BILL NUMBER: AB 2490	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 25, 2012

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Butler

                        FEBRUARY 24, 2012

   An act to add Article 6 (commencing with Section 2695) to Chapter
4 of Title 1 of Part 3 to the Penal Code, relating to veterans.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2490, as amended, Butler.  Veterans service officers:
correctional facilities.   Veterans: correctional
counselors. 
   Existing law establishes the Department of Veterans Affairs, which
is responsible for administering various programs and services for
the benefit of veterans. Existing law also authorizes each county
board of supervisors to appoint a county veterans service officer to
perform specified veterans-related services, including assisting
veterans in pursuing claims for federal or state veterans' benefits.

   Existing law authorizes the Department of Corrections and
Rehabilitation to employ correctional counselors. Existing law
provides that correctional officers are peace officers, as specified.

   This bill would require  a parole agent to be appointed as
a veterans service officer   that  at  any
facility   every state prison  that is under the
jurisdiction of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation 
a correctional counselor shall be responsible for  
assisting veterans who are inmates in pursuing claims for federal
veterans' benefits, or in establishing rights to any other privilege,
preference, care, or compensation provided under federal or state
law because of honorable service in the military  .  The
veterans service officer would be responsible for assisting veterans
who are inmates in pursuing claims for veterans' benefits, as
specified.  The bill would require the  veterans
service officer   assigned correctional counselor 
to coordinate with  the United States Department of Veterans
Affairs,  the Department of Veterans Affairs  ,
 and county veterans service officers , as specified
  or veterans service organizations in the county in
which the prison is located for advice and assistance  .
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  It is the intent of the Legislature to help inmates who
have served in the military to access federal and state veterans'
benefits earned from military service so that inmates who have served
in the military are better equipped to successfully reintegrate into
the community, thereby reducing costs to the state.
  SEC. 2.  Article 6 (commencing with Section 2695) is added to
Chapter 4 of Title 1 of Part 3 of the Penal Code, to read:

      Article 6.  Veterans  Service Officers  
In State Prisons 


   2695.  At  any facility   every state prison
 that is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Corrections
and Rehabilitation,  there   a correctional
counselor  shall be  a parole agent who shall be
appointed as a veterans service officer   responsible
for assisting veterans who are   inmates in pursuing claims
for federal   veterans' benefits, or in establishing rights
to any other privilege, preference, care, or compensation provided
under federal or state law because of honorable service in the
military. The assigned correctional counselor shall coordinate with
the Department of Veterans Affairs and the county veterans service
officer or veterans service organizations, or both, in the county in
which the prison   is located for advice and assistance
 . 
   2695.1.  The veterans service officer shall be responsible for
assisting veterans who are inmates in pursuing claims for federal
veterans' benefits, or in establishing rights to any other privilege,
preference, care, or compensation provided under federal or state
law because of honorable service in the military. The veterans
service officer shall be authorized to appoint inmates who have
served in the military to assist with these responsibilities.
 
   2695.3.  The veterans service officer shall coordinate with the
United States Department of Veterans Affairs in order to best access
earned veterans' benefits.  
   2695.4.  The veterans service officer shall coordinate with the
Department of Veterans Affairs and the county veterans service
officer in the county in which the facility is located for advice,
assistance, and training, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the
program.