A. VETERANS BENEFITS AND SERVICES
AB 1378
California Workforce Investment Board: veterans
workforce program. (V Manuel Perez, Cathedral City)
[2-YEAR BILL] [UPDATED JULY 3, 2010]
DESCRIPTION: 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.
STATUS:
Introduced February 26, 2009.
Referred to the Assembly Committees on Jobs, Economic Development, and the
Economy; and on Veterans Affairs. A hearing is scheduled by the Committee
on Jobs, Economic Development and the Economy on April 21. Hearing was
cancelled.
TWO YEAR BILL. Passed by the Assembly Committee on Jobs, Economic
Development and the Economy January 5, and by the Committee on Veterans Affairs
January 13. Referred to the Committee on Appropriations. Sent to
Assembly Floor. Passed by the Assembly January 25 (vote 67-0).
In the Senate, referred to Committees on Labor and Industrial Relations, and on
Veterans Affairs. Passed by Committees Labor and Industrial Relations June
9 (vote 4-0), and Veterans Affairs June 22 (vote 4-0).
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION:
Officially supported by the California Association of Veteran Service
Agencies.
AB 674
Criminal procedure: veterans. (Mary Salas, Chula Vista)
[TWO YEAR BILL] [UPDATED JULY 3, 2010]
DESCRIPTION:
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.
Provides that in the case of any person convicted of a criminal offense who
would otherwise be sentenced to county jail or state prison and who alleges that
he or she committed the offense as a result of sexual trauma, traumatic brain
injury, PTSD, substance abuse, or mental health problems stemming from service
in the United States military, the court shall, prior to sentencing, make a
determination as to whether the defendant was, or currently is, a member of the
United States military and may request through the use of existing resources an
assessment of whether the defendant may be suffering from sexual trauma,
traumatic brain injury, PTSD, substance abuse, or mental health problems as a
result of that service.
States that if the defendant convicted of a criminal offense is a person who
committed the offense as a result of sexual trauma, traumatic brain injury, PTSD,
substance abuse, or mental health problems stemming from service in the United
States military, and if the defendant is otherwise eligible for probation and
the court places the defendant on probation, the court may order the defendant
into a local, state, federal, private nonprofit treatment program, or a
veteran's court for a period not to exceed that which the defendant would have
served in state prison or county jail, provided the defendant agrees to
participate in the program and the court determines that an appropriate
treatment program exists.
STATUS:
Passed by Assembly Committee on Public Safety January 13 (vote 7-0),
and the Committee on Appropriations January 21. Passed by the Assembly
January 28 (vote 73-0).
In the Senate, passed by the Committee on Public Safety June 29 (vote 7-0).
Referred to Committee on Appropriations.
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION:
Officially supported by American Legion, Department of California; California
County Veterans Service Officers; Taxpayers for Improving Public Safety; Vietnam
Veterans of America, California State Council.
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.)
[FAILED PASSAGE SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS]
DESCRIPTION: 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.
STATUS:
Bill was originally introduced
in 2009 on a different subject. Has been gutted and amended, as above.
In the previous version, the bill passed the Assembly and is now in the Senate.
Currently in the Rules Committee for assignment. If it passes the Senate, it
will have to be returned to the Assembly for Committee reviews, as a new bill.
Failed to receive a hearing in Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs.
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION:
Supported by Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of California.
AB 1729 Civil
service examinations: veterans' preference. (Mariko Yamada,
Davis) [UPDATED JUNE 15]
DESCRIPTION: 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.
STATUS:
Passed by Assembly Committees on Public Employees, Retirement and
Social Security April 7 (vote 5-0), and by the Committee on Veterans Affairs
April 13 (vote 9-0). Passed by the Committee on Appropriations April 28
(vote 15-0). Passed by the Assembly May 6 (vote 74-0).
In the Senate, passed by the Committee on Public Employment and Retirement June
14 (vote 6-0), and by the Committee on Veterans Affairs June 22 (vote 4-0).
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION:
Supported by American Legion, Department of California; AMVETS,
Department of California; California Association of County Veteran Service
Officers; Vietnam Veterans of America, California State Council.
AB 1757
Veterans cemetery. (William Monning,
Santa Cruz)
[UPDATED JULY 3]
DESCRIPTION: 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.
Note: The Department of Veterans Affairs has estimated the cost of moving
ahead with design and development to be $800,000, which would eventually be
reimbursed by the funds from the Foundation established for this project.
However, the Department estimate may put the bill in jeopardy in the
Appropriations Committee.
STATUS:
Passed by Assembly Committee on Veterans Affairs March 23 (vote 7-0). Placed on
suspense file by Committee on Appropriations April 28. Passed by
Appropriations Committee May 28 (vote 17-0). Passed by the Assembly June 2
(vote 76-0).
In the Senate, passed by the Committee on Veterans Affairs June 22 (vote 4-0).
