BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                    AB 1029


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          Date of Hearing:   May 20, 2015


                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS


                                 Jimmy Gomez, Chair


          AB  
          1029 (Frazier) - As Amended May 18, 2015


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          Urgency:  No  State Mandated Local Program:  NoReimbursable:  No


          SUMMARY:


          This bill creates a certification program, within the Department  
          of Veterans Affairs (department), for charitable organizations  
          that provide certain specified services to veterans and their  
          families.  Specifically, this bill: 








                                                                    AB 1029


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          1)Defines "Certified California Veteran Servicer Provider" to  
            mean an entity that is certified by the Department as having  
            an established history of providing supportive services, as  
            specified, and that meets certain requirements.


          2)Provides that a certification approved by the department is  
            valid for three years from the date the department accepts  
            credentials for certification, and the department may accept  
            current certifications and licenses from any other state  
            entity, agency, or department as support for certification of  
            a Certified Veteran Service Provider. 

          3)Requires the department to maintain a list of Certified  
            California Veteran Servicer Providers on its Internet Web site  
            and promulgate regulations by July 1, 2017.


          FISCAL EFFECT:


          Ongoing cost of approximately $100,000 (GF) to CalVet to  
          promulgate regulations the first year, and provide and renew the  
          three-year certification, decertify bad actors, and maintain a  
          current list of certified organizations after the first year. 


          COMMENTS:


          Purpose.  According to the author, "Veterans comprise 25% or  
          more of California's homeless population. Tens of thousands of  
          these individuals are returning from wars in Iraq and  
          Afghanistan with significant physical and mental injuries.  The  
          state provides resources to veterans in the form of grants to  
          non-profit agencies that provide housing, mental health,  
          substance abuse, case management and employment services.  








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          However, as concern for the welfare of returning service members  
          has grown, so has the interest of an increasing number of  
          organizations to receive the small amount of grant dollars  
          available.  These scarce grant dollars are often going to  
          organizations with excellent grant writers, however, the actual  
          organizations have no background or experience to address the  
          unique needs of veterans; often times, they have no actual base  
          of clients to serve.  As a result, qualified veteran service  
          organizations (with long and proven histories of effectively  
          serving veterans) receive reduced funding and are forced to cut  
          services to veterans and lay off qualified staff."





          Existing law contains some analogues, such as the Disabled  
          Veteran Business Enterprise Program, which includes a  
          certification by the Department of General Services that a  
          business meets the requirements to participate in the program.   
          However, there is nothing in current code that would certify a  
          Veteran Service Provider.





          This bill creates a certification for charitable entities  
          serving veterans and that meet certain minimum standards.  The  
          scope of the certification is limited to entities serving  
          veterans with health and mental health services, small business  
          assistance, employment services, and job training services.   
          These entities must demonstrate knowledge, experience, and  
          cultural competency to provide supportive services to veterans  
          and their families.












                                                                    AB 1029


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          Analysis Prepared by:Pedro R. Reyes / APPR. / (916)  
          319-2081