BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 171
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Date of Hearing: March 25, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Jimmy Gomez, Chair
AB
171 (Irwin) - As Amended March 17, 2015
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|Policy |Veterans Affairs |Vote:|9 - 0 |
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Urgency: Yes State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill, beginning July 1, 2015, continuously appropriates
$5.6 million from the General Fund (GF) annually to the
California Department of Veterans Affairs (CDVA) for allocation
to County Veterans Service Officers (CVSOs). The CDVA is
AB 171
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required to develop an allocation formula by July 1, 2016
FISCAL EFFECT:
1)The Governor's Budget proposes a $2.6 million GF appropriation
to the CDVA for allocation to the CVSOs in 2015-16. Assuming
this amount was approved and was the same every year
thereafter, the annual impact of this bill will be an
additional $3 million GF cost.
2)Minor one-time costs to the DCVA to develop an allocation
formula.
3)Unknown savings to various state programs if the CVSOs are
able to transfer participants from state programs to
appropriate federal veterans programs.
The additional work by CVSOs may result in additional federal
payments to California veterans.
COMMENTS:
1)Purpose: According to the author, recent military conflicts
are creating a new generation of veterans eligible for federal
benefits. CVSOs are local agencies established in 1946 to
assist veterans and their families in obtaining benefits and
services accrued through military service. AB 171 is intended
to provide a minimum level of predictable funding for CVSOs.
2)Background: Funding for CVSOs is provided in each year's
Budget Act. The current Budget Act includes $5.6 million
AB 171
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(GF), but the 2014-15 Governor's Budget proposes $2.6 million
(GF).
3)Comments: This committee generally does not support
continuous appropriations, which reduce legislative
discretion.
Analysis Prepared by:Pedro Reyes / APPR. / (916)
319-2081