BILL ANALYSIS
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | AB 716|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: AB 716
Author: Huber (D)
Amended: 7/15/09 in Senate
Vote: 21
SENATE VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE : 6-0, 6/23/09
AYES: Denham, Correa, Wiggins, Negrete McLeod, Cedillo,
Maldonado
NO VOTE RECORDED: Wyland
SENATE TRANSPORTATION & HOUSING COMMITTEE : 9-1, 7/7/09
AYES: Lowenthal, Huff, DeSaulnier, Harman, Hollingsworth,
Kehoe, Pavley, Simitian, Wolk
NOES: Ashburn
NO VOTE RECORDED: Oropeza
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : Senate Rule 28.8
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 74-0, 6/3/09 - See last page for vote
SUBJECT : Veteran services: state agencies and
departments
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill provides that the Employment
Development Department (EDD) and the Department of Motor
Vehicles (DMV) may, in consultation with the Department of
Veterans Affairs (DVA), make available in their field
offices brochures, forms, and posters in order to inform
CONTINUED
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veterans of benefits and services. This bill also requires
the EDD and the DMV to collect and send any voluntarily
completed forms to the DVA on at least a quarterly basis,
and to add a link to their Internet websites that will
direct parties to the DVA Internet website.
ANALYSIS :
1. Requires the California Department of Veterans' Affair
(CDVA) to aid and assist California veterans and their
families and to administer the California Veterans
Homes.
2. Establishes, under federal law, the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA), and within it, the Veterans
Health Administration, which is responsible for VA
medical centers and outpatient clinics.
3. Requires the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS)
to establish a two-year pilot program to utilize the
federal Public Assistance Reporting Information System
(PARIS) to identify veterans and their dependents or
survivors who are enrolled in the Medi-Cal program and
assist them in obtaining federal veteran health care
benefits.
This bill:
1. States that it is the intent of the Legislature that the
DVA enter into memorandums of understanding or
interagency agreements with other state agencies or
departments, as selected by the departments, to
ascertain the veteran status of all persons receiving
services, benefits, or assistance from those state
agencies and departments.
2. Provides that EDD and the DMV, in consultation with the
DVA may make available in their field offices brochures,
forms, and poster in order to inform veterans of
benefits and services.
3. Requires the EDD and DMV to collect and send voluntarily
completed forms to the department on at least a
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quarterly basis and add a link to their Internet
websites that directs parties to the DVA's Internet
website.
Comments
Services for veterans can be found at a number of
departments. Unfortunately, CDVA doe not receive
information, in a systematic way, from other state
departments and agencies about services that are being
provided to veterans.
The Employment Development Division operates Workforce
Services Offices and One-Stop Career Centers. These
offices and centers have specially-trained staff to ensure
veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces receive maximum
employment and training opportunities. Services can include
counseling, labor market information, job referrals, job
search workshops, and job development with potential
employers.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
SUPPORT : (Verified 8/18/09)
California State Commanders Veterans Council
Americna Legion, Department of California
AMVETS, Department of California
California Association of County Veteran Service Officers
ASSEMBLY FLOOR :
AYES: Adams, Ammiano, Anderson, Arambula, Beall, Bill
Berryhill, Tom Berryhill, Blakeslee, Blumenfield,
Brownley, Buchanan, Caballero, Charles Calderon, Carter,
Chesbro, Conway, Cook, Coto, Davis, De La Torre, De Leon,
DeVore, Emmerson, Eng, Evans, Feuer, Fletcher, Fong,
Fuentes, Fuller, Furutani, Gaines, Galgiani, Garrick,
Gilmore, Hagman, Hall, Harkey, Hayashi, Hernandez, Hill,
Huber, Huffman, Jeffries, Jones, Knight, Krekorian, Lieu,
Logue, Bonnie Lowenthal, Ma, Mendoza, Monning, Nava,
Nestande, Niello, Nielsen, John A. Perez, V. Manuel
Perez, Portantino, Ruskin, Salas, Saldana, Skinner,
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Smyth, Solorio, Audra Strickland, Swanson, Torlakson,
Torres, Torrico, Tran, Villines, Bass
NO VOTE RECORDED: Block, Duvall, Miller, Price, Silva,
Yamada
TSM:do 8/18/09 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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