BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  SB 1127
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   August 4, 2010

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                Felipe Fuentes, Chair

                   SB 1127 (Oropeza) - As Amended:  August 2, 2010 

          Policy Committee:                              Veterans  
          AffairsVote: 8-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          No     Reimbursable:  No

           SUMMARY  

          This bill requires the California Department of Veterans Affairs  
          (CDVA) to make specified information available to family members  
          of veterans returning from active duty.  Specifically, this  
          bill:

          1)Requires the department to provide family members with  
            internet resources providing information on the signs of  
            exposure to:

             a)   Agent Orange and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)  
               from the Vietnam War.

             b)   Depleted uranium and Gulf War Syndrome from the first  
               Gulf War.

             c)   Traumatic brain injury and PTSD from the conflicts in  
               Iraq and Afghanistan.

          2)Provide printed material regarding the above ailments at any  
            public function of the department.

          3)Update the department website to provide a link to the Network  
            of Care for Veterans and Service Members site.

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          The department indicates that the bill is consistent with  
          current efforts, thus any costs will be absorbable within  
          existing resources.









                                                                  SB 1127
                                                                  Page  2

           COMMENTS  

           Purpose  . According to the author, who cites several recent  
          studies, returning war veterans can often have problems  
          reintegrating to society. As a result of unseen and undiagnosed  
          ailments these veterans then fall through the cracks of the VA  
          health system and land on county mental health systems, which  
          may not cover a particular ailment. In May 2009, the  
          Administration launched the Network for Care for Veterans  
          website-an online tool allowing easier access to information and  
          resources for veterans. This bill is intended to increase  
          awareness among the families of veterans with this site as well  
          as other resources available to returning veterans.

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081