BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 151
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Date of Hearing: April 3, 2013
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT
K.H. "Katcho" Achadjian, Chair
AB 151 (Olsen) - As Introduced: January 18, 2013
SUBJECT : Local government: fee waiver: disabled veterans.
SUMMARY : Allows a governing board of any county or city to
grant financial assistance, relief, and support to disabled
veterans by reducing or waiving specified fees for modifying a
dwelling for the purpose of making the dwelling more accessible.
Specifically, this bill :
1)Allows a governing board of any county or city to grant
financial assistance, relief, and support to disabled veterans
by reducing or waiving building inspection or permit fees
charged by the county or city for the modification of a
dwelling owned by a disabled veteran for the purpose of making
the dwelling more accessible.
2)Requires the governing body to use its general fund or other
appropriate revenue source to compensate for the difference
between a fee reduced or waived pursuant to the bill's
provisions and the fee that would otherwise be charged.
3)Uses the same definition for "disabled veteran" as existing
law, which is defined as "a veteran of the military, naval, or
air service of the United States, including, but not limited
to, the Philippine Commonwealth Army, the Regular Scouts, 'Old
Scouts,' and the Special Philippine Scouts, 'New Scouts,' who
has at least a 10-percent service-connected disability and who
is domiciled in the state."
EXISTING LAW :
1)Allows the board of supervisors of any county or the
legislative body of any city to grant financial assistance,
relief, and support to indigent veterans, and specifies that
such assistance, relief, and support shall be administered
through and by any military, naval, or marine organization
created for the purpose of aiding, relieving and supporting
such veterans.
2)Allows eligible veterans to hawk, peddle and vend any goods,
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wares or merchandise owned by him, as specified, without
payment of any business license, tax or fee by any
municipality, county or the state.
FISCAL EFFECT : None
COMMENTS :
1)This bill allows cities and counties to waive certain local
government fees for disabled veterans for the modification of
a dwelling owned by the disabled veteran for the purpose of
making the dwelling more accessible. According to the author,
"Each county is entitled to collect fees for home
modifications, improvements, and inspections. Many military
members who have returned home from active duty must retrofit
their homes in some fashion to accommodate disabilities and
other injuries sustained during service. The process is often
drawn out and expensive. This becomes a burden for those who
are trying to readjust to civilian life?Counties are able to
waive fees for low-income veterans, but would like to be able
to extend this service to disabled veterans."
2)The Committee may wish to consider whether this bill should
include a definition of the term "accessible" as is used in
the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to provide
clarification to cities and counties about the types of
modifications that could qualify for reduced or waived fees.
3)This bill contains provisions ensuring that the burden of any
reduced or waived fees is not placed on other fee payers, but
is borne by the city's or county's general fund or other
appropriate revenue source.
4)California offers several programs targeted to benefit the
needs of veterans. According to the California Department of
Veterans Affairs, there are programs in place that waive
college tuition fees for veterans' dependents at community
colleges, the CSU and UC system, a Disabled Veteran Business
Enterprise Program, and a program that gives veterans
preference in civil service examinations. Additionally, there
are programs that waive motor vehicle registration fees,
provide free "DV" handicap parking license plates for
qualified veterans, allow for reduced fishing and hunting
license fees for veterans, provide lifetime California Parks
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passes, and allow for a waiver of municipal, county and state
business license fees and taxes for veterans for specified
business activities. This bill could potentially add
additional benefits for those disabled veterans that wish to
modify their homes, if the county in which the disabled
veteran lives chooses to waive or reduce building inspection
or permit fees.
5)This bill is substantially similar to AB 1152 (Olsen) of 2012,
which passed this committee on a vote of 9-0 on March 21,
2012. AB 1152 was held in Senate Rules.
6)Support arguments : This bill sets up a program that is
permissive in nature and allows cities and counties to help
with the financial aspects of modifying and upgrading
dwellings owned by veterans.
Opposition arguments : While this bill is permissive and does
not require local governments to reduce or waive fees, there
is some question about whether legislation is needed to allow
local governments to waive or reduce fees.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
American Legion-Department of California
AMVETS-Department of California
AB 151
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California Association of County Veterans Service Officers
California State Association of Counties (CSAC)
California State Commanders Veterans Council
Rural County Representatives of California
VFW-Department of California
Vietnam Veterans of America-California State Council
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by : Angela Mapp / L. GOV. / (916) 319-3958