BILL NUMBER: AB 1226	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Committee on Veterans Affairs (Cook (Chair), Block,
Gorell, Nielsen, V. Manuel Pérez, Williams, and Yamada)

                        FEBRUARY 18, 2011

   An act to amend Section 974 of the Military and Veterans Code,
relating to veterans.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1226, as introduced, Committee on Veterans Affairs. Department
of Veterans Affairs: annual report: county veterans service officer
activities.
   Existing law requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to
annually prepare a report of the activities of county veterans
service officers, as specified, and may require each county veterans
service officer to submit information required to prepare the report.

   This bill would expand the reporting requirements of the
Department of Veterans Affairs to include the percentage of veterans
receiving, and how California ranks among all states in the
percentage of veterans receiving, federal veteran compensation and
pension benefits.
   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 974 of the Military and Veterans Code is
amended to read:
   974.  (a) The Department of Veterans Affairs shall annually
prepare a report of the activities of county  veteran
  veterans  service officers, and may require each
county  veteran   veterans  service officer
to submit information required to prepare the report. The report
shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
   (1) The number of monthly federal benefit payments obtained on
behalf of veterans.
   (2) The total value of those monthly benefit payments.
   (3) The average value of those monthly benefit payments.
   (4) The number of one-time benefit payments obtained, including
both single-payment benefits and retroactive payments.
   (5) The total value of one-time benefit payments obtained.
   (6) The average value of these one-time benefit payments obtained.

   (7) The percentage of veterans receiving, and how California ranks
among all states in the percentage of veterans receiving, federal
veteran compensation and pension benefits. 
   (b) The information required to be included in paragraphs (1) to
 (6)   (7)  , inclusive, of subdivision (a)
shall be set forth for each county together with a statewide total.
   (c) The department shall transmit a copy of the report to the
Department of Finance, the State Department of Health Services, 
or a successor department  the California Veterans Board, and to
each Member of the Legislature.