BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 421
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Date of Hearing: April 28, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS
Jacqui Irwin, Chair
AB 421
(Calderon) - As Amended April 13, 2015
SUBJECT: Community colleges: veterans counselor
SUMMARY: Requires the governing board of a community college
district to provide in each California Community College (CCC)
within the district, a veterans counselor; and, requires the CCC
Board of Governors (BOG) to adopt regulations to establish and
maintain the minimum qualifications for services as a veterans
counselor. Specifically, this bill:
1)Requires the governing board of a community college district,
on or before July 1, 2018, to provide in each college within
the district a veterans counselor. a veterans counselor at
each of the district's colleges with 200 or more enrolled
student veterans, as defined by the BOG.
2)Directs the BOG to adopt regulations to establish and maintain
the minimum qualifications for service as a faculty member
teaching credit instruction, a faculty member teaching
noncredit instruction, a librarian, a counselor, a veterans
counselor, an educational administrator, an extended
opportunity programs and services worker, a disabled students
programs and services worker, an apprenticeship instructor,
and a supervisor of health.
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3)Specifies that when the board of governors adopts regulations
to establish and maintain the minimum qualifications for
service as a veterans counselor, the board of governors shall
consider including at least all of the following:
a) A definition of a veterans counselor that would include
a person who has demonstrated experience of the unique
social and psychological needs of veteran students.
b) The role of a veterans counselor.
c) A requirement that a veterans counselor have appropriate
knowledge and experience, including, as appropriate, the
following:
i) Knowledge about veterans educational benefits (GI
Bill) and the United States Department of Veterans
Affairs.
ii) Experience in designing and preparing Veteran
Student Educational Plans for community college student
veterans.
iii) Knowledge of California Community College Student
Success and Support Programs.
iv) Experience in using a broad range of technology
pertaining to data collection and analysis for student
success.
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v) Experience in developing and presenting
counseling-related workshops and orientation sessions.
vi) A demonstrated ability to effectively serve as a
liaison and communicate effectively with faculty, staff,
and external community veterans resource providers
concerning veteran-specific issues, learning processes,
combat stress injuries, moral injuries, trauma, traumatic
brain injuries, and other disabilities.
vii) Knowledge of occupational opportunities and
internships for veterans, community agencies and other
organizations serving students who are veterans, issues
facing veterans, and state and federal guidelines and
services to veterans.
EXISTING LAW:
1)Requires the California State University (CSU) and the CCC and
encourages the University of California (UC) to coordinate
services for qualified students who are veterans or members of
the military by clearly designating Military and Veterans
Offices and individuals to provide specified services to
qualified students. Current law defines "qualified student"
as a student who is any of the following: an active duty
member of the Armed Forces of the United States, the
California National Guard, a reserve component of the Armed
Forces of the Unites States, a veteran of the Armed Forces of
the United States, and/or a family member of a person (as
described above) who is a legal dependent under 28 years of
age or living in the household of that person and eligible to
be claimed as a dependent on federal or state tax returns
(Education Code Section 69785).
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2)Requests the UC, CSU, the CCC to report annually to the
California Department of Veterans Affairs the number of
qualified students assisted by a Military and Veterans Office;
the number of qualified students assisted who are active duty
members of the Armed Forces of the United States, the
California National Guard, or a reserve component of the Armed
Forces of the United States, or are veterans of the Armed
Forces of the United States; and the total education benefits
by all qualified students assisted by an office (EC Section
69786).
3)Requires the CCC BOG to adopt regulations to establish and
maintain the minimum qualifications for service as a faculty
member teaching credit instruction, a faculty member teaching
noncredit instruction, a librarian, a counselor, an
educational administrator, an extended opportunity programs
and services worker, a disabled students programs and services
worker, an apprenticeship instructor, and a supervisor of
health (EC Section 87356).
FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown.
COMMENTS: According to the author:
While the State of California and the California Community
Colleges have made strides recently in the area of
reintegrating veterans to civilian life and addressing their
educational needs, the State of California can do more to
ensure student veterans are adequately prepared to meet their
educational goals. By ensuring that student veterans have a
veterans counselor who specializes in the challenges faced by
student veterans, California can ensure that our veterans are
not lost in the complicated maze that is the GI Bill and the
transfer process.
Veterans have been trained to fight and win the Nation's wars.
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Their warrior training, culture, or experiences may pose
challenges for them later integrating smoothly and rapidly into
a non-military academic environment. These students volunteered
to each shoulder a portion of the burden of defense of the
Nation; when they are no longer performing that duty, from which
all Americans benefit, it has been the consistent policy of this
state to recognize that service and sacrifice to the maximum
extent feasible.
In essence this bill directs the CCCs to have a staff person
called in the bill a veterans counselor. This person is
intended to be a counselor in the broadest sense of the word,
which might otherwise connotes a therapist. The counselors
envisioned by this bill might also be conceived of as guides.
As evidenced by the directive to the BOG concerning the
experience and qualifications of the veteran counselors, these
staff members are intended to be generalists; knowledgeable
about most or all of the things veteran students are likely to
need support, knowledge, guidance, and understanding.
This Committee has received a great deal of input both directly
to staff and via several public hearings that consistently
supports the value of veteran resource centers and at their
hearts, at least one person like the veteran counselors proposed
by this bill.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
American Legion-Department of California
AMVETS, Department of California
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California Association of County Veterans Service Officers
California State Commanders Veterans Council
Military Officers Association of America, California Council of
Chapters
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of California
Vietnam Veterans of America, California State Council
Opposition
None on File.
Analysis Prepared by:John Spangler / V.A. / (916) 319-3550
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