BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  AB 2156
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   April 28, 2010

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                Felipe Fuentes, Chair

                    AB 2156 (Evans) - As Amended:  April 8, 2010 

          Policy Committee:                              Veterans  
          AffairsVote: 9-0
                        Elections                             7-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          No     Reimbursable:               

           SUMMARY  

          This bill allows the Veterans' Home Allied Councils to represent  
          those who reside at the various veterans home in matters before  
          the Legislature, as long as such representation is approved by  
          the majority of the voting members of the Council and is done in  
          accordance with the council's constitution, bylaws, policies,  
          and procedures.  In addition, the Council may not engage in any  
          campaign or endorse any candidates in conjunction with such  
          representation.

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Negligible fiscal impact.

           COMMENTS  

           Purpose  .  According to the author, Military and Veterans Code  
          Section 1050, the Allied Councils of the Veterans' Homes,  
          composed of members of each home, are recognized as established  
          advisory bodies to the respective home administrators.  (The  
          state currently has five veterans homes-in Yountville, Barstow,  
          Chula Vista, Ventura, and Lancaster.  A new home in West Los  
          Angeles is nearing completion and new homes for Redding and  
          Fresno are in design.)

          The author indicates that the Department of Veterans Affairs' is  
          interpreting Section 1050 to mean that Allied Councils are only  
          advisory bodies and cannot represent veterans' interests  
          directly to the Legislature.  The author states that "?Veterans  
          feel that better communication with CDVA is possible and  








                                                                  AB 2156
                                                                  Page  2

          necessary and that in order to negotiate on their behalf, the  
          Allied Council must have clear authority to speak for Home  
          members." 

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081