BILL ANALYSIS
SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS
JEFF DENHAM, CHAIRMAN
Bill No: AB 1908
Author: Cook
Version: As Introduced
Hearing Date: June 22, 2010
Fiscal: Yes
SUBJECT OF BILL
Veterans' license plates.
PROPOSED LAW
1. Authorizes California Department of Veterans'
Affairs (CDVA) to modify the veterans license plate.
2. Requires that by July 1, 2011 the Department of
Motor Vehicles (DMV) must make the veterans' special
license plate available on its website for purchase.
3. Requires all money from the replacement decals on
aforementioned license plates be given to the
veterans' service office fund.
EXISTING LAW AND BACKGROUND
1. The DMV, with permission from the Legislature,
offers specialized license plates and allows any state
agency to sponsor license plates with specialized
themes.
2. Existing law requires special interest license
plates to provide a 2-inch by 3-inch space to the left
of the plate's numerical series and a space of 5/8
inch in height below the numerical series for a
distinctive design, decal, or descriptive message.
3. The sale of specialized plates raises extra
proceeds for a particular cause. Those proceeds are
then used to support the cause highlighted on the
specialized plate.
4. All special license plates- except the veterans'
license plate-are available on the DMV website.
5. In 1992, the veterans' license plate was
established by AB 3016 (Conroy) and AB 3033 (Conroy).
6. In 1994, AB 1066 (Conroy) implemented the
provisions of ABs 3016 and 3033.
7. Proceeds from the veterans' license plate are
deposited in the "Veterans Service Office Fund," which
helps to fund County Veteran Service Officers (CVSO).
8. CVSOs are a network of officers paid for by the
state and counties that help California veterans
through a myriad of issues to claim their Federal
benefits from the GI Bill, including disability claims
with the Federal Veterans' Administration (VA).
9. An agreement was made with California's counties in
1997 to fund 50% of the costs associated with CVSO.
However, counties have picked up most of the tab for
CVSOs and as a result CVSO services are on the cut
list in many counties.
10. The Governor's May Revise has sought to
keep the state's 1997 commitment by fully funding the
state half of the obligation for the first time. That
proposal is pending in the budget conference
committee.
COMMENT
1. According to Legislative Counsel this bill has a
conflict with AB 498 (Hayashi).
2. This bill helps to backfill the Veterans' Service
Office Fund by making sure all proceeds raised from
the license plate go to the fund that helps CVSOs.
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3. CVSOs are taking on more of a workload as county
budgets are cut. As workload increases and CVSOs are
eliminated, remaining CVSOs will need newer technology
in order to process veterans' claims. This bill helps
to confront that problem by making a one-time transfer
from the Veterans' Service Office Fund to implement
the "Subvention Administrative Information System" to
expedite "case management applications" for CVSOs.
4. According to the author, the intent of this bill is
help increase the amount of money the veterans' plate
raises for CVSOs; hence, the link on the DMV website
to get more exposure for the plate.
5. Although not required in the legislation, part of
the plan is to make the plate more noticeable by
redesigning it. The present plate design is plain
white with much of the distinguishing portions of the
plate covered by license plate holders. The new plate
will be something easier to notice such as the
recognizable whale tail on the environmental plate.
According to the author, he hopes that this will "help
the CVSOs and CDVA to better market the veteran's
organization plate in hopes of increased sales, which
the CVSOs would use to expand their operations of
providing veterans and their families free claims
assistance and referral to local, state and federal
programs."
PRIOR ACTIONS
Assembly Transportation 14-0
Assembly Veterans 9-0
Assembly Appropriations 17-0
Assembly Floor 76-0 (Consent)
SUPPORT
California County Veteran Service Officers (CVSO)
(Sponsors)
American Legion, Dept. of CA
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AMVETS, Dept. of CA
Vietnam Veterans of America, CA council
California Mental Health Directors Association (CMHDA)
County of San Bernardino
OPPOSE
None received
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