BILL NUMBER: SB 950	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Wiggins

                        FEBRUARY 4, 2010

   An act to amend Section 1035.7 of the Military and Veterans Code,
relating to veterans.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 950, as introduced, Wiggins. Veterans homes: accounting for
charges: written notification.
   Existing law provides for the establishment and operation of the
Veterans' Home of California at various sites, and that there shall
be an administrator for each home or homesite. Existing law requires
the administrator of the home to provide each member of the home upon
admission, with a written notice, as specified, of the costs of care
that may be incurred in excess of the member contribution fee.
   This bill would require the written notice to also include the
terms and conditions upon which the member fees and costs can be
changed, and to require a signature of the veteran to acknowledge
that he or she has read and understands the notice. This bill would
also require the notice to be written in plain, straightforward
language, as specified.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 1035.7 of the Military and Veterans Code is
amended to read:
   1035.7.   (a)    Upon admission to a California
veterans home, the administrator of each home shall provide written
notice to the veteran informing him or her of costs of care that may
be incurred in excess of the member contribution fee. The
notification shall: 
   (a) 
    (1)  Include an explanation of circumstances under which
the member may incur costs that are in excess of the contribution
fee. 
   (b) 
    (2)  Specifically indicate that these excess costs of
care are costs in addition to, or above and beyond, the member
contribution fee. 
   (c) 
    (3)  Provide examples of "excess costs of care that are
frequently incurred by veterans." 
   (d) 
    (4)  Inform the member that he or she will receive a
quarterly accounting statement of the total excess costs of care, but
that the statement is provided for informational purposes only.

   (e) 
    (5)  Inform the veteran that, if he or she is a resident
of the home at the time of death, the home may disburse his or her
moneys or personal property for payment of unreimbursed excess costs
of care. 
   (f) 
    (6)  Include a statement advising the member to seek
counsel from a legal expert to protect his or her assets. 
   (7) Include the terms and conditions upon which the member fees
and costs can be changed.  
   (b) The notification shall require the signature of the veteran
that acknowledges that he or she has read and understands the
notification.  
   (c) The notification shall be written in plain, straightforward
language, avoiding technical terms as much as possible, and using a
coherent and easily readable style.