BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 1509 Page 1 CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS AB 1509 (Fox) As Amended August 19, 2014 Majority vote ----------------------------------------------------------------- |ASSEMBLY: |64-5 |(May 28, 2014) |SENATE: |36-0 |(August 21, | | | | | | |2014) | ----------------------------------------------------------------- Original Committee Reference: V.A. SUMMARY : Requires, by July 1, 2015, the Department of Veterans Affairs to develop a California transition assistance program (CalTAP) for veterans who have been discharged from the Armed Forces of the United States or the National Guard of any state as specified. The Senate amendments are mostly technical in nature. The amendments move the intent language previously to be included in the code into the findings and declarations section and add language declaring the further intent of the Legislature that the Department of Veterans Affairs utilize the work and research produced by the California Interagency Council on Veterans Employment (ICV) CaLTAP Sub-Workgroup. EXISTING LAW : The Federal Transition Goals, Plans and Successes (TGPS) program, formerly known as TAP, was established to offer job search assistance and other related services to separating members of the military during their transition into civilian life. TGPS is comprised of a partnership among the Federal Departments of Labor, Defense, Homeland Security, and Veterans Affairs. With this partnership, separating service members and their eligible spouses receive employment and training information within one year prior to separation or two years prior to retirement from the military. FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations Committee, approximately $200,000 in one-time costs to develop the program (General Fund). The Department of Veterans Affairs indicates the need for two limited term analysts (Associate Governmental Program Analysts) for development of the program. Actual implementation costs are unknown at this time and will be determined after the plan is completed. AB 1509 Page 2 COMMENTS : According to the author: Service members of the armed forces participating in the TGPS attend comprehensive three-day workshops at selected military installations worldwide (the makeup and form of the workshops vary by service type). However, the curriculum for these workshops is entirely maintained by the federal government, leaving little to no state specific employment, education, business and other career choices information. Work to create a Cal TAP has already started. Created by Governor Jerry Brown on August 23, 2011 through Executive Order B-09-11, the California Interagency Council on Veterans (ICV) works to "identify and prioritize the needs of California's veterans, and to coordinate the activities at all levels of government in addressing those needs." Within the ICV, one priority of the ICV Employment CalTAP Sub-workgroup is to "provide a post military transitional assistance program for veterans returning to California." AB 1509 creates a vehicle for the ICV workgroup to fully implement its number one priority. TGPS is an improvement on the previous federal TAP. However, in some respects it still falls short: 1)TGPS is implemented by a federal contractor which controls the curriculum. The ability of the State of California to bring in California-specific information to TGPS is severely limited. CalTAP would focus on California-specific information. 2)Servicemembers receive TAP in the state where they discharge, thus, to the extent there is any state-specific information included in the version of TGPS they experience, it is for the state of discharge, not the state of servicemembers residence after discharge. CalTAP would, of course be given in California to any veteran, regardless of where he or she discharged from the military. 3)Finally, one of the criticisms of TAP was that servicemembers may need some time after leaving the military in order be ready to make their post-military plans. As was TAP, TGPS is AB 1509 Page 3 available to servicemembers only prior to their separation or discharge from military service. CalTAP would be available to veterans after discharge, at a time of the veteran's choosing. This bill only requires the department to develop a program, and, as noted by the fiscal analysis, funding program implementation would be the subject of further analysis and legislative action. Analysis Prepared by : John J. Spangler / V. A. / (916) 319-3550 FN: 0005335