BILL NUMBER: SB 933	CHAPTERED  09/10/01

	CHAPTER  283
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  SEPTEMBER 10, 2001
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  SEPTEMBER 8, 2001
	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 23, 2001
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 20, 2001
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JULY 19, 2001
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 15, 2001
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 2, 2001

INTRODUCED BY   Senators Margett and Knight
   (Coauthors:  Senators Chesbro, Dunn, Johannessen, and Soto)
   (Coauthors:  Assembly Members Cox, Dickerson, Kelley, Maddox,
Robert Pacheco, Pescetti, Strickland, and Wyman)

                        FEBRUARY 23, 2001

   An act to amend Section 1012 of the Military and Veterans Code,
relating to veterans.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 933, Margett.  Veterans' home:  eligibility.
   Existing law provides for the establishment and operation of the
Veterans' Home of California for aged and disabled veterans, eligible
for hospitalization or domiciliary care in a veterans' facility in
accordance with the rules and regulations of the United States
Department of Veterans Affairs, and for spouses of these persons if
specified conditions are met.  The home is under the management and
control of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
   This bill would give priority to recipients of the Medal of Honor
for eligibility for residence in the Veterans' Home of California,
and would make widows and widowers of Medal of Honor recipients
eligible for residency.


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


  SECTION 1.  Section 1012 of the Military and Veterans Code is
amended to read:
   1012.  (a) Except as provided in Section 1012.4, the home is for
aged and disabled persons who served in the Armed Forces of the
United States of America who were discharged or released from active
duty under honorable conditions from service, who are eligible for
hospitalization or domiciliary care in a veterans' facility in
accordance with the rules and regulations of the United States
Department of Veterans Affairs, and who are bona fide residents of
this state at the time of application; and for the spouses of these
persons if all of the following conditions, as are applicable, are
satisfied:
   (1) Space is available.
   (2) Joint residency will be in the best interests of the home
member, as determined by the administrator.
   (3) The spouse is a bona fide resident of this state at the time
of application for admission to the home and either is married to,
and has resided with, the home member for at least one year, or is
the widow or widower of a recipient of the Medal of Honor.
   (4) The home member and spouse agree to pay the fees and charges
for joint residency, or for a widow or widower, for the residency,
that the administrator may establish.
   (b) (1) Veterans who qualify for benefits under this chapter due
to service during a time of war shall be given priority over veterans
who qualify due to service during a time of peace.
   (2) Veterans who qualify for benefits under this chapter who are
recipients of the Medal of Honor shall be given priority over all
other qualified veterans, regardless of the level of care required.
   (c) A resident spouse may continue residence after the veteran's
death.
   (d) The property of the home shall be used for this purpose.