STATE LEGISLATIVE ISSUES
SUMMARY LIST
The following is a list of bills related to veterans affairs and which are currently pending in the State Legislature. Bills are listed in numerical sequence, with a brief description. For full details, click on the bill number.
The full details of all bills are presented in additional pages under the general subject headings. Click on the subject headings to see a list of all the bills under that subject.
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.
When new information concerning a bill is posted, the designation [UPDATED _____] is inserted after the bill title and author. Refer to the bill details by clicking on the subject headings to see the updated information.
Any questions concerning material presented on this web site may be addressed to the Legislative Officer of the California State Commanders Veterans Council.
SUBJECT HEADINGS
A. VETERANS
BENEFITS AND SERVICES.
B. CALIFORNIA STATE VETERANS HOMES.
C.
CAL-VET FARM AND HOME LOAN PROGRAM.
D.
EDUCATION
E. DISABLED VETERANS BUSINESS ENTERPRISES.
F. VEHICLES, LICENSE PLATES
G. NATIONAL GUARD.
H. MISCELLANEOUS ISSUES.
I. RESOLUTIONS.
AB 190
Vehicles: veterans: parking. (Karen Bass, Los Angeles)
[UPDATED MAY 31]
Allows a vehicle displaying the following special license plates to be parked
free of charge in a metered parking space:
Pearl Harbor Survivor
Legion of Valor
Former American Prisoner of War (POW)
Congressional Medal of Honor
Purple Heart
AB 1758 Postsecondary Education.
(Chuck DeVore, Irvine. Coauthor: Doug LaMalfa, Redding.)
[DIED IN ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS MAY 22]
Existing law requires that a person, who has attended high
school in California for 3 or more years, who has graduated from a California
high school or attained the equivalent thereof, who has registered at or attends
an accredited institution of higher education in California and who, if he or
she is an alien without lawful immigration status, has filed an affidavit as
specified, is exempted from paying nonresident tuition at the California
Community Colleges and the California State University. This bill would
repeal that exemption.
This bill would also create the California National Guard Education Assistance
Program, for the purpose of promoting recruitment and retention of members of
the California National Guard.
As currently amended, the provision to repeal the exemption for aliens without
lawful immigration status from paying nonresident tuition has been deleted.
Note: See also SB 1290 and SB 1752, below.
AB
1814 Veterans: claims. (Chuck DeVore, Irvine, and Paul Cook,
Yucaipa) [UPDATED May 31]
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.
AB 1818 Housing: veterans
(Felipe Fuentes, San Fernando) [UPDATED JUNE 29]
This bill would authorize a housing developer or a provider of rental
housing who has received a loan or grant from the Department of Housing and
Community Development or the California Housing Finance Agency, and whose
housing is subject to rental or ownership restrictions imposed pursuant to
the loan or grant, to limit, in whole or in part, the sale, rental, or
occupancy of that housing to veterans, as defined, or to grant preference to
veterans regarding the sale, rental, or occupancy of the housing.
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.
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.
AB 1942 Public contracts: small businesses and
disabled veteran business enterprises. (Ira Ruskin, Los Altos)
[UPDATED JUNE 29]
Sets certain penalties for businesses that furnish incorrect supporting
information or withhold relevant information in submitting bids for state
contracts and imposes civil penalties against any person who knowingly and
fraudulently represents that a commercially useful function is being performed
by a disabled veteran business enterprise in order to obtain or retain a bid
preference or a state contract.
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.
AB 2055 Military Personnel:
Combat Stress Support Team Program. (Mary Salas, Chula Vista)
[DIED IN ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS]
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: This bill is a repeat of the bill AB 581 which was
introduced in 2007 but failed to pass the Senate Committee on
Appropriations.
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.
AB 2134 Employment discrimination: family and medical leave. (Sande Swanson,
Oakland) [UPDATED JUNE 29]
Amends the California Family Rights Act (CFRA) to address military
family leave. Authorizes up to 26 workweeks in a 12-month period of unpaid leave
for "service member family leave." Defines "service member family leave"
as leave to care for a covered service member.
AB 2171 Purple Heart
Memorial. (Paul Cook, Yucaipa)
[UPDATED MAY 31]
Proposes that the Military Order of the Purple Heart be authorized to
construct and maintain a memorial at the Capitol Park.
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, relative caregiver, 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.
AB 2429 Extracurricular activities:
Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) programs.
(Audra Strickland, Westlake Village) [FAILED
PASSAGE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION]
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.
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.
AB 2557 Vehicles: special license plates. (Chuck DeVore, Irvine. Coauthors, Assembly: Anthony Adams, Claremont; Sam Blakeslee, San Luis Obispo; Mervyn Dymally, Compton; Cathleen Galgiani, Stockton; Shirley Horton, Lemon Grove; Anthony Portantino, Pasadena. Coauthor, Senate: Jim Battin, Palm Desert.) [FAILED PASSAGE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS]
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.
AB 2568 Property Tax exemption: principal residence: veterans and their unmarried surviving spouses. (Guy Houston, Livermore) [FAILED PASSAGE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS]
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.
