BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 717 Page 1 CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS AB 717 (Chávez) As Amended September 5, 2013 Majority vote ----------------------------------------------------------------- |ASSEMBLY: |75-0 |(May 9, 2013) |SENATE: |38-0 |(September 12, | | | | | | |2013) | ----------------------------------------------------------------- Original Committee Reference: V.A. SUMMARY : Changes the role and composition of the California Veterans Board (Board), requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) to respond to the Board as specified. The Senate Amendments: 1)Clarify that the Board shall advise CalVet and the CalVet Secretary on policies for operations of CalVet. 2)Require CalVet to respond to all proposed policy changes offered by the Board prior to the next scheduled meeting of the Board. FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations Committee, pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8, negligible state costs. The Senate Appropriations committee did not hear this bill based on Senate Rule 28.8. (Any additional state costs are not significant and do not and will not require the appropriation of additional state funds and the bill will cause no significant reduction in revenues.) COMMENTS : The Senate amendments clarify and slightly expand upon the Assembly version of the bill. The Assembly version stated that the Board would serve as an advisory body to the CalVet Secretary. The Senate amendments clarify and expand the Board's role; the Board shall advise both CalVet and the CalVet Secretary on policies for CalVet operations. The Senate amendments also expand the Assembly version to include a requirement that CalVet must respond to all proposed policy changes offered by the Board prior to the next scheduled meeting of the Board. The Senate Amendments are consistent with the AB 717 Page 2 Assembly actions. Analysis Prepared by : John Spangler / V.A. / (916) 319-3550 FN: 0002619