BILL ANALYSIS
AB 2309
Page 1
Date of Hearing: April 27, 2010
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS
Paul J. Cook, Chair
AB 2309 (Fletcher) - As Introduced: February 19, 2010
SUBJECT : Veterans' Home of California.
SUMMARY : This bill updates provisions to declare that
additionally there are in the department a Veterans' Home of
California, Barstow, a Veterans' Home of California, Chula
Vista, a Veterans' Home of California, Lancaster, and a
Veterans' Home of California, Ventura. Specifically, this bill :
1.Provides for the Veterans' Home of California, Chula Vista, to
also be known as the "John Smith Memorial Veterans' Home."
2.Removes language stating there shall be an administrator for,
and located at, each site of the southern California home.
3.Deletes language allowing the department to complete any
pre-application process necessary with the United States
Department of Veterans Affairs for construction of the second
home.
EXISTING LAW provides for the establishment and operation of the
Veterans' Home of California at various sites, and declares that
there is in the Department of Veterans Affairs a Veterans' Home
of California, Yountville.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS : John Smith's service to the veteran community
included working with over a dozen veterans' organizations on
the local, state and national levels. In 1981 John Smith was one
of the original founders of Vietnam Veterans of San Diego, now
Veterans Village of San Diego, which serves to help not only
homeless veterans, but all of the regions military veterans and
their families through a wide variety of outreach programs.
John Smith was a Special Representative for the California
Department of Veterans Affairs, with Public Affairs
responsibilities at the California Veterans Home in Chula Vista.
Prior to this dual assignment, he was the first Director of
AB 2309
Page 2
Volunteer Services for the Chula Vista Veterans Home. After
developing the Volunteer Services Department, he then
volunteered to take on the additional responsibility of Chief
Fundraiser for the Veterans Home.
The California Department of Veterans Affairs has a mission "to
provide the state's aged and/or disabled veterans with
rehabilitative, residential, and medical care and services in a
home-like environment at the California Veterans Homes."
The Chula Vista Veterans Home is located on a 30-acre site off
Telegraph Canyon Road, adjacent to Sharp Chula Vista Medical
Center, the Veterans Home of California, Chula Vista, is the
only veterans home located in coastal, urban Southern
California. Completed in May 2000, VHC-Chula Vista is a 400-bed
long-term care facility providing options for Domiciliary -
Independent Living, Licensed Residential, and Skilled Nursing
Care.
Suggest Amendments:
California Military and Veterans Code Section 1101 (b)
paragraphs 6 and 7 are deleted (page 2 lines 20 - 24) by this
measure in its current form. These sections are needed to
guarantee there is an on-site administrator at each home and
gives the California Department of Veterans Affairs permission
to seek federal funds that are to be used for Veterans Home
construction. According to the author's office the removal of
these sections was accidental.
The committee should consider amending the bill to add these
sections back into the bill.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
None on file.
Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by : Eric Worthen / V. A. / (916) 319-3550