Bills which are considered to be particularly important at this time are highlighted by red vertical borders.

Bills which have recently been added to this list are highlighted by green vertical borders.

 

 

AB 498 Affordable housing: veterans Vehicles: specJULY 3FEBRUARY 14, 2010]  
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 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 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

 

AB 674  Criminal procedure: veterans.  (Mary Salas, Chula Vista)  [TWO YEAR BILL]  [UPDATED JULY 3, 2010]
Allows a court to order a defendant who suffers from sexual trauma, traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance abuse, or mental health problems as a result of military service into a treatment program or veteran's court for a period not to exceed that which the defendant would have served in state prison or jail.

AB 1088 Taxpayer contributions: California Veterans Fund.  (Nathan Fletcher, San Diego. Coauthors: Marty Block, San Diego; Connie Conway, Visalia; Chuck DeVore, Irvine; Danny Gilmore, Hanford; V. Manuel Perez, Cathredral City; Brian Nestande, Palm Deser)  [TWO YEAR BILL]  [UPDATED JULT 3, 2010] 
Taxpayers are allowed to contribute amounts in excess of their tax liability for the support of specified funds or accounts, including, among others, the Veterans’ Quality of Life Fund. Moneys contributed to this fund are expended for administrative costs and for distribution into the Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Fund for each of the veterans’ homes.
The authorization for this tax check off item has expired due the the failure of the total contributions to reach the amount of $250,000 as required by the Franchise Tax Board.  This bill would authorize a check off for the California Veterans Fund which would replace the previous fund and would have the same purpose of providing support to the MWR Funds for the state veterans homes.
  

AB 1378 California Workforce Investment Board: veterans workforce program.  (V Manuel Perez, Cathedral City)  [TWO YEAR BILL[  [UPDATED JULY 3, 2010] 
This bill would, until January 1, 2012, establish the veterans’ Workforce Program for the purpose of providing a targeted workforce training assessment and referral program for veterans to identify needs for skill enhancement training for military veterans that is intended to assist those veterans with the transition to the civilian workforce. The bill would require the board, in consultation with the Employment Training Panel and representatives of the Department of Veterans Affairs, to implement and administer the program.
As amended in January 2010, provides a method for the comprehensive evaluation of expenditures for veteran workforce development programs in the state, would require the California Workforce Investment Board  to conduct an annual assessment of those programs, and, in consultation with the Employment Training Panel, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, and representatives of the Employment Development Department, to implement and administer the provisions of the act.
The bill would provide that the  provisions of the bill shall only be implemented to the extent that federal funds are made available to the state for the purposes of the bill.

AB 1569 Veterans: National Guard: California Interagency Council on Veteran Services and Programs.  (Committee on Veterans Affairs; Mary Salas, Chula Vista, Chair; Danny Gilmore, Hanford; Ted Lieu, Torrance; V. Manuel Perez, Cathedral City; Mariko Yamada, Davis.)
Would create the California Interagency Council on Veteran Services and Programs, composed of specified members, for the purpose of bringing together key state agencies and departments, federal officials, legislative representatives, local governments, and stakeholder organizations to ensure that the state’s programs that serve veterans are efficiently administered and properly integrated with federal and local government and other stakeholder organizations.

 

AB 1644 Veterans remains.  (Jim Nielsen, Biggs.  Principal Coauthor: Juan Arambula, Fresno. Coauthors, Assembly: Sam Blakeslee, San Luis Obispo; Marty Block, San Diego; Robert Blumenfield, Van Nuys; Steven Bradford, Inglewood; Connie Conway, Visalia; Chuck DeVore, Irvine; Nathan Fletcher, San Diego; Danny Gilmore, Hanford; Diane Harkey, Laguna Niguel; Curt Hagman, Diamond Bar; Fiona Ma, San Francisco; Roger Niello, Sacramento; and Chris Norby, Brea.  Coauthors, Senate: Sam Aanestad, Grass Velley; Dave Cox, Fair Oaks; Jeff Denham, Merced; Abel Maldonado, Santa Maria; and George Runner, Antelope Valley.)  [UPDATED July 3]
Would allow specified entities in possession of the cremated remains of a veteran to release the remains to a veterans' service organization, if specified conditions are met.  Would require the veterans' service organization to take all reasonable steps to inter remains received and would exempt the organization from storage charges or additional charges of interment.