AB 2577 Veterans: County Veterans Service Offices. (Mary Salas, Chula Vista) [FAILED PASSAGE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS]
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.
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.) [UPDATED APRIL 19] [FAILED PASSAGE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION]
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.
AB 2641 Military service protection: ombudsman. (Paul Cook, Yucaipa) [UPDATED JUNE 29]
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.
AB 2670 Department of Veterans Affairs: qualified residential rental project programs. (Mary Salas, Chula Vista) [UPDATED JUNE 29]
Would
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.
(This program, under the CDVA, would be intended to provide rental housing for homeless veterans.)
AB 2671 Prisoners: veterans. (Mary Salas, Chula Vista) [UPDATED JUNE 29]
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.
AB 2828 Veterans' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Fund. (Mary Salas, Chula Vista) [UPDATED JUNE 29]
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.
AB 2896 Vehicles: special license plates. (
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.
Also note: This same bill was introduced last year in both the Assembly and the Senate but failed to approved by committees in either house.
AB 2994 Pupil Records: release of information. (Sally Lieber, Mountain View) [UPDATED JUNE 29]
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.
AB 3009 Sales and use taxes: consumers: itinerant vendors (veterans). (Julia Brownley, Woodland Hills.) [FAILED PASSAGE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON REVENUE AND TAXATION]
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.
AB 3016 Personal income taxes: contributions: California Military Family Relief Fund. (Paul Cook, Yucaipa. Principal coauthor: Ted Lieu, El Segundo. Coauthors, Assembly: Joel Anderson, La Mesa; Jim Beall, San Jose; Charles Calderon, Whittier; Joe Coto, San Jose; Chuck DeVore, Irvine; Noreen Evans, Santa Rosa; Mike Feuer, Los Angeles; Bonnie Garcia, Cathredral City; Martin Garrick, Carlsbad; Mary Hayashi, Hayward; Ed Hernandez, Baldwin Park; Nicole Parra, Hanford; Curren Price, Inglewood; Jose Solorio, Santa Ana; and Audra Strickland, Camarillo. Coauthors, Senate: Jim Battin, Palm Desert; Gil Cedillo, Los Angeles; Jeff Denham, Merced; Bob Dutton, Inland Empire; Dean Florez, Shafter; Alex Padilla, Pacoima; George Runner, Antelope Valley; Joe Simitian, Palo Alto; and Mark Wyland, Escondido.) [UPDATED JUNE 29]
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.
AB 3020 Small business programs: National Guard members. (Mary Salas, Chula Vista)
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.)
[UPDATED JUNE 29]
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.
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]
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.
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.) [UPDATED JUNE 29]
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
Health Administration
that would either replace or supplement Medi-Cal benefits.
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. Coauthors: Paul Cook, Yucaipa; Chuck DeVore, Irvine; Sharon Runner,
Lancaster.) [UPDATED JUNE 29]
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."
Would designate State Highway Route 101 from the East Los Angeles interchange to the Oregon border as the Airborne Memorial Highway.
SB 1219 Student financial aid: member and former members of the Armed Forces. (Gilbert Cedillo, Los Angeles) [FAILED PASSAGE SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS]
Would, commencing with the 2009–10 award year, entitle a student who was not awarded a Cal Grant A or B award at the time of his or her high school graduation, who is a member or former member of the United States Armed Forces, and who enrolls at a campus of the California Community Colleges or a qualifying baccalaureate program, to a Cal Grant A or B award. The bill would also require the Student Aid Commission to make preliminary awards to all applicants currently eligible for an award under the program, and would require each person who receives a preliminary award to affirm, in writing, under penalty of perjury, that he or she meets specified requirements for eligibility in the program, thus expediting awards to all applicants.
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.
SB 1220 Housing: Multifamily Housing Program: veterans. (Gilbert Cedillo, Los Angeles) [UPDATED JUNE 29]
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.
SB 1222 County veteran service officers: funding (Gilbert Cedillo, Los Angeles) [FAILED PASSAGE SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS]
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.)
SB 1229 Vehicles: special license plates: disabled veterans. (Abel Maldonado, San Luis Obispo. [FAILED PASSAGE SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND HOUSING]
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.
SB 1245 California Mexican American Veterans' Memorial. (Gloria Negrete McLeod, Montclair) [UPDATED APRIL 19]
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.
SB 1274 Patriotic exercise and instruction. (Mark Wyland, San Juan Capistrano/ Carlsbad. Coauthor: Jeff Denham, (Merced) [UPDATED JUNE 29] [ENROLLED]
Current law requires schools to conduct appropriate patriotic exercises. The Pledge of Allegiance satisfies the requirements of current law, but is not the only patriotic exercise that can satisfy the law.
Secondary schools are required to conduct patriotic exercises in accordance with regulations adopted by district governing board.
This bill would require that a pupil recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America each day during the school year in both public elementary and secondary schools, and all pupils would be required by completion of grade 5 to memorize and understand the meaning, including the words and concepts, of "pledge," "allegiance," and "republic," pf the Pledge of Allegiance.
