BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 585
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Date of Hearing: January 14, 2014
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS
Al Muratsuchi, Chair
AB 585 (Fox) - As Amended: January 6, 2014
SUBJECT : Department of Veterans Affairs: use of real property.
SUMMARY : Pertains to a plan for utilization of real property
owned by the California Department of Veterans Affairs
(Department). Specifically, this bill , by January 1, 2015,
requires the Department to develop a master plan for the use of
unused or underutilized real property owned by the department,
for purposes that will benefit California veterans, as
specified, and to make a preferred recommendation for use of the
property.
EXISTING LAW : The Department 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. Existing Law
The Department's mission is to serve California's veterans and
their families. Under the Military and Veterans Code Section 694
CalVet is a public corporation and as part of fulfilling its
mission "may on behalf of the State hold property [?]."
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown at this time.
COMMENTS : According to the Author: "AB 585 ensures that veteran
property owned by the state become centers of veteran activity
and support services. Specifically, AB 585 requires the
California Department of Veteran Affairs (CalVet) to develop a
master plan for the use of unused or underutilized land owned by
the state department."
From the opening of the Yountville Veterans Home in 1884, the
California Veterans Home System has steadily grown and
flourished. CalVet now owns and operates eight veteran homes
throughout the state. According to CalVet:
Yountville - Located in the heart of Napa Valley, the
Veterans Home of California Yountville is a community of
and for veterans.
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Barstow - Located in the high desert of Southern
California, off interstate 15 and midway between Los
Angeles and Las Vegas and about an hour's drive from
Ontario Airport.
Chula Vista - Located on a 30-acre site off Telegraph
Canyon Road, adjacent to Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center
and located in coastal, urban Southern California.
Fresno - Located on 27 acres in the heart of the fertile
San Joaquin Valley near to the City of Fresno.
Lancaster - The William J. "Pete" Knight Veterans Home
of California-Lancaster is located in the high-desert area
of Southern California, just off the Antelope Valley
Freeway.
Redding - Located on 27 acres in the heart of the
Northern Sacramento Valley.
Ventura - Located near the gleaming California Pacific
Ocean coastline, about an hour's drive northwest of Los
Angeles, 35 miles south of Santa Barbara.
West Los Angeles - Located in the County of Los Angeles.
These veteran homes provide veterans rehabilitative,
residential, and medical care in a home-like environment.
In summary, from their modest beginnings as a single home, the
State Veterans Homes have grown into a state-wide system of
healthcare, housing, community, and support for thousands of our
veterans. The bill recognizes that what we have now is a system
and should be considered as such in the Department's long term
planning process.
Some of the homes are located on a very limited real property
footprint. However, some have substantial real property
appurtenant to them, owned by the Department. The Department
may or may not own some very limited amount real property not
contiguous with the Homes, and the Department owns real property
received in foreclosure or similar proceedings arising out of
its Farm and Home Loan program.
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The bill directs the Department to make a plan for utilization
of real property owned by it, property which is unused or
underutilized, to maximize its use for serving veterans. This
bill does not direct the Department to assign any particular
use(s) to particular properties. This bill recognizes that
"campus like" and clustered services/uses are efficient and
convenient for veterans. This bill promotes using property
already owned by the Department to the maximum practicable
extent to serve veterans, which is an efficient use of state
resources.
SUGGESTIONS FOR CLARIFCATION/AMENDMENT
1)Extend the deadline date so that it is not contemporaneous
with the potential effective date of this bill.
2)Specify that the Master Plan should consider the inventory of
real properties as a system, including how prospective uses at
these properties could complement one another and complement
existing community services/needs.
3)Clarify that residential real estate owned property in the
CalVet inventory is not included in the scope of this bill.
4)Clarify that the Master Plan should include a prioritized list
of projects/uses should any be found to be appropriate.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
American Legion, Department of California
AMVETS, Department of California
California Association of County Veterans Service Officer
California State Commanders Veterans Council
Military Officers Association of America, California Council of
Chapters
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of California
Vietnam Veterans of America, California State Council
Opposition
AB 585
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None on File.
Analysis Prepared by : John Spangler / V. A. / (916) 319-3550