AB 1703 State Nursing Assumption Program of Loans for Education:  veterans homes.  (Stephen Knight, Lancaster)  [UPDATED JULY 3]
Under the State Nursing Assumption Program of Loans for Education (SNAPLE), any person who is enrolled in an eligible institution, and who agrees to work full time as a registered nurse in a state-operated 24-hour facility, including a prison, psychiatric hospital, or veterans home, that employs registered nurses, is eligible to receive a conditional loan assumption agreement, to be redeemed upon becoming employed as a clinical registered nurse in one of the state-operated facilities that employs registered nurses and that has a clinical registered nurse vacancy rate of greater than 10%. The SNAPLE program provides for a progressive assumption of the amount of a qualifying loan over 4 consecutive years of qualifying clinical registered nursing service, up to a total loan assumption of $20,000.
This bill would provide for an additional loan assumption of up to $5,000 per year of additional qualifying service, with a maximum loan assumption amount equal to the participant’s total outstanding liability under the qualifying loans, for participants completing 5 or more years of qualifying clinical registered nursing service at a state-operated veterans home.
 

AB 1729 Civil service examinations: veterans' preference.  (Mariko Yamada, Davis)  [UPDATED JULY 3]
Would permit a member of the Armed Forces, upon successfully passing a state civil service examination, to be awarded the additional veterans’ credit up to 12 months after the establishment of the employment list.

 

AB 1757 Veterans cemetery.  (William Monning, Santa Cruz)   [UPDATED JULY 3]
Current law establishes an Endowment Fund to receive donations for the start up of a state veterans cemetery at the site of the former Fort Ord Army Base in Monterey County.
This bill would now direct the California Department of Veterans Affairs to design, develop and construct the California Central Coast State Veterans Cemetery at this site.

AB 1829 Military decorations: fraud.  (Paul Cook, Yucaipa. Coauthors, Assembly: Joel Anderson, La Mesa; Tom Berryhill, Modesto; Wesley Chesbro, Eureka; Chuck DeVore, Irvine; Bill Emmerson, Redlands; Nathan Fletcher, San Diego; Danny Gilmore, Hanford; Kevin Jeffries, Riverside; Ted Lieu, Torrance; Brian Nestande, Palm Desert; Roger Niello, Sacramento; Anthony Portantino, Pasadeno; Jim Silva, Huntington Beach; Cameron Smyth, Santa Clarita; and Audra Strickland, Camarillo.  Coauthors, Senate:  Lou Correa, Santa Ana; and Mark DeSaulnier, Antioch.)  [UPDATED JULY 3]
Provides that any person who, orally, in writing, or by wearing any military decoration, falsely represents himself or herself to have been awarded any military decoration, as specified, with the intent to defraud, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
AB 282 by Assemblymember Cook, adopted in October 2007, originally provided for the same penalty, but that bill was amended during committee hearings to make the offense merely an infraction. This bill is another attempt to make the offense a more serious affair.

 

AB 1908 Vehicles: specializes license plates: Veterans Organizations.  (Paul Cook, Yucaipa; Wilmer Carter, Rialto)
Current state law allows any veterans' organization to apply for a special interest license plate, the proceeds of which are deposited into the Veterans Service Office Fund.    [UPDATED JULY 3]
This bill would allow California Department of Veterans Affairs to modify the distinctive design or decal for veterans' organization special interest license plates; require the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), by July 1, 2011, to maintain on its Internet Web site, a link to order online the modified license plates; and would repeal the statute that currently requires proceeds from the $10 fee for replacement decals to be divided evenly between the Veterans Service Office Fund and the California Environmental License Plate Fund.
The bill is intended to help county veteran services officers (CVSOs) and California Department of Veterans Affairs to better market veterans organization license plates.
 

AB 1925 Diversion: veterans Veterans Courts.  (Mary Salas, Chula Vista)   [UPDATED JULY 3]
Would authorize superior courts to develop and implement veterans courts for eligible veterans of the United States military with the objective of, among other things, creation of a dedicated calendar or a locally developed collaborative court-supervised veterans mental health program or system that leads to the placement of as many mentally ill offenders who are veterans of the United States military, including those with post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, military sexual trauma, substance abuse, or any mental health problem stemming from military service, in community treatment as is feasible and consistent with public safety.

