BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó




                   Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
                           Senator Christine Kehoe, Chair


          SB 1198 (Calderon) - Department of Veterans Affairs
          
          Amended: As Introduced          Policy Vote: VA 7-0
          Urgency: No                     Mandate: No
          Hearing Date: April 30, 2012                           
          Consultant: Maureen Ortiz       
          
          This bill meets the criteria for referral to the Suspense File.


          Bill Summary: SB 1198 requires the California Department of 
          Veterans Affairs (CDVA) to publicize information relating to the 
          federal and state benefits that are available to homeless 
          veterans.  The bill requires CDVA to use printed material, its 
          Internet Web site, and other forms of media to distribute 
          information about available programs. 

          Fiscal Impact: Unknown, likely in excess of $150,000 annually 
          General Fund.
              Printed materials are estimated at $40,000-$50,000.
              Using other media such as television and radio PSA's could 
              exceed $1 million.

          Background: Many state and federal benefits are currently 
          available to homeless veterans, and SB 1198 specifically 
          requires the CDVA to publicize the availability of those 
          programs including the following:

             a)   Veterans pension programs administered by the United 
               States Department of Veterans Affairs including benefits 
               for veterans who are 65 years of age or older, or are 
               permanently and totally disabled.

             b)   The Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing voucher program 
               (Public Law 110-161) and any programs that assist homeless 
               veterans in securing rental housing.

             c)   The CalFresh program which is federally funded and 
               administered by the State Department of Social Services. 

          Proposed Law: SB 1198 requires the CDVA to publicize information 
          pertaining to benefits that are available to veterans by using 








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          all of the following methods:

             a)   Printed material including flyers and posters that can 
               be provided to county veterans service offices, homeless 
               shelters, Veterans Affairs hospitals, and other public and 
               private entities that are in contact with homeless 
               veterans.
             b)   Posted on the department's Internet Web site.
             c)   Any other media under which promotional material or 
               information is currently distributed regarding the 
               Veterans' Farm and Home Purchase Act.
             d)   Any other method that the department determines would 
               publicize and create awareness to homeless veterans about 
               the benefit programs available to them.

          SB 1198 requires the department to publicize information that 
          veterans who are not eligible for loans under the CalVet Home 
          Loan Program may be eligible for housing assistance under the 
          Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Voucher Program.  In 
          addition, SB 1198 requires the information to inform veterans 
          about how they can receive assistance from a county veterans 
          service office in obtaining these benefits.

          Staff Comments: Currently, on the Department of Veterans Affairs 
          Internet Web site is a CalVet Newsletter for April 2012.  Within 
          this newsletter are several articles regarding various programs 
          that currently exist for veterans as follows:

             1)   An article promoting Veteran Homes,

             2)   Information regarding a program called Freedom Dogs, a 
               nonprofit organization located in San Diego that pairs 
               wounded warriors with specialty service dogs, 

             3)   Information relating to the health of women veterans, 

             4)   The Dependency and Indemnity Compensation program which 
               provides a monthly benefit to surviving spouses and 
               dependent children of service members who die as a result 
               of active military service,










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             5)   The availability of veterans cemeteries,

             6)   Courses for veterans and their families who are 
               struggling with Post Traumatic Stress Disease,

             7)   Telehealth technology information which will help 
               veteran patients connect with health care providers,

             8)   The Iraq Star Foundation which provides free aesthetic 
               surgery for soldiers wounded in the Iraq and/or Afghanistan 
               wars,

             9)    Free swim programs for injured veterans at CSU, San 
               Bernardino, as well as information on several other topics 
               including mortgage foreclosures, marriage retreats for 
               returning veterans, sleep disorders, educational benefits, 
               and the Heroes Work Here program which provides jobs for 
               veterans through the Walt Disney Company.