Amended in Senate January 13, 2016

Amended in Senate April 27, 2015

Senate Bill No. 112

Introduced by Senator Roth

January 12, 2015

An act to add Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 1860) to Division 8 of the Military and Veterans Code, relating to veterans.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SB 112, as amended, Roth. begin delete Veterans. end delete begin insert California Veterans’ Bill of Rights. end insert

Existing law establishes within state government a Department of Veterans Affairs. Existing law provides for a variety of state benefits to veterans, including those relating to educational assistance and farm and home purchases, as specified.

This bill would establish a California Veterans’ Bill of Rights. The bill would proclaim the rights of veterans in the State of California, including, among others, that veterans have the right to be treated with dignity begin insert , understanding, end insert and respect, and have the right to housing, education, job training, and physical and mental health services, as prescribed.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.  

The Legislature hereby finds and declares all of
the following:

(a)  begin insert With over two million veterans, end insert California has the highest
veteran population of any state in the union. begin insert California’s veteran
population faces disproportionately high levels of homelessness
and unemployment. Many veterans suffer from the effects of combat
injuries, and many others suffer from combat end insert begin insert -related psychological
trauma that manifests itself in mental health disorders. end insert

(b) Veterans are deserving of our highest gratitude for their
selfless service and begin delete sacrifice. end delete begin insert sacrifice, and are further deserving
of the utmost treatment and care upon returning home. end insert begin insert Upon
discharge, the initial period of transition to civilian life is critical
to successful reintegration, and identifying active duty military
service members who are transitioning to civilian life in California
is important to actively increasing the standard of living for current
and future veterans in need of assistance. end insert

(c) To that end, it is necessary that the Legislature establish a
California Veterans’ Bill of Rights.

SEC. 2.  

Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 1860) is added
to Division 8 of the Military and Veterans Code, to read:

 

Chapter  6. California Veterans’ Bill of Rights

 

1860.  

There is hereby established a California Veterans’ Bill
of Rights, as set forth in this chapter.

1862.  

Veterans in the State of California shall have all of the
following rights:

(a) Veterans shall have the right to be treated with dignity and
respect and to receive accurate, courteous, and timely service in
all of their contacts with the Department of Veterans begin delete Affairs. end delete
begin insert Affairs and any other state agency that administers programs that
serve veterans. end insert

(b) Veterans shall have the right to receive fair and equal
treatment, irrespective of rank, position, or status, and shall be
treated with tact, comprehension, and begin delete understanding. end delete begin insert understanding
in their contacts with government agencies or private entities
contracted with government entities to provide services to veteran
populations. end insert

(c) Veterans shall have the right to be involved in the decisions
affecting their care and the formulation of programs and benefits
that affect their daily lives.

(d) Veterans begin delete , both current end delete and transitioning active duty military
service begin delete members end delete begin insert members, end insert who are likely to be California veterans,
shall have the right to be informed of all programs and benefits
for which they are eligible.

(e) Veterans shall have the right to file an application for benefits
at any time and shall have the right to receive a written notice and
explanation of the approval or denial of their application for
benefits.

(f) Veterans shall have the right to be provided with equal
benefits in any part of the state in which they, their spouses,
domestic partners, or their dependents reside. Geographical location
shall not determine the quality or level of service or care provided.

(g)  begin delete Veterans end delete begin insert (1) end insert begin insert   end insert begin insert When housed in state or local veterans housing
or housing provided by private groups contracting to receive state
funds for housing veterans, veterans end insert shall have the right to
adequate, safe, and reliable housing.

begin insert

(2) Veterans shall have the right to housing that provides
adequate and appropriate mental health and transitional support
services, including counseling, employment training, and substance
abuse treatment.

end insert

(h) Veterans shall have the right to the education and job training
they require to secure begin delete gainful end delete civilian employment.

(i) Veterans shall have the right to receive the physical and
mental health services they require as a result of their service.
Veterans shall have a right to receive these services free from fear
of retaliation or stigma. begin insert Physical and mental health services shall
not be negatively impacted or withheld from a person due solely
to his or her veteran status. end insert State and local mental health services
shall not be negatively impacted or withheld begin insert from a person end insert due to
begin insert his or her end insert veteran status.

(j) Veterans shall have the right to begin delete refuse end delete begin insert receive end insert services or
benefits without fear of retaliation or stigma. In that respect, no
veteran shall be compelled to decline services or benefits against
his or her will, and every reasonable effort shall be made to connect
veterans with the services and benefits to which they are rightfully
entitled.

1864.  

The rights prescribed pursuant to this chapter are not
exhaustive, and nothing in this chapter shall be construed to limit
the rights of veterans. Instead, the rights prescribed pursuant to
this chapter shall establish the minimum rights every veteran shall
enjoy as a resident of the State of California. When applicable,
veterans’ spouses, domestic partners, and dependents shall also
be entitled to these rights.