 

AB 1944 Vehicles: special license plates: disabled veterans.  (Nathan Fletcher, San Diego)  [UPDATED JULY 3]
The Vehicle Code establishes provisions for issuance of disabled person license plates and disabled veterans license plates.  This bill would delete "disabled veteran" from these provisions and instead establish new requirements for the issuance of a special license plate or plates to a disabled veteran.
Prior to issuing a special license plate or plates to a disabled veteran, the DMV shall require certification from the (California) Department of Veterans Affairs that the disabled veteran has a service-connected disability:
(a) which has been rated at 100 percent by the Department of Veterans Affairs or the military service from which the veteran was discharged, due to a diagnosed disease or disorder which substantially impairs or interferes with mobility.
(b) Is so severely disabled as to be unable to move without the aid of an assistant device.
(c) Has lost, or has lost use of, one or more limbs.
(d) Has suffered permanent blindness.
As amended, would require the certification to be provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Originally the bill would have removed the provisions governing disabled veterans from this section of the Code and provided separate provisions so the veterans could use the disability certification from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to qualify for disabled license plates or placards.  In the present version, everything is back to the original form except with the addition of the authorization for veterans to use the certification from the USDVA instead of being forced to obtain an additional certification from a medical provider.
However, the bill has now been "tripled joined" with two other bills which would make extensive changes to various parts of the State Codes relating to vehicle licenses, including the sections that this bill would modify.  All three bills basically provide that each bill would be effective on passage by the Legislature and being Chaptered by the Secretary of State -- if the respective bill is Chaptered last.  Since these provisions are mutually contradictory, everything will remain to be sorted out -- probably when the bills are returned to their house of origin for concurrence with all the amendments which have been added.

 

AB 1945 Taxation: military housing.  (Nathan Fletcher, San Diego)   [UPDATED MAY 21]    [FAILED PASSAGE, ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON REVENUE AND TAXATION]
Existing law provides certain exemptions to property taxation of military housing built on a military base by private contractor.  This bill states the intent of making minor changes to the law and inserts certain grammatical changes.
This is probably a "spot" bill for future use.  Bill is considered to be dead for failure to be approved by the policy committee.

 

AB 1948 Property taxation: disabled veterans exemption: claim: cancellation of refund of tax.  (Stephen Knight, Lancaster)   [UPDATED MAY 21]    [FAILED PASSAGE, ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON REVENUE AND TAXATION]
Existing tax law provides for the exemption from property taxation of specified amounts of the assessed value of the home of a disabled veteran, or a veteran’s spouse in the case in which the person has, as a result of a service-connected disease or injury, died while on active duty in military service, contingent upon a claim being filed.
Existing law requires, if the exemption would have been available but for the claimant’s failure to receive a timely disability rating from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA), the refund or cancellation of taxes on that portion of the assessed value of the property that would have been exempt under a timely and appropriate claim, provided a claimant subsequently file an appropriate claim on the later of 30 days of receipt of the disability rating from the USDVA .
This bill would extend the time period the claimant has to subsequently file an appropriate claim from 30 days to 90 days.

Note:  See also AB 2314, below.
Bill is considered to be dead for failure to be approved by the policy committee.

 

AB 2087 Veterans homes: financial status investigation farm and home purchases: definition: home.  (Norma J. Torres, Pomona)  
The California Department of Veterans Affairs is authorized, under current law, to investigate the financial status of veterans who are residents of the state veterans homes to ensure that the veteran is unable to pay for necessary hospital or domiciliary care outside of the home.  The bill states the intent to make minor changes to the law, and does make one grammatical change in the wording.  The bill is apparently a "spot" bill for future use.
The bill has now received the expected amendment.  The new version is on the subject of the CAL-VET Farm and Home Loan Program.
The amended version adds the provision that a home for the purposes of obtaining a CAL-VET loan may include a residence with two to four units.

