BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                  AB 258
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          Date of Hearing:   April 17, 2013

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                  Mike Gatto, Chair

                  AB 258 (Chavez) - As Introduced:  February 7, 2013

          Policy Committee:                              Veterans  
          AffairsVote: 9-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          No     Reimbursable:               

           SUMMARY  

          This bill requires every state agency that requests whether a  
          person is a veteran, on any written form or written publication,  
          or through a website, to request that information only with the  
          question: "Have you ever served in the military?"

          This requirement applies only to written forms printed on or  
          after January 1, 2014.

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Minor costs to for state agencies to change written materials  
          that inquire as to persons' veteran status. 

          Assuming the author's intent is to provide state agencies lead  
          time to affect these written changes, it may be preferable to  
          apply the change date to 2015 to give state agencies ample  
          opportunity to prepare.    

           COMMENTS  

           Rationale.  According to the author, it is not uncommon for  
          people to answer incorrectly when asked if they are a veteran.  
          Currently California residents are simply asked, "Are you a  
          veteran?" Although a simple question, some veterans believe they  
          are not actually veterans because they have never served in  
          combat or because they are women. 

          The author's concern is that veterans who do not identify  
          themselves as such can lose out on a series of veterans'  
          benefits. 








                                                                  AB 258
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           Analysis Prepared by  :    Geoff Long / APPR. / (916) 319-2081