BILL NUMBER: AB 716	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 1, 2009
	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 state the intent of the Legislature that the
Department of Veterans Affairs  establish a veteran data
exchange system and  enter into memorandums of understanding
or interagency agreements with other state agencies and departments
 , as specified,  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   the
Employment Development Department and the Department of Motor
Vehicles to collect specified information from individuals that
identify themselves as veterans, and to transmit this information, as
provided, to the Department of Veterans Affairs so that the
department may notify these veterans about state and federal benefits
and other veteran programs and services for which the veterans may
be eligible  .
   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   $7.1 billion in California in federal
fiscal year 2008, $3.1 billion of which was for compensation and
pension payments to veterans. These compensation and pension 
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) 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 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) 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  ,   as selected by
the department,  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.  
   (c) (1) The Employment Development Department and the Department
of Motor Vehicles shall collect the name, address, telephone number,
and e-mail address, if available, of individuals that identify
themselves as veterans.  
   (2) The information specified in paragraph (1) shall be
transmitted to the department on a quarterly basis, so that the
department may notify these veterans about state and federal benefits
and other veteran programs and services for which the veterans may
be eligible.  
   (3) The Employment Development Department and the Department of
Motor Vehicles shall notify the veterans that they are collecting the
information for the purpose specified in paragraph (2).