 

AB 2143 The Department of Veterans Affairs: consolidation of services to veterans  Workforce development: Employment Development Department: veterans: report .  (Danny Gilmore, Hanford.  Principal coauthors: Juan Arambula, Fresno; and Paul Cook, Yucaipa.)   [UPDATED JUNE 16]
Would declare the intent of the Legislature to subsequently provide for the consolidation under the jurisdiction of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the California Veterans Board or all programs that currently bestow any benefits for which veterans may be eligible but which are currently under the jurisdiction of other state agencies, and to provide for a commensurate transfer of staff and other assets from those agencies to the department and to the board.
This bill, as amended, would establish the California Veterans Services and Workforce Development Division within the Department of Veterans Affairs for the purpose of coordinating and administering veterans assistance programs in the state, and would require the division to:
(1) Coordinate with other state agencies that provide benefits and assistance to veterans to ensure that information about veterans assistance programs and benefits is made available to all state agencies that serve veterans in the state.
(2) Administer the Transitional Assistance Program (TAP) and the Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program (DVOP), in cooperation with the Employment Development Department.
(3) Ensure that other state agencies and officials that are involved in the implementation and administration of veterans services programs are informed when any changes in existing programs are required, or new programs are established that provide assistance and benefits to veterans, and require that those agencies and officials report to the division when those changes occur or new programs are established.
(4) Collaborate with staff from other state agencies including, but not limited to, the Labor and Workforce Development Agency, the Employment Training Panel, the California Workforce Investment Board, the State Department of Mental Health, the Department of General Services, the State Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs, and representatives of the University of California, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges with regard to the provision of veterans services and benefits.
As amended, the bill would require all administrative and support staff responsible for the administration of the DVOP, the TAP, and Local Veteran Employment Representatives to be transferred from the Employment Development Department to the division.

The bill has now basically been gutted and changed to merely require a study concerning veterans employment programs.  As now amended, it requires the California Employment Development Department (EDD) in coordination with the California Department of Veteran Affairs (CDVA) to conduct a study and report to the Legislature on or before March 1, 2011. Specifically, this bill :
1)Specifies that the report shall take into account how EDD's veteran employment and job training programs are currently structured.
2)Provides that the report shall include suggested options for a governance and management model to increase program integration and coordination, improve service delivery efficiency and enhance program performance.

 

AB 2156 Military and veterans: Veterans' Home Allied Council.  (Noreen Evans, Santa Rosa)   [UPDATED JULY 3]
Each of the state veterans homes has an Allied Council, elected by the residents of the homes, which serves as an advisory body to the Administrator of the home.  This bill would permit the Council to represent the veterans who reside in the home in matters before the State Legislature.
In the course of providing that representation, the council shall comply with the following requirements:
(a) The council’s representation shall be approved by a majority of the voting members of the council.
(b) The council shall not engage in any campaign or endorse public candidates in connection with that representation.
(c) The council’s actions shall be in accordance with its constitution, bylaws, and policies and procedures.
Presumably the intent is to clearly give the representatives of the residents access to the Legislative committees even if the Council is acting in opposition to the position of the Administrator, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.  Reportedly this issue arose in connection with the action of the CDVA in 2009 to increase the fees charged to residents of the State Veterans Homes.  When this action was taken, the Department indicated that there would be only a few of the residents who would actually be affected by the increase and that none of them had raised objections.  It now appears that there may be a large number of residents affected and that there definitely are objections, even to the point that some residents are leaving the homes.
Veterans at the Yountville home say the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CDVA) legal counsel has advised that the council is not allowed to address the legislature as a body. The counsel has told veterans they can represent themselves but not the home before the legislature.
As amended, the bill specifically authorizes the Allied Council at each of the California Veterans Homes to represent the veterans at the respective Homes before the Legislature.
 

AB 2159 Public postsecondary education: student residency requirements.  (Joel Anderson, La Mesa)   [UPDATED JUNE 5]   [FAILED PASSAGE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS]
Repeals existing law that exempts specified nonresidents of California from paying nonresident tuition at the California State University (CSU), and the California Community Colleges (CCC), and entitles former members of the armed forces to resident classification for the purposes of determining the amount of public higher education tuition and fees, if the student is eligible for the Post 9/11 GI Education benefits.

