BILL ANALYSIS Ó SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS LOU CORREA, CHAIRMAN Bill No: AB 2548 Author: Mitchell Version: As amended April 11, 2012 Hearing Date: June 12, 2012 Fiscal: Yes Consultant: Donald E. Wilson REVISED ANALYSIS SUBJECT OF BILL California Veterans Board PROPOSED LAW 1. Make a seat on the veterans' board specific to issues facing female veterans. EXISTING LAW AND BACKGROUND 1. In 1946 the legislature created the Veterans' Board to set the policies of CDVA. 2. Members of the board are required to be veterans. 3. The Veterans' Board is to set the policy of the department according the Military and Veterans' Code (MVC) section 72. "The California Veterans' Board shall determine the policies for all operations of the department." 4. The structure of the board within the department allows for veterans with knowledge of veterans issues to set policy rather than bureaucrats who may or may not be aware of issues affecting veterans. 5. Assembly Bill 2933 of 2000 (Assembly Veterans' Affairs Committee) created MVC Code 66.5 and required that one of the seats on the board was to be filled by an individual with expertise in real estate mortgages and another seat to be filled by an individual with expertise in senior health care. 6. Senate Bill 1858 of 2002 (Knight) amended MVC Code 66.5 and required one seat to be filled by an individual with an accounting or auditing background. 7. In 2004 the governor attempted to consolidate power within the executive branch by abolishing the Veterans' Board as part of the California Performance Review (CPR) proposal. The proposal would have eliminated much of the State Senate's oversight through its confirmation of appointees. 8. This committee authored SB 1387 in 2011 to add an expertise in hospital administration to the board considering that CDVA will soon administer an eight-home system. SB 1387 is currently in Assembly Appropriations Committee. COMMENT 1. The California Department of Veterans Affairs (CDVA) is one of the few departments set up to be run by the people who are most affected by its decisions. CDVA was set up to be run by veterans for veterans. This bill seeks add a seat on the veterans board that will be able to address the issues faced by female veterans when CDVA makes policy decisions. SUPPORT American Legion, Department of California AMVETS, Department of California California Association of County Veterans Service Officers California State Commanders Veterans Council Vietnam Veterans of America, California State Council OPPOSE None received Page 2 Page 3