BILL NUMBER: AB 1806	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 26, 2012
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 15, 2012
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 11, 2012
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 26, 2012

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Cook
   (Coauthor: Senator Correa)

                        FEBRUARY 21, 2012

   An act to add Sections 951.5 and 955 to the Military and Veterans
Code, relating to veteran interment.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1806, as amended, Cook. Veteran interment: veterans' remains
organizations.
   Existing law authorizes a cemetery authority, cemetery corporation
or association, or other entity in possession of the cremated
remains of a veteran or dependent of a veteran to release the remains
to a veterans' remains organization, as defined, for interment after
specified conditions are met, including possession of the remains
for at least one year.
   This bill would require the public administrator of a county to
make every reasonable effort to determine if the unclaimed remains of
 an individual in the possession of the county coroner
  a decedent referred to the public administrator 
belong to a veteran or the dependent of a veteran. The bill would
require the public administrator to work with specified entities,
including the county veteran service officer, to determine if the
remains belong to a veteran or the dependent of a veteran. The bill
would require a county veteran service officer who determines that
unclaimed remains are those of a veteran or dependent of a veteran,
and that the remains meet the criteria for interment by a veterans'
remains organization to report specified information to the
Department of Veterans Affairs. This bill would require the
department to maintain a list of those unclaimed remains, and make
that list available to veterans' remains organizations by phone or in
person. By increasing the duties of counties, this bill would impose
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.  This act shall be known and may be cited as the Burial
with Honor Act of 2012.
  SEC. 2.  Section 951.5 is added to the Military and Veterans Code,
to read:
   951.5.  The public administrator of the county shall make every
reasonable effort to determine if the unclaimed remains of 
an individual in the possession of the county coroner  
a decedent referred to   the public administrator 
belong to a veteran or the dependent of a veteran. If there is reason
to believe that the remains belong to a veteran or the dependent of
a veteran, the public administrator shall work with the county
veteran service officer, a national veterans cemetery, the United
States Social Security Administration, the United States Department
of Veterans Affairs, or other applicable entity to determine if the
remains belong to a veteran or the dependent of a veteran.
  SEC. 3.  Section 955 is added to the Military and Veterans Code, to
read:
   955.  (a) (1) A county veteran service officer that determines,
pursuant to Section 951.5, that unclaimed remains are those of a
veteran or dependent of a veteran, and that the remains meet the
criteria for interment by a veterans' remains organization pursuant
to Section 952, shall report the following information to the
Department of Veterans Affairs:
   (A) The name, rank, and branch of service of the deceased or, if
the deceased is the dependent of a veteran, the name of the deceased
and the name, rank, and branch of service of the eligible veteran.
   (B) Dates of service.
   (C) Location of the remains and a telephone number and name for
the contact at that location.
   (2) If, pursuant to Section 951.5, the public administrator of a
county determines, without the involvement of the county veteran
service officer, that the remains belong to a veteran or dependent of
a veteran, the public administrator shall report this information to
the county veteran service officer. Following this report, the
county veteran service officer shall follow the reporting procedures
described in paragraph (1).
   (b) The Department of Veterans Affairs shall create and maintain a
list of veterans and dependents of veterans whose remains are
reported pursuant to subdivision (a). This list shall be available to
the representatives of veterans' remains organizations by telephone
or in person.
  SEC. 4.  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.