BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  AB 2156
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   April 13, 2010

                       ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS
                                 Paul J. Cook, Chair
                     AB 2156 (Evans) - As Amended:  April 8, 2010
           
          SUBJECT  :   Military and veterans: Veterans' Home Allied Council.

           SUMMARY  :   This bill would additionally permit the Veterans'  
          Home Allied Council to represent veterans who reside in  
          veterans' home in matters before the Legislature if the council,  
          in the course of providing that representation, complies with  
          specified requirements.  Specifically,  this bill  :

          1.In the course of providing that representation, the council  
            shall comply with the following requirements: 
               a.     The council's representation shall be approved by a  
                 majority of the voting members of the council.
               b.     The council shall not engage in any campaign or  
                 endorse public candidates in connection with that  
                 representation.
               c.     The council's actions shall be in accordance with  
                 its constitution, bylaws, and policies and procedures.

           EXISTING LAW  establishes the Veterans' Home Allied Council,  
          pursuant to the constitution of the Allied Council, Veterans'  
          Home of California, and which is composed of members of the  
          home, is hereby recognized as an established advisory body to  
          the administrator.

           FISCAL EFFECT  :   Unknown.

           COMMENTS  :   The structure, purpose and function of the Veterans'  
          Home Allied Council is governed by their constitution, which  
          outlines their scope of operations.

          It is unclear whether was written directive from the California  
          Department of Veterans Affairs informing the Allied Council that  
          they cannot advocate before the Legislature for Home members on  
          specified policy issues affecting the members of the homes. It  
          appears the communication of this information may have been  
          verbal and therefore unverifiable.  

          The author and the sponsor of this bill feel a clarification of  
          California Military and Veterans Code Section 1050 is needed to  








                                                                  AB 2156
                                                                  Page  2

          the intent of the legislature is to allow for the authorized  
          member organization within Veterans' Home of California to have  
          a complete voice to when speaking to the home administrator or  
          the legislature on policy issues.  

          Recent amendments clarify that member of the Allied Council,  
          This recognizes a well accepted principle on our part and it  
          shows California Department of Veterans Affairs preference for  
          no representation by the Allied Council. Of course you can act  
          as individuals, says the California Department of Veterans  
          Affairs. But then we would not have the power of a unified  
          position or the ability to use resources of the Allied Council  
          to make that position known.




           REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION  :   

           Support 
           
          Allied Counsel Veterans Home of California

           Opposition 
           
          None on file.
           
          Analysis Prepared by  :    Eric Worthen / V. A. / (916) 319-3550