BILL ANALYSIS
AB 2784
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 2784 ( Veterans Affairs Committee)
As Amended May 28, 2010
Majority vote
VETERANS AFFAIRS 9-0 APPROPRIATIONS 17-0
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|Ayes:|Cook, Salas, Block, |Ayes:|Fuentes, Conway, Ammiano, |
| |DeVore, Gilmore, Lieu, V. | |Bradford, Charles |
| |Manuel Perez, Saldana, | |Calderon, Coto, Davis, |
| |Yamada | |Harkey, Miller, Monning, |
| | | |Nielsen, Norby, Ruskin, |
| | | |Skinner, Solorio, |
| | | |Torlakson, Torrico |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Increases the size of the California Veterans Board
(Board) to nine members, and would require two of the members to
have served in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring
Freedom. Specifically, this bill :
1)Prohibits the Secretary of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
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 VA, 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)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.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, ongoing cost of at least $50,000 for a half-time
position for increase coordination with the Board.
AB 2784
Page 2
COMMENTS : In 1946, the California Legislature established the
Board. As authorized by the Military and Veterans Code, the
Board determines the policies for all operations of VA. In
addition, the 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
VA Cal-Vet program. The 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.
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
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 Board select a chairperson to lead the board
through its business. The 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.
Previous amendments 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 United
States Department of Veterans Affairs projects the number of
women veterans throughout the United States to grow to 14% in
the next 20 years. Women veterans in California and nationally
are both younger and more racially and ethnically diverse than
their male counterparts.
AB 2784
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The Board had no input into the development of the VA's 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 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.
As amended by the Assembly Appropriations Committee, language
was deleted relating to VA conducting a needs assessment and
performing other related work.
Analysis Prepared by : Eric Worthen / V. A. / (916) 319-3550
FN: 0004754