CHAPTER _______

An act to add Section 713 to the Military and Veterans Code, relating to veterans.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 585, Fox. Department of Veterans Affairs: use of real property.

Under existing law, the Department of Veterans Affairs has specified powers and duties relating to various programs serving veterans. The department constitutes a public corporation that is authorized to hold property on behalf of the state.

This bill would require the department, by July 1, 2016, to create a prioritized list of unused or underutilized nonresidential real property owned by the department, and to propose one or more potential uses that will benefit California veterans, as specified. The bill would require the department to consider its inventory of properties as an integrated system, and to address how prospective uses of the properties could complement each other. This bill would include a legislative finding and declaration that after a use option for a given location is identified pursuant to the bill’s provisions, further study and evaluation may be necessary in order to determine the feasibility of that use option and take steps toward its implementation.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.  

Section 713 is added to the Military and Veterans Code, to read:

713.  

(a) By July 1, 2016, the department shall do both of the following:

(1) Create a list of unused or underutilized nonresidential real property owned by the department, including property on or near the premises of existing department facilities.

(2) Propose one or more potential uses of those properties that will benefit California veterans and make a preferred recommendation for use of each property, and in doing so, consider uses including, but not limited to, the following services for veterans:

(A) Housing.

(B) Supportive services.

(C) Health care and mental health care.

(b) When identifying the unused or underutilized nonresidential real properties, the department shall consider its inventory of properties as an integrated system, and shall address how prospective uses of the properties could complement each other.

(c) The list of options shall be structured as a prioritized list of projects determined by the department to constitute appropriate uses for the properties identified in the plan.

(d) The Legislature finds and declares that after a use option for a given location is identified pursuant to this section, further study and evaluation may be necessary in order to fully determine the feasibility of that use option and take steps toward its implementation.

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