 

AB 2190 Disposition of remains: authorized agent.  (Marty Block, San Diego)   [UPDATED MAY 5]
There are situations in which questions and/or disputes may arise concerning the person who has the authority to determine the appropriate disposition of the remains of a deceased person.  This bill would provide clarification in the case of a veteran who has completed the DoD Record of Emergency Data, DD Form 93, as being sufficient to establish an agent who has right and duty of disposition.

 

AB 2309 Veterans' Home of California.  (Nathan Fletcher, San Diego)   [UPDATED JULY 3]
Would designate the California State Veterans' Home, Chula Vista, as the "John Smith Memorial Veterans' Home."  John Smith, who recently died, was an active leader of the veterans community in San Diego.  At the time of his death, he was also a member of the National Legislative Committee of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

 

AB 2314 Property tax exemption: disabled veterans: procedure.  (Marty Block, San Diego and Stephen Knight, Lancaster. Coauthors, Assembly: Connie Conway, Visalia; Danny Gilmore, Hanford; V. Manuel Perez, Cathedral City; and Mary Salas, Chula Vista.  Coauthor, Senate: George Runner, Antelope Valley)  [UPDATED JULY 3]
Existing law provides that for property for which the disabled veterans’ exemption would have been available but for the taxpayer’s failure to receive a timely disability rating from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA), there shall be canceled or refunded any taxes, including any interest and penalties thereon, levied on that portion of the assessed value of the property that would have been exempt under a timely and appropriate claim, provided that the claimant meets specified conditions. These conditions are that (1) the claimant had an application pending with the USDVA and subsequently received a rating that qualifies the claimant for the disabled veterans’ exemption, and (2) the claimant subsequently files an appropriate claim for the exemption the later of 30 days of receipt of the disability rating from the USDVA or on or before the next following lien date.
This bill would delete the requirement that the claimant have had an application pending with the USDVA and subsequently have received a qualifying rating and would change the timeframe for which a claimant may file an appropriate claim for the exemption to 90 days.
 

 

AB 2365 Veterans affairs: administration.  (Mary Hayashi, Hayward Ted Lieu, Torrance)   [UPDATED JULY 3]
Existing law requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct audits on internal controls, and to provide those audits to the inspector general.  This bill states the intent of making minor changes to the law and inserts certain grammatical changes.
This is probably a "spot" bill for future use.
The bill has now been amended and has been taken over by another author.
Existing law provides legal rights, as specified, for service members in regards to credit agreements, court proceedings, interest liabilities, eviction proceedings, contracts, mortgages and trusts, leases, life insurance policies, taxes and assessments, and health insurance policies.
This bill would hold a person who violates any of the specified rights of service members liable for actual damages, reasonable attorney’s fees, and costs incurred by an injured party

 

AB 2386 Armed Forces: medical personnel.  (Danny Gilmore, Hanford, and Paul Cook, Yucaipa.)   [UPDATED JULY 3]
Would authorize a hospital to enter into an agreement with the Armed Forces of the United States to authorize a physician and surgeon or registered nurse to provide medical care in the hospital if the health care professional holds a valid license in good standing in another state or territory, the medical care is provided as part of a training or educational program designed to further the employment of the health care professional, and the agreement complies with federal law. The bill would exempt those health care professionals from licensure or relicensure by the State of California.

 

AB 2416 Child custody: parent on active military duty.  (Paul Cook, Yucaipa)   [UPDATED MAY 5]
Provides for modification of child custody and visitation orders for active duty military personnel to protect the custodial rights of the deployed parent while ensuring the best interests of the child are always paramount.

 

AB 2455 Military service: benefits.  (Pedro Nava, Santa Barbara)   [UPDATED JULY 3]
Existing law authorizes members of the United States Military Reserve and National Guard who are called to active duty as a result of the Iraq or Afghanistan conflicts to defer payments on specified obligations for the period of active duty, as specified, including up to 2 loans for the purchase of automobiles.  This bill would also provide that a spouse or legal dependent, or both, of a member is entitled to the deferral of payment benefits accorded to a member, if the member is eligible for those benefits.

