BILL NUMBER: SB 663	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  JANUARY 4, 2012

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Correa

                        FEBRUARY 18, 2011

   An act to add Section  711 of   89.5 to 
the Military and Veterans Code, relating to veterans.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 663, as amended, Correa. Veterans:  transitional
housing.   Homeless Veterans Advocate. 
   Under existing law, the Department of Veterans Affairs has
specified powers and duties relating to various programs serving
veterans, including establishing housing projects. 
   This bill would require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to
appoint a Homeless Veterans Advocate. This bill would require the
Homeless Veterans Advocate to, among other things, act as an
ombudsman to address the needs and issues of the homeless veteran
community, including, but not limited to, issues of housing. This
bill would also, on or before December 31, 2013, and on or before
December 31 of each year thereafter, require the department to submit
a report, prepared by the Homeless Veterans Advocate, to the
Legislature on the state of, and recommendations for addressing,
homeless veterans issues, as specified.  
   This bill would authorize the Department of Veterans Affairs to
provide transitional housing for veterans, address the housing needs
of homeless veterans, or provide other assistance to homeless
veterans. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  no
  yes  . State-mandated local program: no.


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

   SECTION 1.    Section 89.5 is added to the  
Military and Veterans Code   , to read:  
   89.5.  (a) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall appoint a
Homeless Veterans Advocate, who shall report directly to the
Secretary.
   (b) The Homeless Veterans Advocate shall have all of the following
responsibilities:
   (1) Act as an ombudsman to address the needs and issues of the
homeless veteran community, including, but not limited to, mental
health, housing, and employment.
   (2) Work with federal, state, and local governments and local
organizations to provide congruent and coordinated services to
homeless veterans. This work may include locating federal, state, and
private grants or other available funding to support health fairs,
education, stand downs, transitional housing, clothing, and other
basic needs of homeless veterans.
   (3) Review other programs administered by the department's
Veterans Services Division that outreach to veterans. That review
shall include a determination of whether the Veterans Services
Division operates programs for homeless veterans and the extent to
which the department assists with the administration of these
programs in relation to addressing the homelessness among veterans.
   (4) Identify the federal disability benefits that qualifying
homeless veterans may obtain, any barriers homeless veterans may face
when applying for federal disability benefits, the services the
department offers to help veterans overcome such barriers, and the
methods used by the department to improve assistance to homeless
veterans.
   (5) Ensure that homeless veterans get connected to proper services
and assistance to meet their needs.
   (c) (1) Notwithstanding subdivision (b) of Section 10231.5 of the
Government Code, on or before December 31, 2013, and on or before
December 31 of each year thereafter, the Department of Veterans
Affairs shall submit a report, prepared by the Homeless Veterans
Advocate, to the Legislature on the state of, and recommendations for
addressing, homeless veterans issues. The report shall contain all
of the following:
   (A) A review of the goals and objectives in the department's
strategic plan, as relating to homeless veterans, to determine
whether the methods the department uses to plan, analyze, develop,
monitor, and implement the strategic plan adequately address the
issues and opportunities to improve homelessness among veterans.
   (B) A determination of the methods the department uses to identify
and serve homeless veterans, including interactions with other
entities that provide assistance to homeless veterans.
   (C) A determination of the number of homeless veterans in this
state and the number of those veterans who received benefits from
state or federal programs, including, but not limited to, the number
of homeless veterans in need of multifamily or transitional housing
and the number of those veterans who received benefits for those
needs.
   (2) The report required to be submitted under paragraph (1) shall
be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
 
  SECTION 1.    Section 711 is added to the Military
and Veterans Code, to read:
   711.  The Department of Veterans Affairs may provide transitional
housing for veterans, address the housing needs of homeless veterans,
or provide other assistance to homeless veterans.