BILL NUMBER: AB 282	CHAPTERED  10/09/07

	CHAPTER  360
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  OCTOBER 9, 2007
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  OCTOBER 9, 2007
	PASSED THE SENATE  SEPTEMBER 7, 2007
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  SEPTEMBER 11, 2007
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JULY 3, 2007
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 17, 2007

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Cook
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Anderson, Benoit, DeVore, Garrick,
Horton, Jeffries, Lieu, and Maze)
   (Coauthors: Senators Battin, Cogdill, Correa, Negrete McLeod,
Wiggins, and Wyland)

                        FEBRUARY 9, 2007

   An act to add Section 648.1 to the Military and Veterans Code,
relating to military decorations.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 282, Cook. Crimes: military decorations.
   Existing law provides that it is a misdemeanor for a person to
falsely represent himself or herself as a veteran or ex-serviceman,
or member of the Armed Forces of the United States, as specified.
   This bill would provide that it is an infraction for a person,
with the intent to defraud, to, orally, in writing, or by wearing any
military decoration, as defined, falsely represent himself or
herself to have been awarded any military decoration.
   By making a violation of these provisions a crime, this bill would
create a state-mandated local program.
   The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
   This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this
act for a specified reason.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 648.1 is added to the Military and Veterans
Code, to read:
   648.1.  (a) Any person who, orally, in writing, or by wearing any
military decoration, falsely represents himself or herself to have
been awarded any military decoration, with the intent to defraud, is
guilty of an infraction.
   (b) For purposes of this section, "military decoration" means any
decoration or medal from the Armed Forces of the United States, the
California National Guard, State Military Reserve, or Naval Militia,
or any service medals or badges awarded to the members of such
forces, or the ribbon, button, or rosette of any such badge,
decoration, or medal, or any colorable imitation of such item.
  SEC. 2.  No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because
the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school
district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or
infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty
for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the
Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the
meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California
Constitution.