 

AB 2500 Military service: benefits: license renewal.  (Curt Hagman, Diamond Bar)   [UPDATED JULY 3]
Existing law provides certain protections for members of the National Guard ordered into active state service by the Governor or active federal service by the President of the United States for emergency purposes, and for reservists called to active duty, as specified.
This bill would waive the penalty fees for late renewal of any type of state license for members of the California National Guard or military service members who were deployed at the time of the lapse.

 

AB 2568 Veterans Home of California.  (Nathan Fletcher, San Diego)  [UPDATED MAY 21]    [FAILED PASSAGE, ASSEMBLY POLICY COMMITTEE]
This is a spot bill for future use.

AB 2609 Firearms: handgun safety certificate: exemptions.  (Joel Anderson, La Mesa)   [UPDATED MAY 21]   [FAILED PASSAGE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY]
Existing law requires, with certain exceptions, that a person obtain a handgun safety certificate before purchasing or receiving a handgun.
Existing law exempts, among others, honorably retired members of the United States Armed Forces, National Guard, or Air National Guard, from this requirement. Previous version of the law exempted honorably discharged members of the military services from this requirement.
This bill would restore honorably discharged members of the United States Armed Forces, National Guard, or Air National Guard, instead of retired members to those exempted from the requirement for a safety certificate.

 

AB 2651 Veterans farm and home purchases.  (Stephen Knight, Lancaster)   [UPDATED JUNE 16]  [SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR]
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.
As amended, this bill would establish the Veterans Bond Payment Fund, a Special Fund, to make Veterans General Obligation bond debt service payments. CalVet would be able to transfer debt service payments from CalVet's 1943 Fund into this special fund without the risk that the funds could be used by the controller for other purposes. The Veterans General Obligation Bond debt service payment would then be paid from this Special Fund.
The addition of this payment process will provide rating agencies and investors with assurance that CalVet General Obligation Bond debt service payments will always be paid as long as there are funds in either the general fund or the CalVet 1943 Fund.
This bill establishes a bond debt service payment method that will improve the ratings provided by the credit rating agencies for Veterans General Obligation Bonds which would save hundreds of millions of dollars in interest payments for California veterans that participate in the home loan program. This would provide a legal payment process that would allow the national rating agencies to rate the Veterans General Obligation Bonds at least as high as CalVet's revenue bonds. Currently, the States General Obligation Bond rating is Baa1 and the Veterans Revenue bonds are rated AA-.
The bill was further amended in the Senate to prohibit moneys in the Bond Payment Fund from being borrowed by or transferred to the State General Fund.

 

AB 2661 California National Guard: mental health assessments: combat troops.  (Mary Salas, Chula Vista)
[UPDATED [JUNE 16]    [FAILED PASSAGE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS]
Would require the California National Guard to develop a comprehensive and ongoing mental health assessment program for every California National Guard soldier who has been deployed to a combat zone.
The Guard has one mental health assessment team.  ASM Salas has been trying to increase the services available and to increase the number of teams for some time.

 

AB 2740 National Guard: veterans: education benefits.  (Roger Niello, Sacramento)
This is a spot bill which states the intent to enact legislation to establish an education assistance program for veterans of the California National Guard.
The bill has been amended to another subject.  No longer a veterans bill.

 

AB 2752  Public postsecondary education: military recruiting on campuses.  (Sam Blakeslee, San Luis Obispo)
This is a spot bill which states the intent to enact legislation relating to military recruiting on the campuses of public postsecondary educational institutions.
The bill has been amended to another subject.  No longer a veterans bill.

AB 2783  Professions and vocations: military personnel.  (Committee on Veterans Affairs: Paul Cook, Yucaipa; Mary Salas, Chula Vista; Danny Gilmore, Hanford; Ted Lieu, Torrance; V. Manuel Perez, Cathedral City; and Mariko Yamada, Davis.)   [UPDATED JULY3]
Requires state licensing and regulatory boards under the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) to consult with the Military Department prior to adopting rules and regulations that are required, under current law, to specify how education, training, and experience obtained in the armed forces are applicable to the requirements of each board's regulated business or profession.

