BILL NUMBER: AB 2263	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 22, 2014

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Bradford

                        FEBRUARY 21, 2014

   An act to add  Article 7 (commencing with Section 2696) to
Chapter 4 of Title 1 of Part 3   Sections 2695.1,
2695.2, 2695.3, and 2695.4  to the Penal Code, relating to
veterans.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2263, as amended, Bradford. Veterans service  officers:
  ombudsman:  correctional facilities.
   Existing law establishes the Department of Veterans Affairs, which
is responsible for administering various programs and services for
the benefit of veterans  , and the Department of Corrections and
Rehabilitation to oversee the state prison system  . Existing
law also authorizes each county board of supervisors to appoint a
county veterans service officer to perform specified veterans-related
services, including assisting veterans in pursuing claims for
federal or state veterans' benefits.  Under existing law, the
Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is required to develop
guidance policies relative to the release of veterans who are inmates
with the intent to assist veterans who are inmates in  
pursuing claims for federal veterans' benefits, or in establishing
rights to any other privilege, preference, care, or compensation
provided under federal or state law because of honorable service in
the military. In developing those policies, the Department of
Corrections and Rehabilitation is authorized to coordinate with the
Department of Veterans Affairs and the county veterans service
officer or veterans service organizations. 
   This bill would require a  parole agent to be appointed
  staff member to serve  as a veterans service
 officer   ombudsman  at each facility that
is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Corrections and
Rehabilitation. The veterans service  officer  
ombudsman  would be responsible for assisting inmates who are
veterans in pursuing claims for veterans' benefits, as specified. The
bill would require the veterans service  officer 
 ombudsman  to coordinate with the United States Department
of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and county
veterans service officers, as specified.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  It is the intent of the Legislature to help inmates who
have served in the military to access federal and state veterans'
benefits earned from military service so that those inmates are
better equipped to successfully reintegrate into the community,
thereby reducing costs to the state. 
  SEC. 2.    Article 7 (commencing with Section
2696) is added to Chapter 4 of Title 1 of Part 3 of the Penal Code,
to read:

      Article 7.  Veterans Service Officers


   2696.  At each facility that is under the jurisdiction of the
Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, there shall be a parole
agent who is appointed as a veterans service officer. For purposes
of this article, "veterans service officer" means the parole agent
appointed pursuant to this section.
   2696.1.  The veterans service officer is responsible for assisting
inmates who are veterans in pursuing claims for federal veterans'
benefits, or in establishing rights to any other privilege,
preference, care, or compensation provided under federal or state law
because of honorable service in the military. The veterans service
officer is authorized to appoint inmates who have served in the
military to assist with these responsibilities.
   2696.2.  The veterans service officer shall coordinate with the
United States Department of Veterans Affairs in order to provide
inmates who are veterans with the most efficient access to earned
veterans' benefits.
   2696.3.  The veterans service officer shall coordinate with the
Department of Veterans Affairs and the county veterans service
officer in the county in which the facility is located for advice,
assistance, and training, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the
program. 
   SEC. 2.    Section 2695.1 is added to the  
Penal Code   , to read:  
   2695.1.  At each facility that is under the jurisdiction of the
Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, there shall be a staff
member who shall serve as a veterans service ombudsman. 
   SEC. 3.    Section 2695.2 is added to the  
Penal Code   , to read:  
   2695.2.  The ombudsman described in Section 2695.1 shall be
responsible for assisting inmates who are veterans, including, but
not limited to, facilitating access of inmates who are veterans to
county veterans service officers, United States Department of
Veterans Affairs and California Department of Veterans Affairs
officers and personnel, and facilitating access to the inmates who
are veterans by those officers and personnel, so that the inmates who
are veterans may pursue claims for federal veterans' benefits or any
other privilege, preference, care, or compensation provided under
federal or state law because of service in the military. 
   SEC. 4.    Section 2695.3 is added to the  
Penal Code   , to read:  
   2695.3.  The ombudsman described in Section 2695.1 shall
coordinate with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs in
order to provide inmates who are veterans with access to earned
veterans' benefits. 
   SEC. 5.    Section 2695.4 is added to the  
Penal Code   , to read:  
   2695.4.  The ombudsman described in Section 2695.1 shall
coordinate with the California Department of Veterans Affairs and the
county veterans service officer in the county in which the facility
is located for advice, assistance, and training, and to evaluate the
effectiveness of the program.