BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                    AB 1530


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          Date of Hearing:  April 28, 2015


                       ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS


                                 Jacqui Irwin, Chair


          AB 1530  
          (Committee on Veterans Affairs) - As Introduced March 18, 2015


          SUBJECT:  Veterans:  service advocate:  correctional facilities


          SUMMARY:  Revises the definition of "veteran" in Section 2695.5  
          of the Penal Code by deleting the reference to the American Red  
          Cross and including a person who has been discharged from the  
          National Guard of any state.  


          EXISTING LAW:  


          1)Establishes the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation  
            (CDCR) to oversee the state prison system. 


          2)Requires CDCR to develop guidance policies relative to the  
            release of veterans who are inmates with the intent to assist  
            veterans who are inmates in pursuing claims for federal  
            veterans' benefits, or in establishing rights to any other  
            privilege, preference, care, or compensation provided under  
            federal or state law because of honorable service in the  
            military.


          3)Authorizes a veterans service organization to volunteer to  








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            serve as a veterans service advocate at each facility that is  
            under the jurisdiction of the department.


          4)Authorizes the advocate to develop a veterans economic  
            recidivism prevention plan for each inmate who is a veteran.


          5)Defines "veteran" for these purposes as a person who has been  
            discharged from the United States Army, United States Navy,  
            United States Air Force, United States Marine Corps, United  
            States Coast Guard, the Merchant Marine, or the American Red  
            Cross.


          FISCAL EFFECT:  Unknown


          COMMENTS:  Assembly Bill 2263 (2014) added Sections 2695.1,  
          2695.2, 2695.3, 2695.4, and 2695.5 to the Penal Code, relating  
          to veterans. Section 2695.5 applied the following definition:  
          "Veteran" means a person who has been discharged from the United  
          States Army, United States Navy, United States Air Force, United  
          States Marine Corps, United States Coast Guard, the Merchant  
          Marine, or the American Red Cross. 


          The term veteran commonly applies to a person who served in the  
          active military, naval, or air service, and who was discharged  
          or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable.  
          The American Red Cross is not a military organization. The  
          National Guard is a military organization.  


          It is the general intent of this bill to assist former military  
          members who are incarcerated as they may be eligible for  
          benefits not available to those who have not undertaken military  
          service.  It has been the policy of this state to include the  
          National Guard explicitly where appropriate to clarify that its  








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          members are included.  


          REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:




          Support


          AMVETS, Department of California




          Opposition


          None on File.




          Analysis Prepared by:John Spangler / V.A. / (916) 319-3550