BILL NUMBER: AB 75 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 13, 2015
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 26, 2015
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Mathis
JANUARY 5, 2015
An act 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 appropriate $3,000,000 to
the Department of Veterans Affairs for the purpose of funding those
Veteran Claims Representative positions .
Vote: 2/3. Appropriation: yes. Fiscal committee: 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, the Legislature and 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.
backlog in the three California VA Regional Offices.
(c) The funds appropriated were used to hire a "Strike
Force" team three teams of 12 Veterans Claims
Representatives (VCR) (VCR), one team
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. they had earned through their
honorable military service. 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 including reviewing 44,921
claims, resulting in one-time lump sum payments to
California veterans totaling $45,603,451, monthly award payments
totaling $5,878,940, and an annual monthly awards payment
total which result in annualized award payments
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 its claims backlog by
the end of next year, a goal long promised by department
the VA officials.
(g) Whereas the Strike Teams have addressed the initial claims
backlog for the VA's three regional offices in California, the
appeals of claims decisions and the dependent claims have been pushed
back and will remain unresolved for many months, if not years,
should the Strike Team positions are not further funded.
(h) It is the intent of the Legislature to provide the CalVet with
the requisite staff to review and ensure quality, timeliness, and
accuracy of claims filed on behalf of the veterans of California and
their families.
(g)
(i) 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.
SEC. 2. The sum of three million dollars
($3,000,000) is hereby appropriated to the Department of Veterans
Affairs for the purpose of permanently funding 36 full-time
equivalent Veterans Claims Representative positions in the Department
of Veterans Affairs' Veteran Ser vices Division. These 36
Veterans Claims Representatives shall have oversight by the
California Department of Veterans Affairs, and ensure the quality and
timeliness of claims filed through the federal Department of
Veterans Affairs on behalf of California veterans and their families.