Amended in Senate August 4, 2014

Amended in Assembly May 23, 2014

Amended in Assembly April 22, 2014

California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly BillNo. 2263


Introduced by Assembly Member Bradford

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(Coauthor: Senator Mitchell)

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February 21, 2014


An act to add Sections 2695.1, 2695.2, 2695.3, 2695.4, and 2695.5 to the Penal Code, relating to veterans.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 2263, as amended, Bradford. Veterans service advocate: 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 authorize a veterans service organization to volunteer to serve as a veterans service advocate at each facility that is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The advocate would bebegin delete responsible for developingend deletebegin insert authorized to developend insert a veterans economic recidivism prevention planbegin insert for each inmate who is a veteranend insert. The bill would require, in order to assist with the development and execution of that plan, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to, among other things, provide the advocate with access, subject to restrictions, to inmates who are veterans and to existing resources, as specified, that would assist the advocate in implementing the veterans economic recidivism prevention plan. The bill would require the advocate to coordinate with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and county veterans service officers, as specified. The bill would define “advocate” and “veteran” for these purposes, and would include a related statement of legislative intent.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

P2    1

SECTION 1.  

It is the intent of the Legislature to helpbegin insert male and
2femaleend insert
inmates who have served in the military to access federal
3and state veterans’ benefits earned from military service so that
4those inmates are better equipped to successfully reintegrate into
5the community, thereby reducing costs to the state.

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SEC. 2.  

Section 2695.1 is added to the Penal Code, to read:

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2695.1.  

At each facility that is under the jurisdiction of the
8Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, a veterans service
9organization may volunteer to serve as a veterans service advocate.

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SEC. 3.  

Section 2695.2 is added to the Penal Code, to read:

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2695.2.  

(a) The advocate shall be begin delete responsible for developingend delete
12begin insert authorized to developend insert a veterans economic recidivism prevention
13planbegin delete within 180 days prior to anend deletebegin insert for each inmate who is a veteran
14during the 180-day period preceding theend insert
inmate’s release date.

P3    1(b) The veterans economic recidivism prevention planbegin insert for each
2inmate who is a veteranend insert
shall include, but not be limited to, the
3following:

4(1) Facilitating access ofbegin delete each inmate who is a veteranend deletebegin insert the inmateend insert
5 to county veterans service officers, California Department of
6Veterans Affairs and United States Department of Veterans Affairs
7officers and personnel, so that the inmate may pursue claims for
8federal veterans’ benefits or any other privilege, preference, care,
9or compensation provided under federal or state law because of
10the inmate’s service in the military.

11(2) Developing a plan for howbegin delete an inmate who is a veteranend deletebegin insert the
12inmateend insert
will access earned veterans’ benefits that he or she may be
13eligible for upon the inmate’s release.

14(c) In order to assist with the development and execution of the
15veterans economic recidivism prevention plan, the Department of
16Corrections and Rehabilitation shall do both of the following:

17(1) (A) Facilitate access by the advocate to each inmate who
18is a veteran.

19(B) Access by the advocate is subject to those department
20screening and clearance guidelines and training requirements that
21are imposed on other visitors and volunteers.

22(C) Access by the advocate shall be allowed to the extent it does
23not pose a threat to the security or safety of the facility, or to
24inmates and staff.

25(2) Provide the advocate with access to existing resources,
26including, but not limited to, computer and Internet access, that
27would assist the advocate in implementing the veterans economic
28recidivism prevention plan, to the extent it does not pose a threat
29to the security or safety of the facility, or to inmates and staff.

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30(d) A copy of the veterans economic recidivism prevention plan
31shall be provided to the inmate prior to the inmate’s release.

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32

SEC. 4.  

Section 2695.3 is added to the Penal Code, to read:

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2695.3.  

The advocate shall coordinate with the United States
34Department of Veterans Affairs in order to provide each inmate
35who is a veteran with access to earned veterans’ benefits.

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SEC. 5.  

Section 2695.4 is added to the Penal Code, to read:

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2695.4.  

The advocate shall coordinate with the California
38Department of Veterans Affairs and the county veterans service
39officer in the county in which the facility is located for advice,
P4    1assistance, and training, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the
2veterans economic recidivism prevention plan.

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SEC. 6.  

Section 2695.5 is added to the Penal Code, to read:

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2695.5.  

For purposes of this article, the following definitions
5shall apply:

6(a) “Advocate” means a veterans service organization that is
7federally certified and has volunteered to serve as a veterans service
8advocate pursuant to thisbegin delete title.end deletebegin insert article.end insert

9(b) “Veteran” means a person who has been discharged from
10the United States Army, United States Navy, United States Air
11Force, United States Marine Corps, United States Coast Guard,
12the Merchant Marine, or the American Red Cross.



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