spouses. (Guy Houston, Livermore)
DESCRIPTION: This bill would, beginning with the lien date for the 2009–10 fiscal year, fully exempt from property taxation the principal residence of a disabled veteran, the veteran’s spouse, and the unmarried surviving spouse of a disabled veteran and a veteran who died while on active duty as a result of a service-connected disease or injury.
For purposes of this section, a disabled veteran is one who is blind in both eyes, has lost the use of two or more limbs, or is totally disabled as a result of injury or disease incurred in military service.
STATUS: Referred to the Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation with a hearing scheduled on May 5.
RECOMMENDATION: Support, with thanks to the author for making the effort, but also with full realization that this bill will not see the light of day.
AB 3016 Personal income taxes: contributions: California Military Family Relief Fund. (Paul Cook, Yucaipa. Principal coauthor: Ted Lieu, El Segundo.)
DESCRIPTION: Would extend the benefits of the California Military Family Relief Fund to California residents who are members of the military reserves and who have been called to active duty.
As amended, funds which are donated and transferred to the Fund prior to January 1, 2009, would remain as funds reserved to the California National Guard.
STATUS: Referred to Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation with a hearing scheduled on April 14.
RECOMMENDATION: Support. I was originally concerned with this proposal which would appear to take funds that have been specifically donated for benefit of families of National Guard members. However, the amended version reduces this concern.
SB 1482 Local government: forfeiture of office. (Lou Correa, Santa Ana. Coauthors, Assembly: Wilmer Carter, Rialto; Paul Cook, Yucaipa.)
DESCRIPTION: Would provide that an elected officer of a city, county, or district in this state forfeits his or her office upon the conviction of a crime pursuant to the federal act, that involves a false claim of receipt of a military decoration or medal described in that act.
STATUS: Referred to Senate Committee on Local Government with a hearing scheduled for April 16.
RECOMMENDATION: Support.
SB 1480 State Militia: Adjutant General: duties. (Mark Wyland, San Juan Capistrano/Carlsbad)
DESCRIPTION: This is a spot bill which will be amended later.
SB 1481 Veterans affairs: administration. (Mark Wyland, San Juan Capistrano/Carlsbad)
DESCRIPTION: This is a spot bill which will be amended later.
K. RESOLUTIONS
ACR 102 Airborne Memorial Highway. (Audra Strickland, Westlake Village. Coauthors: Assembly: Chuck DeVore, Irvine; Tony Mendoza, Norwalk; Sharon Runner, Lancaster; Jim Silva, Huntington Beach; and Van Tran, Costa Mesa. Coauthors: Senate: Dick Ackerman, Tustin; Jim Battin, Palm Desert; Dennis Hollingsworth, Temecula; and Bob Margett, Glendora.)
DESCRIPTION: Would designate State Highway Route 101 from the East Los Angeles interchange to the Oregon border as the Airborne Memorial Highway.
STATUS: Referred to Assembly Committee on Transportation with a hearing scheduled on March 24. The hearing was cancelled at the request of the author.
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: Officially supported by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of California.
RECOMMENDATION: Support.
SJR 16 Veterans: hospitals: prescriptions. (Mark Wyland, San Juan Capistrano/Carlsbad)
Urges Congress and the President to allow Veterans' Administration(VA) facilities to fill emergency prescriptions written by non VA doctors.
NOTE: The Resolution states, in error, that military retirees and dependents may have prescriptions filled at military medical facilities even if they are written by doctors who are not contract employees at the facility.
STATUS: Passed by Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs April 8 (vote 4-0). To Third Reading for a Floor vote.
RECOMMENDATION: No position. The resolution is based on an erroneous assumption.
Last modified: 04/19/08