BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                      



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          |SENATE RULES COMMITTEE            |                    SB 10|
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                                 THIRD READING


          Bill No:  SB 10
          Author:   Evans (D), et al 
          Amended:  4/25/11
          Vote:     27 - Urgency

           
           SENATE VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE  : 8-0, 4/12/11
          AYES: Correa, Cannella, Berryhill, Calderon, Negrete 
            McLeod, Rubio, Runner, Lieu

           SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE  : 28.8


           SUBJECT  :    Military and veterans: Veterans' Home Allied 
          Council

           SOURCE  :       Veterans Home Allied Council (Sponsor)


           DIGEST  :    This bill allows the Allied Council at one of 
          the California Veterans Homes to represent veterans from 
          those homes in front of the legislature.


           ANALYSIS  :    Existing law establishes the Veterans' Home 
          Allied Council  pursuant to the constitution of the Allied 
          Council, Veterans' Home of California, comprised of members 
          of the home - as an advisory body to the Administrator of 
          the Veterans' Home.



           This bill
                                                           CONTINUED





                                                                SB 10
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          2


              1.   Allows respective Allied Councils for California's 
               veterans' homes to represent their homes in front of 
               the legislature.

             2.   Requires any representation before the legislature 
               by the council to be approved by a majority of the 
               council's voting members.

             3.   Prohibits any council representation on behalf of 
               candidates or campaigns.

             4.   Requires any actions before the legislature to be 
               in line with the council's "constitution, bylaws, and 
               policies and procedures."

             5.   Code cleanup of MVC section 1050.


           Comments

           According to the author's office, "Veterans feel that 
          better communication with the California Department of 
          Veterans Affairs (CDVA) is possible and necessary and that 
          in order to negotiate on their behalf, the Allied Council 
          must have clear authority to speak for Home members?.SB 10 
          would permit the Veterans' Home Allied Council to represent 
          veterans who reside in the Home in matters before the 
          legislature."


          Veterans from the home maintain that due to the severe 
          conditions of some residents and/or the advanced age of 
          others that many-especially at the Yountville home, which 
          has several levels of care-are unable to have their voices 
          heard, and the only way to remedy this situation is to 
          allow the council to speak for residents as a body.  
          According to the author's office, "Veterans feel that 
          better communication with CDVA is possible and necessary 
          and that in order to negotiate on their behalf, the Allied 
          Council must have clear authority to speak for Home 
          members."
           
           







                                                                 SB 10
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          3

           FISCAL EFFECT  :    Appropriation:  No   Fiscal Com.:  Yes   
          Local:  No

           SUPPORT  :   (5/2/11)

          Veterans' Home Allied Council (Sponsor)

           OPPOSITION  :   (5/2/11)

          California State Commanders Veterans Council 


          RM:rm  4/8/2011   Senate Floor Analyses 

                         SUPPORT/OPPOSITION:  SEE ABOVE

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