BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 2198
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 2198 (Nielsen)
As Amended May 10, 2012
Majority Vote
Veterans Affairs 8-0 APPROPRIATIONS 16-0
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|Ayes:|Pan, Atkins, Block, |Ayes:|Fuentes, Blumenfield, |
| |Gorell, Nielsen, V. | |Bradford, Charles |
| |Manuel Pérez, Williams, | |Calderon, Campos, Davis, |
| |Yamada | |Donnelly, Gatto, Hall, |
| | | |Hill, Lara, Mitchell, |
| | | |Nielsen, Norby, Solorio, |
| | | |Wagner |
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SUMMARY : The Department of Veterans Affairs (Department) is
required to submit an annual report on the activity of County
Veteran Service Officers (CVSO). Specifically, this bill :
1)Changes the reporting requirement to include:
a) The number of veterans and their family members who have
contacted or utilized the services of the county veterans
service offices during the fiscal year;
b) The number of claims filed to achieve benefits such as
pension, disability compensation, and healthcare on behalf
of veterans and their dependents; and,
c) The annualized monetary value of benefits received by
veterans and their dependents as a result of county
veterans service office's efforts, broken down by type of
benefit.
d) The report will also contain a summary of other services
provided by county veterans service offices and special
events and activities in which county veterans service
offices participated; such as veterans outreach events,
homeless veteran "Stand Downs," and job fairs for veterans.
2)Extends the January 1 due date to March 1.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
AB 2198
Page 2
Committee, negligible state costs.
COMMENTS : The annual report on the activities of CVSOs is
currently due on January 1. At that time the Legislature is not
in session, and according to the author, the impact of the
report is diminished as a result of the absence of the
Legislature. It is the author's belief that by changing the due
date of the report from January 1 to March 1, there will be a
chance for the actions of the CVSOs to be brought to the
attention of the members of the Legislature.
The information presently requested in the report is focused on
funding and the benefit payments being obtained by the CVSOs.
According to the author, the report does not give the full
picture on the actions of CVSOs and the amount of work they
actually do. For example, the total number of claims filed by
CVSOs is not reported. A CVSO may make multiple claims for one
veteran, but rather than demonstrating the amount of work the
report only displays the amount of money that veteran will be
receiving.
According to the author the CVSOs now use a system which makes
it easier for them to compile useful information for the report,
which is being requested in this bill.
Analysis Prepared by : Jenny Callison / V. A. / (916) 319-3550
FN: 0003574