BILL NUMBER: AB 75	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 26, 2015

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Mathis

                        JANUARY 5, 2015

   An act  to amend Section 981.5 of the Military and
Veterans Code,  relating to veterans  , and making an
appropriation therefor  .



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 75, as amended, Mathis. Veterans. 
   Existing law, the Budget Act of 2014, appropriates $3,000,000 to
the Department of Veterans Affairs for the purpose of assisting the
United States Department of Veterans Affairs in processing veterans'
claims.  
   This bill would extend the authorization to encumber or expend
that $3,000,000 until June 30, 2020. By extending the Department of
Veterans Affairs' authority to expend funds, the bill would make an
appropriation.  
   Existing law authorizes the California Veterans' Educational
Institute, which is under the management and control of the
Department of Veterans Affairs, to provide opportunities for veterans
to continue their education. Existing law authorizes the Department
of Veterans Affairs to work with authorized agencies of the United
States in providing those opportunities.  
   This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to this
provision. 
   Vote:  majority   2/3  . Appropriation:
 no   yes  . Fiscal committee:  no
  yes  . State-mandated local program: no.


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

   SECTION 1.    The Legislature finds and declares:
 
   (a) The Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) works to serve
California veterans and their families. With nearly two million
veterans living in the state, CalVet strives to ensure that its
veterans of every era and their families receive the state and
federal benefits and services they have earned and deserve as a
result of their selfless and honorable military service. CalVet
strives to serve veterans and their families with dignity and
compassion and to help them achieve their highest quality of life.
 
   (b) In 2013, Governor Jerry Brown introduced a budget that
authorized $3 million and 36 limited-term positions that allowed
CalVet to coordinate with the United States Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) to assist in reducing its massive veterans' claims
backlog.  
   (c) The funds appropriated were used to hire a "Strike Force" team
of 12 Veterans Claims Representatives (VCR) for each of the VA's
regional offices in the Cities of Los Angeles, Oakland, and San Diego
to focus on backlogged claims, ensuring they are properly developed
and have all necessary documentation needed for adjudication. 

   (d) At the time the CalVet Strike Teams were initially deployed in
the Fall of 2013, the national average wait time for benefits from
the federal government was 349.6 days. This meant the average veteran
waited nearly a year before receiving benefits that are considered a
right. The average wait times in the Cities of Los Angeles and
Oakland were significantly worse than the national average, at 619.4
days and 617.8 days, respectively.  
   (e) As of January 29, 2015, CalVet Strike Team claims review
efforts in the Cities of Los Angeles, Oakland, and San Diego have
reviewed 44,921 claims, resulting in lump sum payments to California
veterans totaling $45,603,451, monthly award payments totaling
$5,878,940, and an annual monthly awards payment total of $70,547,276
going to California veterans every year for the rest of their lives.
 
   (f) While the Strike Teams have done remarkable work, the mission
is still not complete as the VA is still not on pace to fully
eliminate their claims backlog by the end of next year, a goal long
promised by department officials.  
   (g) California veterans have served their country and their
communities with honor and distinction, and deserve the benefits that
have been promised to them. 
   SEC. 2.    Three million dollars ($3,000,000) of the
amount appropriated in Item 8955-001-0001 of Section 2.0 of the
Budget Act of 2014 (Chapter 25 of the Statutes of 2014), as
referenced in Provision 5 of that item, shall be available for
encumbrance or expenditure until June 30, 2020, after which it shall
revert to the General Fund.  
  SECTION 1.    Section 981.5 of the Military and
Veterans Code is amended to read:
   981.5.  The department may cooperate and confer with authorized
agencies of the United States in implementing this article.