BILL ANALYSIS Ó
Bill No: AB
960
SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION
Senator Roderick D. Wright, Chair
2013-2014 Regular Session
Staff Analysis
AB 960 Author: Campos
As Amended: May 23, 2013
Hearing Date: June 25, 2013
Consultant: Paul Donahue
SUBJECT
State government: Commission on the Status of Women and
Girls
DESCRIPTION
Requires one of the seven public members appointed by the
Governor to serve on the Commission on the Status of Women
and Girls (Commission) to be a veteran or a member of the
military.
EXISTING LAW
Existing law establishes the Commission on the Status of
Women and Girls. The Commission consists of 17 members,
appointed as follows:
1)Three Members of the Senate and one public member
appointed by the Senate Rules Committee.
2)Three Members of the Assembly and one public member
appointed by the Speaker.
3)One public member appointed by the Superintendent of
Public Instruction, and the Chief of the Division of
Industrial Welfare in the Department of Industrial
Relations.
4)Seven public members appointed by the Governor, with the
AB 960 (Campos) continued
Page 2
consent of the Senate.
BACKGROUND
Purpose : According to the author, AB 960 helps to ensure
the Commission on the Status of Women and Girls fulfills
its newly expanded mission by requiring that one of the
seven public members appointed by the Governor be a veteran
or a member of the military. The Commission was created in
1977 to study general problems, needs and opportunities for
women and to advise local women organizations in addressing
issues facing women. Last year, SB 1038 (Ch. 46 Statutes of
2012) reformulated the Commission to become a center of
information on seven specific issues affecting women and
girls. One policy issue is "the examination of laws and
conditions that impose limitations to opportunities for
women? in the military, women veterans and military
families." A Commissioner with military background would be
invaluable as the Commission strives to meet its newly
stated mission.
There are nearly 167,000 women veterans living in
California making up 8% of California's total 2.1 million
veteran population. By 2020, the percentage of female
veterans is expected to increase by almost 30%. Women of
color make up almost 40% of California women veterans. The
unique challenges facing a woman veteran runs the gamut
from higher homelessness and unemployment to the effects of
military sexual trauma (MST). AB 960 ensures that the
soldier's perspective and specific issues affecting women
veterans will have a voice on the Commission on the Status
of Women and Girls.
PRIOR/RELATED LEGISLATION
SB 1038 (Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review), Chapter
46, Statutes of 2012. This budget trailer bill altered the
enabling statutes for the Commission on the Status of Women
and Girls.
SB 1345 (Evans), 2011-2012 Session. Would have revised the
enabling statutes of the Commission by authorizing it to
study additional topics relevant to women. Furthermore, it
authorized the Commission to review the effect that the
state budget has on women and children. (Held in Assembly
Appropriations Committee)
AB 960 (Campos) continued
Page 3
SUPPORT:
American Federation of State, County and Municipal
Employees (AFSCME)
American Legion, Department of California
AMVETS - Department of California
California Association of County Veteran Service Officers
California Federation of Teachers
California State Commanders Veterans Council
VFW - Department of California
Vietnam Veterans of America - California State Council
OPPOSE:
None on file
FISCAL COMMITTEE: Senate Appropriations Committee
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