BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 2085
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Date of Hearing: April 20, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Lorena Gonzalez, Chair
AB
2085 (Irwin) - As Amended April 11, 2016
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill, subject to an appropriation, creates the Office of
Military Legal Assistance (OMLA) within the Military Department.
OMLA is required to provide assistance to servicemembers in the
state who require legal assistance by providing access to
AB 2085
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educational and informational resources and by providing
referral services to available legal assistance programs,
including reduced fee services, pro bono services, and self-help
services.
FISCAL EFFECT:
Cost in the $800,000 range for eight positions to serve any one
of the 175,000 servicemembers in California. Nevada has an
office under its Attorney General to provide service to active
members and veterans; it is staffed with two positions to assist
16,000 active members and an unkown number of veterans.
COMMENTS:
1)Background. Under federal law, each armed service of the
United States has a legal assistance program with a governing
regulation promulgated by the service. However, there is a
gap in service, particularly in civil law because the Judge
Advocate Generals (JAGs) are prohibited from representing
servicemembers in civilian court in most cases.
2)Purpose. According to the author, "Attorneys in California
are needed to assist active duty servicemembers and reservists
with legal matters. Military personnel are often presented
with legal challenges due to the requirements of their
service, such as frequent relocation, interrupted employment,
financial need, and strain on family life, among others."
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Analysis Prepared by:Pedro Reyes / APPR. / (916)
319-2081