BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    




                   Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
                           Senator Christine Kehoe, Chair

                                           2784 (Cook)
          
          Hearing Date:  08/12/2010           Amended: 07/15/2010
          Consultant:  Maureen Ortiz      Policy Vote: VA 4-0
          _________________________________________________________________ 
          ____
          BILL SUMMARY:   AB 2784 adds two additional members to the  
          California Veterans Board. 
          _________________________________________________________________ 
          ____
                            Fiscal Impact (in thousands)

           Major Provisions        2010-11      2011-12       2012-13     Fund
                                                                  
          Travel expenses                        ----------------minor,  
          absorbable--------------      General
          _________________________________________________________________ 
          ____
          STAFF COMMENTS:  AB 2784 increases the California Veterans Board  
          from 7 to 9 members.  In addition, the bill imposes the  
          following requirements on membership:

          a)   It requires that one board member have substantial training  
          or professional expertise in mental health counseling,  
          preferably in the areas of posttraumatic stress disorder,  
          military sexual trauma, or both.

          b)  It requires that one member of the board have a degree in  
          health care administration or experience in the financial  
          management of health care facilities.

          As more and more women are enlisting and returning from military  
          service, there is a growing need for someone on the Veterans  
          Board with expertise in mental health conditions, and in  
          particular, sexual trauma.  Current law requires that all  
          members of the Veterans Board be veterans, and makes the  
          following conditions on some of the members:

          a)  One member must be a resident of a California veterans home.

          b)  One member must have substantial training or professional  
          expertise in mortgage lending and real estate finance.











          c)  One member must have substantial training or professional  
          expertise in geriatrics, gerontology, or long-term care.

          d)  One member must have an accounting or auditing background,  
          and preferably shall be a certified public accountant.

          The California Veterans Board serves as an advocate for  
          veterans' affairs identifying needs and works to ensure and  
          enhance the rights and benefits of California veterans and their  
          dependents.   Its purpose statement includes the following:  a)   
          to determine the policies for all operations of CDVA, b) to hear  
          appeals from veterans who are denied a benefit by any division  
          of the department, and c) to serve as an advocate for veterans'  
          issues.