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION:
Supported by Veterans of
Foreign Wars, Department of California
AB
1925 Diversion: veterans Veterans Courts. (Mary Salas, Chula Vista)
[UPDATED JULY 3]
DESCRIPTION: 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.
The bill was amended by the Assembly Committee on Appropriations to specify that
participation by a county would be voluntary, to remove the state mandate
provision.
STATUS:
Passed by Assembly Committee on Public Safety April 19 (vote 7-0).
Placed on Suspense File by Committee on Appropriations May 5. Passed by
the Committee on Appropriations May 28 (vote 17-0). Passed by the Assembly
June 2 (vote 76-0).
In the Senate, passed by the Committee on Veterans Affairs June 22 (vote 4-0),
and by the Committee on Public Safety June 29 (vote 7-0).
AB 1948
Property taxation: disabled veterans exemption: claim: cancellation of refund of
tax. (Stephan Knight, Lancaster)
[UPDATED MAY 21]
[FAILED PASSAGE, ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON REVENUE AND
TAXATION]
DESCRIPTION: 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
claimants’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.
STATUS: Bill is considered to be dead for failure to be approved by the policy committee.
AB 2143 The
Department of Veterans Affairs: consolidation of services to veterans.
(Danny Gilmore, Hanford. Principal coauthors: Juan Arambula, Fresno; and
Paul Cook, Yucaipa.) [UPDATED JUNE 5]
DESCRIPTION: 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.
STATUS: Passed by the Assembly Committee on Veterans Affairs April 13 (vote 7-0). Placed on the Suspense File by the Committee on Appropriations May 5. Passed as amended by the Committee on Appropriations June 1 (vote 17-0). Passed by the Assembly June 3 (vote 75-1). (The lone dissenter was Sam Blakeslee, San Luis Obispo.)
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: Officially supported by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of California.
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]
DESCRIPTION: 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.
STATUS: Passed by Assembly Committee on
Revenue and Taxation April 19 (vote 9-0). Passed by the Assembly April 26
(vote 71-0).
In the Senate, passed by the Committee on Revenue and Taxation (vote 3-0).
Passed by the Senate July 1 (vote 35-0).
AB 2455
Military service: benefits. (Pedro Nava, Santa Barbara)
[UPDATED JULY 3]
DESCRIPTION: 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.
STATUS:
Passed by Assembly Committee on Veterans Affairs March
23 (vote 7-0). Passed by the Assembly April 8 (vote 71-0).
In the Senate, referred to the Committee on Veterans Affairs.
AB 2500
Military service: benefits: license renewal. (Curt Hagman,
Diamond Bar) [UPDATED MAY21]
DESCRIPTION: 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 is a spot bill which states the intent to enact legislation waiving the
penalty fees for late renewal of any type of state license for military service
members who were deployed at the time of the lapse.
STATUS:
Passed by Assembly Committee on Business & Professions and Consumer
Protection May 4 (vote 11-0). Passed by the Committee on Appropriations
May 19 (vote 16-0). Passed by the Assembly May 28 (vote 62-0).
In the Senate, passed by the Committee on Veterans Affairs June 22 (vote 4-0).
Passed by the Senate July 1 (vote 34-0).
SB
1081 Retirement: military service. (Roy Ashburn, Bakersfield)
[UPDATED MAY 21]
[FAILED PASSAGE SENATE POLICY COMMITTEE]
DESCRIPTION: This is a spot bill concerning credit for military service
for members of the Public Employees' Retirement System.
SB 1388
County veteran service officers: funding. (Senate Committee on
Veterans Affairs: Jeff Denham, Merced, Chair; Lou Correa, Vice Chair,
Santa Ana; Gil Cedillo, Los Angeles; Abel Maldonado, Santa Maria; Gloria Negrete
McLeod, Chino; Patricia Wiggins, Santa Rosa; and Mark Wyland, Escondido.)
[UPDATED JUNE 7]
DESCRIPTION: Existing law provides for the state to send subvention
funding to the counties for the support of the County Veteran Service Offices.
For many years, the State Code stated that the target amount for this funding
should be $5 million. However, that funding level was never provided in
the annual budget. For the last few years, the actual funding level has
been $2.6 million. Last year, the target funding level was revised to $11
million.
This bill would provide $5 million for the 2010-2011 fiscal year.
Another provision in the Code provides for the Department of Veterans Affairs to
contract with the Veteran Service Organizations to provide services to veterans
and their families. However, there is a limitation that this contracting
cannot be implemented until the subvention funding to the counties reaches the
$5 million target.
STATUS: Referred to Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review. The Senate did not take up the bill as a separate item. However, the Governor included a recommendation to increase the funding for Veterans Services in his May Budget Revision by $8.4 million, to a total of $11 million. The item was not voted on by the Senate Budget Committee but it was approved by the Assembly Budget Committee. It is now an item for the Joint Conference Committee on the Budget.