BILL ANALYSIS
AB 2784
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Date of Hearing: April 22, 2010
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS
Paul J. Cook, Chair
AB 2784 (Committee on Veterans) - As Amended: April 20, 2010
SUBJECT : Veterans.
SUMMARY : This bill would increase the size of the board to 9
members, and would require 2 of the members to have served in
Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom.
Specifically, this bill :
1. Prohibits the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from
recommending any policy change that would modify any
veterans' program without first fully briefing the board.
2. Provides that "program" also refers to any other program
or service offered or delivered to veterans by another
state agency or department.
3. Requires the Department of Veterans Affairs, in order to
ensure that it properly identifies and prioritizes the
needs of the veteran community in its strategic plan, to
conduct a formal assessment of those needs.
4. Require the department, in consultation with the
California Veterans Board, to develop measurable goals and
objectives, as well as a specific department division
action plan, as provided.
5. Encourages the Governor, when making the appointments to
the board, to consider a veteran with specific expertise in
women veterans' mental and physical health issues.
6. Mandates the department, in order to ensure that it
effectively measures progress toward meeting key goals and
objectives, to follow the provisions in its strategic plan
requiring it to establish performance measures, and would
require the California Department of Veterans Affairs to
report these measures to the board and requires this
information within its annual report to the Legislature by
October 1 of each year.
EXISTING LAW :
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1.Provides that the California Veterans Board consists of 7
members appointed by the Governor subject to Senate
confirmation. All members of the board are required to be
veterans.
2.Requires at least one member of the California Veterans Board
to have substantial training or professional expertise in
geriatrics, gerontology, or long-term care.
3.Prohibits the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from effectuating
any policy change that would modify any veterans' program
without first fully briefing the board regarding the effects
upon veterans of the proposed policy change.
4.Defines "program" within this code section to mean the
Veterans' Home of California, the veterans' farm and home
purchase program, including any associated insurance programs,
and the veterans' education assistance program.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown.
COMMENTS : In 1946, the California Legislature established the
California Veterans Board. As authorized by the Military and
Veterans Code, the board determines the policies for all
operations of the California Department of Veterans Affairs. In
addition, the California Veterans Board is responsible for
hearing the appeals of veterans for whom the California
Department of Veterans Affairs has denied services and approving
interest rate changes for the California Department of Veterans
Affairs' Cal-Vet program. The California Veterans Board has also
defined its mission to include ensuring that California
veterans-who it indicates number more than 2.1 million-and their
dependents are treated fairly and are given access to all
available information about benefits authorized by state law,
including quality residential facilities for veterans. Finally,
the board interfaces with state veterans' organizations to share
the governor's veteran-related public policy positions with the
veterans living in California and to inform the governor of
veterans' viewpoints and concerns. The law
Members volunteer their time on the board and serve four-year
terms, except for the member residing at one of the Veterans
Homes of California (Veterans Homes), who serves for two years.
The state law on board membership and composition has changed
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five times beginning in 1996, with the most recent change made
in September 2002. These changes define the types of expertise
the Legislature expects from veterans sitting on the board.
The members of the California Veterans Board select a
chairperson to lead the board through its business. The
California Veterans Board created nine select committees to
facilitate its ability to conduct normal board business. With
one or two board members on its staff, each select committee
analyzes specific issues on behalf of the board and recommends
actions for the board to approve.
Amendment to this bill were added in support of finding that
where a part of the report issued by the California Research
Bureau, California State Library in August of 2009, titled
"California's Women Veterans: Challenges and Needs of Those Who
Served." The changing make up of the military dictates a need
for gender specific expertise. The U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs projects the number of women veterans throughout the
United States to grow to 14 percent in the next twenty years.
Women veterans in California and nationally are both younger and
more racially and ethnically diverse than their male
counterparts.
The California Veterans Board had no input into the development
of the California Department of Veterans Affairs recent
strategic plan. The October 27, 2009 audit report revealed some
large problems with the process of developing the strategic
plan. The author believes use of the California Veterans Board
would have given some continuity and direction to the
development of a comprehensive strategic plan.
The expansion of the board to include veterans from Operation
Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) and Operations Iraqi Freedom
(Iraq) will give the board the needed expertise of making
recommendation and implementing policy that factor in the
changing needs of newer veterans that have had a different
combat experience.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
American Legion, Department of California
AMVETS, Department of California
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Vietnam Veterans of America, CA State Council
Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by : Eric Worthen / V. A. / (916) 319-3550