BILL ANALYSIS Ó
Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
Senator Kevin de León, Chair
AB 2263 (Bradford) - Veteran Inmates
Amended: August 4, 2014 Policy Vote: VA 6-0 Pub Saf 5-0
Urgency: No Mandate: No
Hearing Date: August 4, 2014
Consultant: Maureen Ortiz
This bill meets the criteria for referral to the Suspense File.
Bill Summary: AB 2263 authorizes a veterans service advocate to
volunteer at each facility under the jurisdiction of the
Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) to assist
veteran inmates with securing specified benefits upon their
release.
Fiscal Impact:
Approximately $100,000 - $200,000 in administrative costs
to the Department of Veterans Affairs (General Fund)
Minor administrative costs to CDCR (General Fund)
The Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) indicates the need
for addition of 1-2 analysts associated with training and
assisting the advocates, and for monitoring the program.
Background: Existing federal law limits the benefits that a
veteran may receive while he or she is incarcerated for a
felony, but provides a 60-day grace period. However, an
incarcerated veteran is entitled to full benefits while on a
work-release program or while residing in a halfway house.
Existing state law requires the California Department of
Corrections and Rehabilitation to develop guidance policies
relative to the release of veterans who are inmates. The
policies are to be developed with the intent to assist veteran
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 due to
honorable military service.
AB 2263 (Bradford)
Page 1
Proposed Law: AB 2263 does the following:
1) Requires the advocate to develop a veterans economic
recidivism prevention plan during the 180 day period prior to an
inmate's release date. The plan will include the following:
a) Facilitate the access of each veteran inmate to county
veterans service officers, the USDVA, and the Department of
Veterans Affairs in order to pursue claims for federal
veterans' benefits.
b) Develop a plan for how an inmate who is a veteran will
earn benefits upon release.
2) Requires the CDCR to assist with the development and
execution of the veterans economic recidivism prevention plan by
facilitating access by the advocate to each inmate who is a
veteran.
3) Provides that access to inmates will be subject to
department screening and clearance guidelines and training
requirements that are imposed on other visitors and volunteers.
4) Allows advocates access to inmates to the extent it does not
pose a threat to the security or safety of the facility, or to
inmates and staff.
5) Allows the advocate access to the facility resources such as
computers and Internet access.
6) Requires the advocate to coordinate with the USDVA in order
to provide each inmate who is a veteran with access to earned
veterans' benefits.
7) Requires the advocate to coordinate with CalVet 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 veterans economic recidivism
prevention plan.
AB 2263 defines "advocate" as a veterans service organization
that is federally certified and has volunteered to serve as a
veterans service advocate.
AB 2263 (Bradford)
Page 2
Staff Comments: This bill is intended to streamline the process
for facilitating inmates who are veterans to receive access to
benefits as soon as they are released.