BILL ANALYSIS
SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS
JEFF DENHAM, CHAIRMAN
Bill No: AB 2785
Author: Assembly Veterans Affairs
Version: As amended May 13, 2010
Hearing Date: June 22, 2010
Fiscal: Yes
SUBJECT OF BILL
California Department of Veterans Affairs (CDVA) agreements
with other agencies.
PROPOSED LAW
1. Makes the following legislative findings:
CDVA offers few direct services to veterans;
CDVA has few formal agreements with other state
agencies;
This "dysfunction unfortunately" comes at a
critical time for those veterans of Operation Iraqi
Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom OIF/OEF who
have post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI); and
CDVA's strategic plan has not formally assessed
the needs of veterans and key stakeholders or
"effectively measured the department's progress
towards meeting the goals and objectives identified
in the plan."
1. Requires the Secretary of CDVA on or before June
30, 2011, and every year thereafter, to identify
veteran programs offered by other state agencies for
the purpose of entering into "formal agreements that
specify the respective roles and activities of the
entities."
EXISTING LAW AND BACKGROUND
1. In 2009 the Assembly Veterans Affairs Committee
requested an audit of CDVA. The state auditor found,
among other things, that CDVA had few formal
agreements with other state agencies.
COMMENT
1. This bill is a result of the state auditor's
October 2009 report in which the auditor indicated
that CDVA was not coordinating with other agencies by
entering into formal agreements.
2. The legislative finding in this bill charging CDVA
with "dysfunction" seems to be a bit exaggerated.
Officials in the last three administrations, as well
as legislators and legislative staff have been well
aware of the department's "dysfunction" since the late
1990s; however, these shortcomings of not offering
direct veterans services are explainable:
a) the auditor points out that the "department
receives minimal funding for its
operations-approximately 2 percent of the
department's total budget-most of which is
allocated to support a portion of the CVSOs'
operations, as required by the State's budget
act."
b) the legislature has not structured the
department in a way to provide some of these
direct services. As the auditor said, "state law
would need to be changed or clarified for the
department to address such needs."
The inability of CDVA to provide direct services to
veterans has more to do with the charge and budget the
department has been given than to any "dysfunction."
3. The more substantial part of this bill does require
the CDVA secretary to follow up annually on one of the
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auditor's key findings.
PRIOR ACTIONS
Assembly Veterans 9-0
Assembly Appropriations 15-0
Assembly Floor 70-0
SUPPORT
American Legion, Dept. of CA
AMVETS, Dept. of CA
Vietnam Veterans of America, CA State Council
OPPOSE
None received
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