BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Senator Ricardo Lara, Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular Session
AB 2574 (Chávez) - Veteran farmers and ranchers
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|Version: June 15, 2016 |Policy Vote: V.A. 5 - 0, AGRI. |
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|Urgency: No |Mandate: No |
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|Hearing Date: August 8, 2016 |Consultant: Debra Cooper |
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This bill meets the criteria for referral to the Suspense File.
Bill
Summary: AB 2574 would require state departments to develop, by
July 1, 2017, a New Veteran Farmer and Rancher Outreach and
Assistance Plan to disseminate information to veterans in
California about federal and state veteran agricultural
education, training, and other assistance programs.
Fiscal
Impact: Unknown, but potentially significant cost to create the
plan and direct outreach efforts to disseminate the information.
(GF)
Background: The federal Agriculture Act of 2014 (known as the 2014 Farm
Bill) provides loans, education, apprenticeship, and training,
and partners with other organizations and nonprofits to provide
resources and support for farmers and ranchers. As a result of
the 2014 Farm Bill, the first United States Department of
AB 2574 (Chávez) Page 1 of
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Agriculture (USDA) Military Veterans Agriculture Liaison
position was created in 2014. According to the USDA, more than 6
million veterans live in rural communities. The liaison
coordinates USDA's leadership across USDA to provide
information, resources, and support for active duty military and
veterans interested in agriculture. The liaison also has
authority to facilitate formal relationships between USDA and
other government agencies and non-profit organizations to
strengthen USDA support for veterans.
The California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) works
closely with local communities in its efforts to serve veterans.
CalVet designates eight Local Interagency Network Coordinators
(LINCs) throughout the state to bridge the gap between CalVet
and the federal, state, county, and non-governmental agencies
that provide services to the state's veterans. CalVet has
dedicated outreach campaigns to inform various groups, including
but not limited to, minority, women, and homeless veterans,
about available resources.
Proposed Law:
This bill would define "veteran farmer or rancher." This bill
would also require that by July 1, 2017, state departments,
including, but not limited to, the Department of Food and
Agriculture (CDFA), the Labor and Workforce Development Agency
(LWDA), and CalVet, develop a New Veteran Farmer and Rancher
Outreach and Assistance Plan to inform veterans, electronically,
through America's Job Center of California locations and via any
other already available means, about state veteran and
agricultural education, training, and other assistance programs
and would authorize other public or private sector resources to
be included in the dissemination.
Staff
Comments: This bill does not clarify what state entities would
be the lead agency or department responsible for coordinating
and developing the plan nor does it specify the particular
responsibilities of the implementing state entities. The bill
also does not specify the types of opportunities or resources
that should be identified. As such, it is difficult to
accurately determine a fiscal estimate.
AB 2574 (Chávez) Page 2 of
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If CDFA were to be the lead department, costs for the plan
cannot be absorbed in the CDFA's current budget and would be
borne by the General Fund. If LWDA were to be the lead agency,
LWDA would likely delegate the responsibilities of this bill to
the Employment Development Department (EDD), especially since
information is to be disseminated through EDD's America's Job
Center of California network. Staffing needs, estimated to be
approximately $70,000 per year, would be borne by the General
Fund.
Additional costs would include methods for disseminating
information. The bill specifies for dissemination
"electronically and through America's Job Center of California
locations and through any other already available means."
Printed outreach materials would be considered other available
means, and could cost tens of thousands of dollars.
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