BILL NUMBER: AB 589	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 1, 2009
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 4, 2009

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Cook
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members DeVore, Gilmore, Salas, Saldana, and
Yamada)

                        FEBRUARY 25, 2009

   An act to add Section 3073.5 to the Penal Code, relating to
veterans.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 589, as amended, Cook. Department of Corrections and
Rehabilitation: contracts: county veterans service officers:
incarcerated veterans.
   Existing law requires a county  veteran  
veterans  service officer to assist every veteran of any war of
the United States and the dependents of every deceased veteran in
presenting and pursuing any claim the veteran may have against the
United States and in establishing the veteran's right to any
privilege, preference, care, or compensation provided for by the laws
of the United States or of this state.
   This bill would allow the Department of Corrections and
Rehabilitation or a local law enforcement agency to contract with
county veterans  services   service 
officers in the county where the state or local correctional facility
is located to assist an incarcerated  honorably discharged
 veteran, as defined, and the veteran's dependents in
presenting and pursuing any claims, as specified, and in establishing
the veteran's and dependent's right to any privilege, preference,
care, or compensation provided for by the laws of the United States
or of this state. This bill would authorize the department or local
enforcement agency to, pursuant to the contract, compensate a county
veterans service officer for the assistance provided  , as
specified. The bill provide that no more than 6 correctional
facilities, as designated by the department, may be the subject of
these contracts  .
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 3073.5 is added to the Penal Code, to read:
   3073.5.  (a) The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation or a
local law enforcement agency may contract with county veterans
service officers in the county where the state or local correctional
facility is located to assist an incarcerated  honorably
discharged  veteran and the veteran's dependents in
presenting and pursuing claims as the veteran and dependent may have
against the United States arising out of war service and in
establishing the veteran's and dependent's right to any privilege,
preference, care, or compensation provided for by the laws of the
United States or of this state. The department or local enforcement
agency may, pursuant to the contract, compensate a county veterans
service officer for the assistance provided  at a rate of no more
than twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) annually  . 
   (b) No more than six correctional facilities, as designated by the
Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, may be the subject of
contracts entered into pursuant to subdivision (a).  
   (b) 
    (c)  For purposes of this section, "incarcerated
 honorably discharged from the United States military forces
veteran" includes any veteran described under Section 1170.9 who has
been honorably discharged.   veteran" means a veteran
described in Section 920 of the Military and Veterans Code who is
incarcerated in a state or local correctional facility, but does not
include a veteran who has been dishonorably discharged or who has a
bad conduct discharge.