BILL ANALYSIS
AB 710
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Date of Hearing: April 14, 2009
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS
Mary Salas, Chair
AB 710 (Yamada) - As Introduced: February 26, 2009
SUBJECT : Veterans' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Fund.
SUMMARY : Requires the California Department of Veterans
Affairs (CDVA) to submit a grant application to the federal
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
(SAMHSA) for the purposes of funding community-based
organizations, certified by CDVA, to provide substance abuse and
mental health services to veterans. Specifically, this bill :
1)Requires that all grant money awarded to CDVA by SAMHSA be
deposited into the Veterans' Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Fund, a special fund the bill would create, and from
which moneys would be appropriated by the Legislature to CDVA
for purposes of funding community-based organizations that
provide substance abuse and mental health programs that would
benefit California veterans and to pay reasonable
administrative expenses.
2)Requires CDVA to develop a process by which to certify
community-based organizations that receive funding, and
require the department to establish criteria of success for
the purposes of determining renewal of funding to those
community-based organizations
EXISTING LAW:
1)Allows CDVA to administer state military affairs and has
responsibility for, among other things, veterans' welfare and
homes.
2)Establishes the California Department of Mental Health which
directs and coordinates statewide efforts for the treatment of
mental disabilities.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS : This bill creates the Veterans' Substance Abuse and
Mental Health Services Fund for the receipt of the grant money,
AB 710
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and continuously appropriates that money to the CDVA. The money
will fund community-based organizations that provide substance
abuse and mental health programs that will benefit California
veterans, and to pay reasonable administrative expenses.
This bill requires the CDVA to develop a certification process
by which to certify community-based organizations that receive
funds, and only certified organizations will be eligible for the
funding. Organizations that receive funding will be
required to report annually to the DVA on the programs and
services supported by those funds. This bill provides that the
funds disbursed shall be used only for the purposes of providing
substance abuse and mental health services to veterans,
including, but not limited to, the treatment of post-traumatic
stress disorder.
Currently, there is no existing law that recognizes Veterans'
mental health needs or substance abuse needs. Furthermore,
there is no additional funding for these services.
A mandate by Congress states that the VA should "maintain the
capacity to provide specialized treatment and rehabilitative
needs of disabled veterans, including mental illness." The CDVA
administers state military affairs and has responsibility for
veteran welfare and homes.
Not all veterans are eligible for VA services. Eligibility is
based on discharge status, length of active duty, financial
need, and level of "service connected" rating which is a rating
to evaluate the condition that occurred or began to occur during
active service. Healthcare is prioritized and categorized into
seven groups where "Priority One" veterans are those evaluated
to have the greatest need. Veterans suffering from PTSD or
substance abuse who receive low priority often report lengthy
wait times for professional care. The federal VA is shifting
from inpatient to outpatient care which will significantly
increase the financial burden on the state General Fund,
counties, and other organizations that serve veterans with
substance abuse and mental health problems. The executive
director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
approximates that a quarter of returning veterans have PTSD.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
AB 710
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American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
American Legion
California Association of County Veterans Service Officers
California Psychological Association
California Public Defenders Association
California Society for Clinical Social Work
California Association of County Veterans Service Officers
County Veterans Service Officers
Disability Rights California
Mental Health Association in California
Vietnam Veterans of America
Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by : Eric Worthen / V. A. / (916) 319-3550