BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 2512
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Date of Hearing: April 12, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS
Jacqui Irwin, Chair
AB 2512
(Grove) - As Introduced February 19, 2016
SUBJECT: Task Force on California Women Veterans Health
SUMMARY: This bill:
1)Creates a volunteer Task Force on California Women Veterans
Health Care, within the California Department of Veterans
Affairs, comprised of nine members.
2)Requires the department to provide staff support to the task
force.
3)Requires the task force to study the health care needs of
women veterans in the state, as specified.
4)Requires the task force to submit an annual report, commencing
on or before January 1, 2020, and until January 1, 2022,
inclusive, to the Governor and the appropriate policy
committees of the Legislature.
5)Requires the task force, when conducting its study and
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preparing its report, to consult with the United States
Department of Veterans Affairs, the State Department of Public
Health, the Department of Managed Health Care, and
representatives of county veterans service officers.
6)Contains a sunset clause.
EXISTING LAW:
1)Creates the Department of Veterans Affairs and the California
Veterans Board that is required to advise the department and
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on policies for operations
of the department.
2)Authorizes the board to create advisory committees consisting
of veterans to advise the board in specific fields.
3)Requires the department, by July 1, 2015, to develop a
transition assistance program for veterans who have been
discharged from the Armed Forces of the United States or the
National Guard, designed to assist veterans in successfully
transitioning to civilian life, that includes information
about California-specific transition assistance, including
health care programs and services, mental health resources,
and military sexual trauma resources.
FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown
COMMENTS: According to the Author:
Each branch of the military has opened combat positions to
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women. Many women have already long served in combat zones.
There are approximately 2.3 million women veterans in the
United States, or 10% of the total number of veterans. This
is expected to rise to 18 percent by 2040.
Women veterans face unique challenges when transitioning from
active duty to civilian life and these needs can be overlooked
when providing services to the very large veterans population
California has.
It is important that the state seek to ensure the availability
of specialized services for physical and mental health,
especially:
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Military Sexual Trauma
Alcohol and substance abuse
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It is important that these services be tailored to the
specific needs of women.
The establishment of a task force to study these health issues
facing women veterans will provide the needed information and
insight to the Governor and the Legislature.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
American G.I. Forum of California (Sponsor)
AMVETS- Department of California (Sponsor)
Military Officers Association- California Council of Chapters
(Sponsor)
American Legion- Department of California
California Association of County Veteran Service Officers
California State Commanders Service Council
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National Association of Social Workers, California Chapter
VFW- Department of California
Vietnam Veterans of America, California State Council
Opposition
None on File
Analysis Prepared by:John Spangler / V.A. / (916) 319-3550