BILL NUMBER: SB 164	CHAPTERED  08/31/01

	CHAPTER  220
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  AUGUST 31, 2001
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  AUGUST 30, 2001
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  JULY 23, 2001
	PASSED THE SENATE  APRIL 5, 2001
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MARCH 20, 2001

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Johannessen

                        FEBRUARY 1, 2001

   An act to amend Sections 69.5 and 71 of, and to add Section 69.7
to, the Military and Veterans Code, relating to the California
Veterans Board, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect
immediately.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 164, Johannessen.  California Veterans Board:  operation.
   (1) Existing law requires the board to report to the Legislature
by August 1 of each year regarding the activities, accomplishments,
and expenditures of the board during the preceding calendar year.
   This bill would require the board to report to the Legislature by
October 1 of each year, and in addition would require the report to
be prepared in sufficient detail so that Members of the Legislature
may clearly understand the activities, accomplishments, and
expenditures of the board that occurred during the report period.
   (2) Existing law provides that state agencies shall annually
submit a budget to the Department of Finance setting forth proposed
expenditures and estimated revenues for the ensuing fiscal year.
   This bill would provide that the department shall, in its budget,
separately state the budget for the board, which shall be expended as
the board determines necessary.
   (3) Existing law provides for the appointment of an executive
officer by the board, with specified duties.
   This bill requires the chairperson of the board, with the
concurrence of a majority of the members of the board, to appoint the
executive officer.  The bill would also require the Department of
Veterans Affairs to provide the board with adequate office and
meeting space.
   The bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an
urgency statute.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 69.5 of the Military and Veterans Code is
amended to read:
   69.5.  The board shall report to the Legislature by October 1 of
each year regarding the activities, accomplishments, and expenditures
of the board during the preceding fiscal year.  The report shall be
prepared in sufficient detail so that Members of the Legislature may
clearly understand the activities, accomplishments, and expenditures
of the board that occurred during the report period.
  SEC. 2.  Section 69.7 is added to the Military and Veterans Code,
to read:
   69.7.  In the budget submitted by the department pursuant to
Section 13320 of the Government Code, the board shall have its budget
separately stated.  Those funds allocated for the board shall be
used solely as determined by the members of the board, for the board'
s operation and other necessary purposes as the board may determine.

  SEC. 3.  Section 71 of the Military and Veterans Code is amended to
read:
   71.  (a) The members of the board shall select one of their
members to serve as chairperson, who shall hold office as chairperson
at the pleasure of the board.
   (b) The chairperson of the board, with the concurrence of a
majority of the members of the board, shall appoint an executive
officer, who shall attend all meetings of the board, keep a full and
true record of all its proceedings, preserve at its general office
all its books, documents, and papers, and perform other duties that
the board may prescribe.
   (c) The department shall provide the board with adequate office
and meeting space at no cost to the board.  This space shall be
easily accessible to disabled veterans.
  SEC. 4.  This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the
meaning of Article IV of the Constitution and shall go into immediate
effect.  The facts constituting the necessity are:
   In order to provide the California Veterans Board with the
resources and personnel to fulfill its independent policymaking and
oversight roles, it is necessary that this act take effect
immediately.