BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                    AB 1401


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          Date of Hearing:  May 13, 2015


                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS


                                 Jimmy Gomez, Chair


          AB  
          1401 (Baker) - As Introduced February 27, 2015


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          Urgency:  No  State Mandated Local Program:  NoReimbursable:  No


          SUMMARY:


          This bill requests the Office of the Adjutant General (OAG) to  
          make available information pertaining to education benefits and  
          opportunities to members of the California National Guard, the  
          State Military Reserve, and the Naval Militia who do not hold a  








                                                                    AB 1401


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          baccalaureate degree. The bill also requests that the OAG assist  
          these persons in completing the associated forms, as necessary. 


          FISCAL EFFECT:


          Negligible costs to the Military Department to provide the  
          information requested.


          COMMENTS:


          1)Purpose and Background.  According to the author, "This bill  
            will add Section 981.8 to the Military and Veterans Code.  
            Section 981.8 reinstates the law that expired on January 1,  
            2012, and requests the Office of the Adjutant general annually  
            to provide all of the following available resources to each  
            member of the California National Guard, the State Military  
            Reserve, and the Naval Militia who do not have a baccalaureate  
            degree:   (1) a copy of the enrollment fee waiver application  
            of the Board of Governors of the California Community  
            Colleges; (2) a copy of the Free Application for Federal  
            Student Aid (FAFSA); (3) a copy of the latest brochure of  
            information relative to the current Post-9/11 GI Bill; (4) a  
            copy of the latest brochure of information relative to the  
            California National Guard Education Assistance Award Program;  
            (5) contact information for a county Veterans Service Officer  
            or the division responsible within the California Department  
            of Veterans Affairs for higher education or the California  
            National Guard, and (6) any necessary assistance required to  
            complete the aforementioned forms."



            Existing law provides various benefits for veterans including  
            the GI Bill, National Guard Education Assistance Award  
            Program, and other state and federal benefits.  








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            The Military Department has continued to make available  
            information pertaining to educational benefits and  
            opportunities to service members via the Civilian Education  
            Department and through the California National Guard Education  
            Assistance Award Program, notwithstanding the sunset on the  
            prior Section 981.8.








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