BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  SB 419
                                                                  Page  1


          SENATE THIRD READING
          SB 419 (Veterans Affairs Committee)
          As Introduced  February 26, 2009
          Majority Vote 

           SENATE VOTE  :37-0  
           
           VETERAN AFFAIRS     8-0                                         
           
           -------------------------------- 
          |Ayes:|Salas, Cook, DeVore,      |
          |     |Gilmore, Huber, V. Perez, |
          |     |Saldana, Yamada           |
          |-----+--------------------------|
          |     |                          |
           -------------------------------- 
           SUMMARY  :  This bill modifies findings and declaration that it is  
          an efficient and reasonable use of County Veterans Service  
          Officer (CVSO) Subvention Fund to increase the annual budget for  
          CVSOs in an amount not to exceed $11 million.  

           EXISTING LAW  :

          1)Authorizes each county board of supervisors to appoint a  
            county veteran service officer; and, permits the county to  
            provide the officer with any assistance and facilities that it  
            determines to be necessary. 

          2)Finds and declares that 50% of the amount annually budgeted  
            for CVSOs is approximately $5 million, and that it is an  
            efficient and reasonable use of state funds to increase the  
            annual budget for CVSOs in an amount not to exceed $5 million.

           FISCAL EFFECT  :  None

           COMMENTS  :  CVSOs are a joint venture of different levels of  
          government to help veterans claim their benefits.  California  
          has an agreement with counties to pay 50% of the cost.  At the  
          time the agreement was made, 50% equaled $5 million and now that  
          percentage equals $11 million.

          The Veterans Affairs Committee states that this bill is clean-up  
          language for Military and Veterans Code, Section 972.1.  This  
          bill is intended to reflect half the present day cost of funding  








                                                                  SB 419
                                                                  Page  2


          the CVSOs, which is now $11 million. The state, through previous  
          legislation, committed to funding half the cost of the CVSO  
          program. 
           
           Military and Veterans Code, Section 972.1 still contains the $5  
          million figure.  Last year SB 1778 (Senate Veterans Affairs  
          Committee) was a consent calendar item but was vetoed by  
          Governor Schwarzenegger because of the Budget impasse.

           
          Analysis Prepared by  :    Eric Worthen / V. A. / (916) 319-3550 

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