BILL ANALYSIS Ó SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS Senator Ben Hueso, Chair BILL NO: AB 258 HEARING DATE: 6/11/13 AUTHOR: Chavez VERSION: 4/23/13 FISCAL: Yes VOTE: Majority SUBJECT State agencies: procedures for inquiring about veteran status DESCRIPTION Summary : Changes the wording used when state agencies ask persons, with whom they are interacting, about their military or veteran status. Existing law: Does not specify any specific language for this kind of inquiry. This bill: 1. Mandates that every state agency that inquires whether a person is a veteran must request that information only in the following format: "Have you ever served in the United States military?" 2. Specifies that this section shall apply only to a written form or written publication that is newly printed on or after July 1, 2014. BACKGROUND In 2011, the most recent data available from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA), California veterans received an average compensation and pension amount of $1,929. This was less than the national average of $2,104. Increasing the participation rate for California veterans would benefit the veterans and the economy of the state. According to the author, when residents are asked if they are a veteran many will incorrectly answer in the negative. The problem seems to be that the term "veteran" often has connotative meanings can that restrict its practical application. In the minds of many, "veteran" refers to older men, who served in the military during World War Two, Korea or Vietnam, wearing an American Legion or VFW uniform cap - and not to younger persons, particularly women, who have served in the military in the last two decades, or who may not have served in combat. Many younger and/or female veterans more readily self-identify as "prior military" or a similar term. COMMENT Author comments : "Currently California residents are simply asked, "Are you a veteran?" Although a very simple question, many veterans believe they are not true veterans because they have never served in combat or, most commonly, because they are women. In 2011 the California Research Bureau [CRB] conducted a survey on women, 63 of the 843 respondents (7.4%), marked that they were not a veteran then included comments such as, "I served in the Air Force," additionally the women stated "I thought veteran benefits were only for men." "Furthermore, when the CRB held the ICV (Interagency Council on Veterans) meetings in December 2011, and Jan. and Feb. 2012 both women in the services repeatedly stated that the, "Are you a veteran?" question was insufficient for identifying female veterans and men who had not served in combat. "Veterans who do not identify themselves can lose out on many Federal Benefits for which they are entitled. Such benefits include the GI Bill, disability compensation and pension, access AB 258 (Chavez) 2 to free or reduced cost medical care, vocational rehab, unemployment benefits, veteran home loans, burial benefits, and survivor benefits." POSITIONS Sponsor: Author Support: American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO (AFSCME) American Association of University Women (AAUW) - California. Housing California Oppose: None received Analysis by: Wade Cooper Teasdale AB 258 (Chavez) 3