BILL NUMBER: AB 716	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 23, 2009

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Huber

                        FEBRUARY 26, 2009

   An act to add Section 722 to the Military and Veterans Code,
relating to veterans.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 716, as amended, Huber. Veteran services: state agencies and
departments.
   Under existing law, the Department of Veterans Affairs has
specified powers and duties relating to veterans.
   This bill would  require   state the intent
of the Legislature that  the Department of Veterans Affairs
 to  establish a veteran data exchange system and
enter into memorandums of understanding or interagency agreements
with other state agencies and departments to ascertain the veteran
status of all persons receiving services, benefits, or assistance
from those state agencies and departments, as provided.  This
bill would require each state agency and department that  
provides services, benefits, or assistance to veterans to identify
the services, benefits, or assistance that are being provided and the
number of veterans who are using those services, benefits, or
assistance and to submit a report to the Legislature, as provided.

   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 722 is added to the Military and Veterans Code,
to read:
   722.  (a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

   (1) The United States Department of Veterans Affairs spent $6.1
billion in California in federal fiscal year 2006, $2.66 billion of
which was for disability payments to veterans. These disability
payments are directly paid to veterans and generate a significant
contribution to California's economy.
   (2) Unfortunately, only approximately 11 percent of veterans who
are eligible in California participate in these programs. California
ranks 38th nationally in terms of participation rates. On a per
capita basis, Texas and Florida collect 44 percent and 31 percent
more respectively in disability benefits than California. This
difference is primarily due to Texas and Florida having more veterans'
services representatives available to assist veterans in pursuing
benefit claims.
   (3) It is estimated that if California could increase the
participation rate to the national average of slightly over 12
percent, over $330 million more could be returned to the state and
local economy and paid to our resident veterans who need that money
to support themselves and their families. 
   (4) Unfortunately, the backlog of pending claims with the federal
Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) is now approximately 600,000,
due in part to the surge in claims from the Iraq and Afghan wars, and
consequently it can take the VBA years to process and appeal claims.
 
   (5) 
    (4)  County veteran service officers and veterans
service organizations have assumed the primary responsibility to
assist veterans in accessing these federal benefits, but the funding
for this valuable service is scarce. Consequently, the California
Department of Veterans Affairs and other state agencies and
departments, as well as local government agencies, that come into
regular contact with veterans and  returning 
National Guard members  returning from deployment  must do a
better job informing resident veterans and their dependents of their
eligibility for these benefits so that veterans and their dependents
can enroll and begin the application process sooner.
   (b)  The department shall   It is the intent
of the Legislature that the department  establish a veteran data
exchange system and enter into memorandums of understanding or
interagency agreements with other state agencies or departments to
ascertain the veteran status of all persons receiving services,
benefits, or assistance from those state agencies and departments.

   (c) Each state agency and department that provides services,
benefits, or assistance to veterans shall identify the services,
benefits, or assistance that are being provided and the number of
veterans who are using those services, benefits, or assistance, and
shall submit this information in a report to the Legislature on or
before July 1, 2010.