BILL ANALYSIS
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 1002|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 1002
Author: Wiggins (D)
Amended: As introduced
Vote: 21
SENATE VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE : 4-0, 4/13/10
AYES: Denham, Correa, Negrete McLeod, Cedillo
NO VOTE RECORDED: Wyland
SUBJECT : Veterans Home of California
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill updates a section of the Military and
Veterans Code which places within the Department of
Veterans Affairs (DVA) a Veterans' Home of California,
Yountville. This bill declares that additionally there are
in the DVA a Veterans' Home of California, Barstow, a
Veterans' Home of California, Chula Vista, a Veterans' Home
of California, Lancaster, and a Veterans' Home of
California, Ventura. This bill requires the Veterans' Home
of California, Lancaster, to also be known as the "William
J. 'Pete' Knight Veterans' Home of California, Lancaster."
This bill makes other conforming changes.
ANALYSIS : Existing law provides for the establishment
and operation of the Veterans' Home of California at
various sites, and declares that there is in the DVA a
Veterans' Home of California, Yountville.
CONTINUED
SB 1002
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2
This bill brings this code section up to date now that the
construction of these homes has been completed and the
homes are operating. This bill also provides that the
Veterans' Home built in Lancaster, California shall be
known as the "William J. 'Pete' Knight Veterans' Home of
California, Lancaster" after the late Senator Pete Knight
who represented that area from 1992 until 2004.
Comments
In 1884, land in Yountville was given to the state to
establish a home for Civil War and other veterans. This
was the extent of California's involvement in veterans'
homes for over a century. In the 1990s, it was decided
that a formal veteran's home system should be created. In
1996, a new veterans' home was opened in Barstow followed
by the Chula Vista Home in 2000. Proposition 16 of 2000
sought to raise money for two homes, one in Ventura and one
in Lancaster. It was later decided the home system should
ultimately be expanded to eight homes. Eventually, with
the help of the federal government, the two new southern
California homes were made part of the Greater Los Angeles
and Ventura County project and a home in West Los Angeles
was added. The end of 2009 saw the opening of the Ventura
and Lancaster homes. The third home, Los Angeles, is
expected to be completed in the summer of 2010.
Related Legislation
SB 1003 (Wiggins) is a companion measure which also updates
Section 1010 of the Military and Veterans Code to reflect
the current Veterans' Homes of California which are all
completed and operational.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: No
Local: No
TSM:mw 4/15/10 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: NONE RECEIVED
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