BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



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          ASSEMBLY THIRD READING


          ACR  
          36 (Gray)


          As Amended  August 17, 2015


          Majority vote


           ------------------------------------------------------------------ 
          |Committee       |Votes|Ayes                  |Noes                |
          |                |     |                      |                    |
          |                |     |                      |                    |
          |                |     |                      |                    |
          |----------------+-----+----------------------+--------------------|
          |Veterans        |6-0  |Irwin, Mathis, Brown, |                    |
          |Affairs         |     |Chávez, Frazier,      |                    |
          |                |     |Salas                 |                    |
          |                |     |                      |                    |
          |                |     |                      |                    |
           ------------------------------------------------------------------ 


          SUMMARY:  Recognizes the California Association of County  
          Veterans Service Officers for helping veterans secure their  
          federal and state benefits over the past 70 years.   
          Specifically, this resolution:  


          1)States that the Assembly and the Senate of the State of  
            California concur in commending the California Association of  
            County Veterans Service Officers (CACVSO) for 70 years of  
            service to California's veterans and their families through  
            the advancement of professionalism within its ranks and the  
            pursuit of advocacy across all levels of government so that  








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            veterans may receive the benefits to which they are entitled  
            by virtue of their military service to our country; 


          2)States that the Assembly and the Senate of the State of  
            California resolve that the CACVSO has maintained and nurtured  
            the high professional standards of California's county veteran  
            service officers (CVSOs) so that these veterans advocates can  
            fulfill the CACVSO's slogan of "Serving Those Who Served"; 


          3)States that the Assembly and the Senate of the State of  
            California further resolve that the Chief Clerk of the  
            Assembly shall transmit copies of this resolution to the  
            author for appropriate distribution.


          FISCAL EFFECT:  This resolution is keyed non-fiscal by the  
          Legislative Counsel.


          COMMENTS:  The California CVSOs proudly and expertly take on our  
          collective responsibility to care for and honor those who have  
          served in the defense of this Nation.  


          Without question the CVSOs are a critical resource and are  
          essential advocates for California veterans.  Though it is  
          theoretically possible for a veteran to self-educate and  
          advocate for benefits, the reality is that success requires  
          specialized knowledge, training, and experience. The CVSOs have  
          all of that and more to support the veterans 


          In the fiscal year 2013-2014, through the CVSOs California  
          veterans obtained approximately $546 million in new, recurring  
          benefits. However, the positive impact the CVSOs have for  
          veterans is beyond measurement in dollars.  The benefits a  
          veteran obtains may provide for life-changing education, low or  








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          no cost health benefits to keep health, employment and training  
          services to prepare for and gain employment, and much more.


          The direct impact to veterans is not the end of the benefit of  
          the CVSOs work.  There are innumerable numbers of veteran  
          families who the CVSOs have assisted or impacted positively with  
          their advocacy for veterans.  


          Finally, it is without question that the CVSOs have helped  
          veterans survive the most extreme of hardships; their work has  
          kept veterans from homelessness, malnourishment, illness and  
          despair, and quite literally, saved veterans' lives.  


          This resolution recognizes the critical importance of the CVSOs.  
           Furthermore, the resolution expresses the commendation of the  
          entire Legislature for the contribution and positive impact the  
          CVSOs have had on California veterans.




          Analysis Prepared by:                                             
                          John Spangler / V.A. / (916) 319-3550  FN:  
          0001558