BILL ANALYSIS
SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS
JEFF DENHAM, CHAIRMAN
Bill No: AB 710
Author: Yamada
Version: As amended April 22, 2009
Hearing Date: June 23, 2009
Fiscal: Yes
Consultant: Donald E. Wilson
SUBJECT OF BILL
Veterans' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Fund
(SAMHSA).
PROPOSED LAW
Direct the California Department of Veterans' Affairs
(CDVA) to apply for federal money to fund community based
organizations for substance abuse and mental health
services.
EXISTING LAW AND BACKGROUND
1. Traditionally a veteran has two years from his time
of separation to qualify for the Federal Veterans
Administration (VA).
2. At the close of the Vietnam War Post Traumatic
Stress Syndrome (PTSD) was not recognized as a service
connected disability.
3. PTSD was not diagnosed in large numbers until the
early 1980s, which by that time the window to enter
the VA system had closed for most veterans of the
Vietnam War unless they stayed in the service until
the 1980s.
4. The result was that a significant number of Vietnam
veterans were on the street and untreated by county
mental health officials who considered them a "federal
problem" and untreated by the VA because they had not
gotten into the system within two years of separation
from the service.
5. It is now believed by many that veterans from Iraq
and Afghanistan are only going to swell the ranks of
the homeless due to various mental illnesses from the
kind of combat those veterans have seen.
6. The addition of women to combat roles since the end
of the Vietnam War has added another group to those
suffering from various combat traumas.
COMMENT
1. With two exceptions this bill is the same as AB
2828 (Salas) of 2008. That bill passed this committee
4-0 and passed the Senate 39-0.
2. This bill was one of the many the governor vetoed
last year due to the budget impasse.
3. This bill directs that CDVA shall submit a grant
application for purposes of funding community-based
organizations.
4. This bill also directs the department to prepare a
certification process for determining which community
based organizations will receive funds.
5. Certified organizations will be obligated to
prepare an annual report on their activities.
6. This version of the bill adds "military sexual
trauma" to the list of mental health issues that could
be treated with SAMHSA funds. Many of those suffering
from military sexual trauma are female veterans.
7. According to the author's office, "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
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that a quarter of returning veterans have PTSD.
8. This bill will allow counties without
community-based organizations to also apply for funds.
SUPPORT
American Legion, Department of CA
AMVETS, Department of CA
California Association of County Veteran Service Officers
Vietnam Veterans of America, California State Council
Regional Council of Rural Counties
California State Commanders Veterans Council
County of San Diego
California Therapeutic Communities
California Public Defenders' Association
California Mental Health Directors Association
Aaron Read & Associates, LLC
State of California Commission on the Status of Women
OPPOSE
California Department of Veterans Affairs (CDVA)
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