This bill has been extensively amended. Currently, this bill would require that, when pupils are instructed with regard to the words of the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America as part of these patriotic exercises, the instruction ensure that pupils understand the concepts of "pledge," "allegiance," "republic," and "indivisible." The bill would require that pupils understand the importance of the pledge as an expression of patriotism, love of country, and pride in the United States of America.
SB 1290 National Guard: Educational Benefits. (Mark Wyland, San Juan Capistrano/Carlsbad) [FAILED PASSAGE SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS]
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. See also SB 1752, below.
SB 1322 Communism. (Alan Lowenthal, Long Beach) [UPDATED JUNE 29]
Proposes findings a declarations by the Legislature that the "Cold War is over" and the threat of communist takeover of federal or state government no longer exists. In the Education Code, would remove the provision that membership in the communist party is grounds for dismissal of the person as a teacher.
SB 1328 Bingo. (Gilbert Cedillo, Los Angeles) [FAILED PASSAGE SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION]
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, as specified.
SB 1353 State employees: military
benefits. (Gloria Negrete McLeod, Chino)
[UPDATED JUNE 29]
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.
SB 1401 Armed Forces: traumatic brain injury screening. (S. Joseph Simitian, Palo Alto.) [UPDATED MAY 31]
Would require the California Department of Veterans Affairs to assist a veteran in obtaining
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.
SB 1450 Sales and use taxes: exemptions: thrift stores operated by nonprofit organizations on military installations. (Bob Dutton, Rancho Cucamonga) [UPDATED JUNE 15]
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.
SB 1455
Disabled person and
disabled veteran Vehicles: specialized license plates. (Dave Cogdill, Fresno; and Jeff
Denham, Modesto. Coauthors Senate: Roy Ashburn, Bakersfield; Gil Cedillo,
Los Angeles; Alan Lowenthal, Long Beach; Bob Margett, Glendora; Jenny Oropeza,
Long Beach; and Tom Torlakson, Antioch. Coauthors Assembly: John
Benoit, Palm Desert; Tom Berryhill, Modesto; Doug LaMalfa, Redding; Bill Maze,
Visalia; and Sharon Runner, Lancaster.) [UPDATED
JUNE 29]
As currently amended, authorizes the Department of Veterans
Affairs to sponsor a Gold Star Family specialized license plate. The
Department would be authorized to establish a fund which would receive donations
to offset the costs of the Department of Motor Vehicles for issuing the plates.
The applicants for the special license plates would not be required to pay fees
for issuance, renewal, replacement, or transfer of the plates.
See also AB 2896.
SB 1480 State Militia: Adjutant
General: duties. (Mark Wyland, San Juan Capistrano/Carlsbad)
[FAILED PASSAGE]
This is a spot bill which will be amended later.
SB 1481 Veterans affairs:
administration. (Mark Wyland, San Juan Capistrano/Carlsbad)
[FAILED PASSAGE]
This is a spot bill which will be amended later.
SB 1482 Local government:
forfeiture of office. (Lou Correa, Santa Ana. Coauthors,
Assembly: Wilmer Carter, Rialto; Paul Cook, Yucaipa.)
[UPDATED MAY 31]
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.
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.
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 JUNE 29]
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
SB 1675 Veterans Revenue Debenture
Act of 1970. (Dave Cox, Roseville)
[UPDATED JUNE 29]
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.
Would require the California Community Colleges and California State University, and request the University of California, to establish on each of its campuses a Military and Veterans Benefits Office and appoint a full-time Military and Veterans Benefit Advisor for each office. The bill would provide that the purpose of the office be to assist a student who is an active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States, the California National Guard, or a reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States, a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States,
SB 1752 California National Guard
Education Assistance Award Program. (Mark Wyland, San Juan
Capistrano/Carlsbad. Coauthors, Senate: Jim Battin, Palm Desert; Lou Correa,
Santa Ana; Dennis Hollingsworth, Murietta; Abel Maldonado, Santa Maria; Bob
Margett, Glendora; Gloria Negrete McLeod, Chino; George Runner, Lancaster.
Coauthors, Assembly: Anthony Adams, Hesperia; John Benoit, Palm Desert; Martin
Garrick, Carlsbad; Doug LaMalfa, Redding; Anthony Portantino, Pasadena.) [FAILED
PASSAGE SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS]
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.
Note: This bill is, apparently, intended to replace SB 1290, above, by the same author. See also AB 1758, above.
SB 1778 County Veterans Service Officers; funding. (Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs.) [UPDATED MAY 31]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.
SJR 16 Veterans: hospitals:
prescriptions. (Mark Wyland, San Juan Capistrano/Carlsbad)
[UPDATED JUNE 29] [CHAPTERED]
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.
Resolution to honor and congratulate the National Guard on the occasion of its 100th Anniversary.
SUBJECT HEADINGS
A. VETERANS
BENEFITS AND SERVICES.
B. CALIFORNIA STATE VETERANS HOMES.
C.
CAL-VET FARM AND HOME LOAN PROGRAM.
D.
EDUCATION
E. DISABLED VETERANS BUSINESS ENTERPRISES.
F.
VEHICLES,
LICENSE PLATES
G.
NATIONAL GUARD.
H. MISCELLANEOUS ISSUES.
I. RESOLUTIONS.