AB 2784 Veterans. (Committee on Veterans Affairs: Paul Cook, Yucaipa; Mary Salas, Chula Vista; Danny Gilmore, Hanford; Ted Lieu, Torrance; V. Manuel Perez, Cathedral City; Lori Saldana, San Diego; and Mariko Yamada, Davis.)   [UPDATED JUNE 7]
This bill increases the size and oversight role of the California Veterans Board and requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) to increase its strategic planning efforts. Specifically, this bill:
1)Increases the board from seven to nine members, and requires that two of the members shall have served in the conflict in Iraq or Afghanistan.
2)Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in addition to fully briefing the board regarding the impact on veterans of a policy change prior to effectuating that change, to also brief the board prior to recommending any such policy change impacting veterans.
3)Applies the above requirement to any veterans program or service provided by another state agency.
4)Requires DVA to assess the needs of the veteran community, in part by soliciting input from county veteran services officers and other veteran services organizations.
5)Requires DVA, in consultation with the board, to develop measurable goals and objectives and to report annually to the board on its progress in meeting the goals and objectives.

AB 2785 Department of Veterans Affairs: administration: agreements with other agencies.  (Committee on Veterans Affairs: Paul Cook, Yucaipa; Mary Salas, Chula Vista; Danny Gilmore, Hanford; Ted Lieu, Torrance; V. Manuel Perez, Cathedral City; and Mariko Yamada, Davis.  Coauthor, Assembly: Marty Block, San Diego.)   [UPDATED JULY 3]
Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, by June 30, 2011 and annually thereafter, to identify other state agencies providing veterans services for the purpose of entering into formal agreements specifying the respective roles of agencies.

 

SB 817 Elections: special vote by mail voter.  (Senate Committee on Elections, Reapportionment and Constitutional Amendments: Loni Hancock, Oakland, Chair; Mimi Walters, Laguna Hills, Vice Chair; Carol Liu, Glendale; Mark DeSaulnier, Concord; Dave Cogdill, Fresno.)   [UPDATED JULY 6]  [ASSEMBLY INACTIVE FILE]
Existing law authorizes members of the Armed Forces, their spouses and dependents; a United States citizen temporarily residing outside the country; and crew members of a United States merchant vessel to cast their votes as "special absentee voters."
This bill would change the term for these voters from "special absentee voters" to "special vote by mail voters."

 

SB 1002 Veterans' Home of California.  (Patricia Wiggins, Santa Rosa)
SB 1003 Veterans' Home of California.  (Patricia Wiggins, Santa Rosa)   [UPDATED JULY 3]
Both bills would update sections of the California Veterans Code to specifically list the existing State Veterans Homes at Barstow, Chula Vista, Lancaster, and Ventura, in addition to Yountville.
 

SB 1015 Veterans Affairs: administration. (Jeff Denham, Merced)
SB 1016 Military and veterans.  (Jeff Denham, Merced)   [UPDATED MAY 21]    [FAILED PASSAGE, SENATE POLICY COMMITTEE]
Both bills are spot bills which are introduced every year to provide possible vehicles for amendment later in the year to cover issues that may come up.

 

SB 1056 Income taxes: hiring credit: veterans.  (Jeff Denham, Merced)   [UPDATED MAY 21]  [FAILED PASSAGE SENATE COMMITTEE ON REVENUE AND TAXATION]
Existing law authorizes various credits against business taxes, including a credit for an increase in qualified employees by an employer.
This bill would, for taxable years beginning on and after January 1, 2010, allow a credit in an amount equal to 25% of the wages, not to exceed exceeding $6,000, paid to each qualified veteran by the taxpayer during the taxable year.

 

SB 1057 State holidays: Veterans Day: state office closure.  (Jeff Denham, Merced)   [UPDATE JULY 3]
Existing law requires all state offices, and the University of California, to be closed on the State holiday, Admissions Day.  The law also requires all states offices, except the University of California, to be closed on Veterans Day. 
This bill requires Veterans' Day to be observed by all state agencies on the actual date of Veterans' Day, November 11.  If November 11 falls on a Saturday, the holiday will be observed the previous Friday.  If the date occurs on Sunday, the holiday will be observed on the following Monday. 
The bill states the intent of the Legislature that the University of California be closed on Veterans Day (but does not state how that intent will be enforced.)