BILL NUMBER: AB 1568	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Committee on Veterans Affairs (Salas (Chair), Cook
(Vice Chair), Huber, Lieu, V. Manuel Perez, Saldana, and Yamada)

                        MARCH 16, 2009

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


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1568, as introduced, Committee on Veterans Affairs. Veterans:
benefits.
   Existing law requires every state and local public agency to
render the service or provide the benefits and assistance it provides
to the public to every veteran on the same basis as to any other
eligible person.
   Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, administered by the
State Department of Health Care Services, under which basic health
care services are provided to qualified low-income persons. Existing
law permits a county board of supervisors to appoint a county
veterans services officer.
   This bill would declare legislative intent to implement the Public
Assistance and Reporting Information System (PARIS)
interstate-federal match to allow the department to identify veterans
enrolled in the Medi-Cal program who could receive medical benefits
through the federal Veterans Health Administration that would either
replace or supplement Medi-Cal benefits. The bill would require the
department to work in conjunction with designated state and local
entities in utilizing the PARIS to identify veterans enrolled in the
Medi-Cal program, and to assist them in obtaining federal veterans'
health care benefits. The bill also would require the department to
work in conjunction with the Department of Veterans Affairs to
develop a plan for the dissemination of PARIS match results, and to
establish outreach standards and performance criteria for county
veteran services offices that receive information regarding veterans
identified by the PARIS.
   Because the bill would impose increased duties upon county
veterans services officers, 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, if the Commission on State Mandates
determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state,
reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these
statutory provisions.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: yes.


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) It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this
section to implement the Public Assistance and Reporting Information
System (PARIS) interstate-federal match to allow the State Department
of Health Care Services to identify veterans enrolled in the
Medi-Cal program who could receive medical benefits through the
federal Veterans Health Administration that would either replace or
supplement benefits available from the Medi-Cal program.
   (b) The State Department of Health Care Services shall work in
conjunction with the State Department of Social Services, the
Department of Veterans Affairs, county welfare departments, and other
state agencies and departments, as needed, in utilizing the federal
PARIS to identify veterans enrolled in the Medi-Cal program, and to
assist them in obtaining federal veterans' health care benefits.
   (c) The State Department of Health Care Services shall work in
conjunction with the Department of Veterans Affairs to do both of the
following:
   (1) Develop a plan for the dissemination of PARIS match results to
county veteran services offices (CVSOs).
   (2) Establish outreach standards and measurable performance
criteria for CVSOs that receive information regarding veterans
identified by the PARIS.
  SEC. 2.  If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this
act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local
agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant
to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of
the Government Code.