BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
Senator Christine Kehoe, Chair
2785 (Cook)
Hearing Date: 07/15/2010 Amended: 05/13/2010
Consultant: Maureen Ortiz Policy Vote: VA 4-0
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BILL SUMMARY: AB 2785 requires the Department of Veterans
Affairs (DVA) to identify other state agencies and departments
that offer or provide services to veterans, every year beginning
June 30, 2011 for the purpose of entering into formal agreements
that specify the roles and activities of the entities.
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Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
Major Provisions 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 Fund
Admin expenses $0
$100 $100 General
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STAFF COMMENTS: This bill meets the criteria for referral to
the Suspense file.
The Department of Veterans Affairs indicates the need for one
Associate Governmental Program Analyst to identify and enter
into agreements with other state agencies providing veterans
services. Other state departments and agencies will incur minor
costs.
AB 2785 requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to enter
into formal agreements that specify the respective roles and
activities of the entities as they relate to veterans. It is
intended to encourage interaction between the DVA and other
state agencies and departments that could provide additional
services to veterans in a coordinated and efficient manner.
AB 2785 contains Legislative findings and declarations that a
2009 State Audit of the DVA confirmed that the department
provides few direct services to veterans other than the home
loan program; and that California is on the verge of
experiencing the return of thousands of soldiers from Operation
Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
According to the department, its Veterans Services Division is
responsible for collaborating with the different agencies that
provide services to veterans, however, it receives minimal
funding for its operations - only 2% of the department's total
budget. According to the State Auditor Report, the department
has recently decided that Veterans Services should take a more
active role in increasing awareness among veterans about
available services and benefits. Consequently, Veterans
Services is implementing various activities to further its
outreach efforts.
Other reasons for veterans not receiving federal benefits that
they are entitled to include a) veterans' lack of knowledge
about those benefits, b) the complexity of the claims process,
and c) the backlog in the federal DVA's processing of veterans'
claims - especially when applications are incomplete.