BILL NUMBER: AB 716	ENROLLED
	BILL TEXT

	PASSED THE SENATE  SEPTEMBER 1, 2009
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  SEPTEMBER 3, 2009
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JULY 15, 2009
	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, 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 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 provide that
the Employment Development Department and the Department of Motor
Vehicles may, in consultation with the Department of Veterans
Affairs, make available in their field offices brochures, forms, and
posters in order to inform veterans of benefits and services. This
bill would also require the Employment Development Department and the
Department of Motor Vehicles to collect and send any voluntarily
completed forms to the Department of Veterans Affairs on at least a
quarterly basis, and to add a link to their Internet Web sites that
will direct parties to the Department of Veterans Affairs Internet
Web site.


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 $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 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) The Employment Development Department and the Department of
Motor Vehicles, in consultation with the department, may make
available in their field offices brochures, forms, and posters in
order to inform veterans of benefits and services. The Employment
Development Department and the Department of Motor Vehicles shall
collect and send voluntarily completed forms to the department on at
least a quarterly basis and add a link to their Internet Web sites
that directs parties to the department's Internet Web site.