BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  AB 2156
                                                                  Page  1

          CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
          AB 2156 (Evans)
          As Amended  June 14, 2010
          Majority vote
           
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          |ASSEMBLY:  |74-0 |(May 6, 2010)   |SENATE: |33-0 |(August 9,     |
          |           |     |                |        |     |2010)          |
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           Original Committee Reference:    V. A.

          SUMMARY  :  Provides for the establishment of a Veterans; Home  
          Allied Council (Council) for each veterans' home, and  
          additionally permits each Council to represent veterans who  
          reside in the veterans' home for which the Council was  
          established in matters before the Legislature.  Specifically,  
           this bill  : permits each Council to represent veterans who reside  
          at the veterans' home in matters before the Legislature,  
          providing that representation, complies with specified  
          requirements as follows: 

          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.

           The Senate amendments  are technical and non-substantive.

           EXISTING LAW  establishes the Veterans' Home Allied Council  
          pursuant to the constitution of the Allied Council, Veterans'  
          Home of California, comprised of members of the home, as an  
          advisory body to the Administrator of the Veterans' Home.

           AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY  , this bill was substantially similar  
          to the version passed by the Senate.

           FISCAL EFFECT  : No fiscal impact, as reported by the Senate  
          Appropriations Committee.   

           COMMENTS  :  According to the author's office and sponsor this  








                                                                  AB 2156
                                                                  Page  2

          bill the Allied Council Veterans' Home of California, this bill  
          is needed to clarify the intent of the Legislature 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.

          The Department of Veterans Affairs contends that this bill  
          creates tension between the homes within the California Veterans  
          Home system and also creates unnecessary and competing advocacy  
          groups between the homes.  The department also contends that  
          this bill jeopardizes the smaller homes in the system and  
          threatens their equal voice to share their concerns.  
           

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Eric Worthen / V. A. / (916) 319-3550   
          FN: 0005601