BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  AB 2156
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   April 20, 2010

                  ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON ELECTIONS AND REDISTRICTING
                                  Paul Fong, Chair
                     AB 2156 (Evans) - As Amended:  April 8, 2010
           
          SUBJECT  :   Military and veterans: Veterans' Home Allied Council.

           SUMMARY  :   Allows the Veterans' Home Allied Council (Council) to  
          represent veterans who reside at a veterans' home in matters  
          before the Legislature, if the Council complies with the  
          following requirements:   

          1)The Council's representation shall be approved by a majority  
            of the voting members of the Council.

          2)The Council shall not engage in any campaign or endorse public  
            candidates in connection with that representation.

          3)The Council's actions shall be in accordance with its  
            constitution, bylaws, and policies and procedures.

           EXISTING LAW  establishes the Council which is comprised of  
          members of the Veterans' Home of California. 

           FISCAL EFFECT  :   Unknown

           COMMENTS  :   

           1)Purpose of the Bill :   According to the author:

               Military and Veterans Code 1050 states that the Veterans'  
               Home Allied Council established pursuant to the  
               constitution of the Allied Council, Veterans' Home of  
               California, and which is composed of members of the home,  
               is recognized as an established advisory body to the  
               administrator.  

               The California Department of Veterans Affairs (CDVA) is  
               interpreting the code to read that the Allied Council is  
               only "an advisory body" and cannot represent veterans'  
               interest directly to the Legislature.  The Allied Council  
               has been advised by the Home administrator that it may not  
               represent veterans' issues before the Legislature.   









                                                                  AB 2156
                                                                  Page  2

               Veterans feel that better communication with CDVA is possible  
               and necessary and that in order to negotiate on their behalf,  
               the Allied Council must have clear authority to speak for  
               Home members. AB 2156 would permit the Veterans' Home Allied  
               Council to represent veterans who reside in the Home in  
               matters before the legislature.  

           2)Arguments in Support  :  In support of this bill, the Allied  
            Council Veterans Home of California asserts that "AB 2156  
            removes the restrictions placed on the Allied Councils so  
            [they] may help all of [their] veterans on any issue they feel  
            needs to be brought to the attention of the Legislature".

           3)Double-Referral  :  This bill was heard in the Assembly Veterans  
            Affairs Committee on April 13, 2010, and was approved by the  
            committee by a 9-0 vote.

           REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION  :   

           Support 
           
          Allied Council, Veterans Home of California

           Opposition 
           
          None on file.
           
          Analysis Prepared by  :    Qiana Charles / E. & R. / (916)  
          319-2094