BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 2263 Page 1 CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS AB 2263 (Bradford) As Amended August 4, 2014 Majority vote ----------------------------------------------------------------- |ASSEMBLY: |77-0 |(May 29, 2014) |SENATE: |35-0 |(August 25, | | | | | | |2014) | ----------------------------------------------------------------- Original Committee Reference: V.A. SUMMARY : Authorizes a veterans service organization to volunteer to serve as a veterans service advocate (advocate) at each facility that is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). Authorizes advocates to perform certain functions to support incarcerated veterans. The Senate Amendments : 1)Authorize advocates to develop a veterans economic recidivism prevention plan (plan) for each inmate who is a veteran (inmate) during the 180-day period preceding the inmate's release date. 2)Mandate that the plan must include, but not be limited to, the following: a) Facilitating inmate access to county veterans service officers, California Department of Veterans Affairs (CDVA) and United States Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA) officers and personnel, so that the inmate may pursue claims for federal veterans' benefits or any other privilege, preference, care, or compensation provided under federal or state law because of the inmate's military service. b) Planning for the inmate's access to earned veterans' benefits. 3)Require CDCR to: a) Facilitate access by the advocate to each inmate who is a veteran. AB 2263 Page 2 i) Access by the advocate is subject to those department screening and clearance guidelines and training requirements that are imposed on other visitors and volunteers. ii) Access by the advocate shall be allowed to the extent it does not pose a threat to the security or safety of the facility, or to inmates and staff. b) Provide the advocate with access to existing resources, including, but not limited to, computer and Internet access, that would assist the advocate in implementing the veterans economic recidivism prevention plan, to the extent it does not pose a threat to the security or safety of the facility, or to inmates and staff. c) Provide an inmate a copy of the inmate's plan prior to the inmate's release. 1)Require advocates to coordinate with the USDVA in order to provide each inmate with access to earned veterans' benefits. 4)Require advocates to coordinate with the CDVA 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 plan. 5)Define "Advocate" to mean a veterans service organization that is federally certified and has volunteered to serve as a veterans service advocate as specified.\ 6)Define "Veteran" to mean a person who has been discharged from the United States Army, United States Navy, United States Air Force, United States Marine Corps, United States Coast Guard, the Merchant Marine, or the American Red Cross. FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations Committee: Approximately $100,000 - $200,000 in administrative costs to the Department of Veterans Affairs (General Fund) AB 2263 Page 3 Minor administrative costs to CDCR (General Fund) The [CDVA] indicates the need for addition of 1-2 analysts associated with training and assisting the advocates, and for monitoring the program. COMMENTS : According to the author: Recidivism rates among veterans continue to be an issue primarily for economic reasons. Currently the Department of Corrections has been doing a good job of trying to provide veteran inmates with information and forms to apply and receive VA benefits. However, the process for qualifying for VA benefits is often burdensome for even people with a four year college degree. One of the major problems is that facilities do not have a designated person responsible for assuring that veterans are able to have access to VA benefits upon release. Planning for release and for the implementation of whatever benefits incarcerated veterans might be eligible for upon their release would have a positive impact on recidivism. Some benefits, while not available to the incarcerated veteran, are available to the incarcerated veteran's family. As stated by the California Correctional Peace Officers Association, "The transition from inmate to parolee is a difficult one for everyone released from prison. To the extent that veterans are eligible for services from the federal government it will ease their transition and thereby reduce recidivism. In our view, the potential benefits of this measure will far exceed its costs." Analysis Prepared by : John Spangler / V.A. / (916) 319-3550 FN: 0005031