BILL ANALYSIS
AB 2309
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 2309 (Fletcher)
As Amended May 3, 2010
Majority vote
VETERANS AFFAIRS 8-0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|Ayes:|Cook, Block, DeVore, | | |
| |Gilmore, Lieu, V. Manuel | | |
| |Perez, Saldana, Yamada | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
| | | | |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY : Updates the Military and Veterans Code to rename various
veterans' homes, operated by the California Department of Veterans
Affairs (Department) as follows: 1) Veterans' Home of California,
Barstow; 2) Veterans' Home of California, Chula Vista; 3) Veterans'
Home of California, Lancaster; and, 4) Veterans' Home of
California, Ventura. Specifically, this bill :
1)Provides that the Veterans' Home of California, Chula Vista, 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)Authorizes the Department to complete any pre-application process
necessary with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs
for construction of the homes.
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 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.
AB 2309
Page 2
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
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 Department 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.
Analysis Prepared by : Eric Worthen / V. A. / (916) 319-3550
FN: 0004199