BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 557
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ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 557 (John A. Pérez, Cook, and Pan)
As Amended May 5, 2011
Majority vote
VETERANS AFFAIRS 9-0 APPROPRIATIONS 17-0
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|Ayes:|Cook, Pan, Atkins, Block, |Ayes:|Fuentes, Harkey, |
| |Knight, Nielsen, V. | |Blumenfield, Bradford, |
| |Manuel Pérez, Williams, | |Charles Calderon, Campos, |
| |Yamada | |Davis, Donnelly, Gatto, |
| | | |Hall, Hill, Lara, |
| | | |Mitchell, Nielsen, Norby, |
| | | |Solorio, Wagner |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Creates the California Interagency Council on Veteran
Services and Programs (Council), bringing together key
stakeholders with the goal that the state's veterans service
programs are administered and integrated with maximum efficacy
and efficiency.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, annual costs likely in the range of $50,000 assuming
state time, office expenses and equipment, and little to no
travel.
COMMENTS : This bill implements primary findings from a 2009
audit by the Bureau of State Audits (Audit) of the California
Department of Veterans Affairs (Department). The Audit found
that the Department provides few direct services to veterans
(outside of its operation of six veteran homes and the CalVet
home loan program) and that the Department has limited
interaction and few formal agreements with other state agencies
and departments that could provide additional services to
veterans if done so in a coordinated and efficient manner.
The Department has made efforts to improve in this area as
evidenced by recent memorandums of understanding with various
stakeholders. However, the State Auditor recommended the
Department adopt a more systematic process for identifying and
prioritizing the entities with which the Department collaborates
AB 557
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in order to adequately identify the service providers and
stakeholders that could assist the Department in its efforts to
increase veterans' awareness of available benefits and programs.
This bill creates a forum and a structure, bringing together
those stakeholders who are involved in programs that serve
veterans and is in alignment with the recommendation of the
Auditor for a more systematic process for identifying and
prioritizing the Department's collaborative efforts. It is
reasonable to conclude that the Council will at the least
promote communication and coordination between the stakeholders
who work with and support veterans. It will also provide a
single place where interested parties and the public may reach
multiple veterans service providers/stakeholders at once. The
meeting frequency of the Council decreases over time as
foundational efforts are completed.
Analysis Prepared by : John Spangler / V. A. / (916) 319-3550
FN: 0000894