BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  AB 1226
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          Date of Hearing:   May 11, 2011

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                Felipe Fuentes, Chair

              AB 1226 (Committee on Veterans Affairs) - As Introduced:  
                                  February 18, 2011

          Policy Committee:                              Vets Vote:9-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program: 
          no     Reimbursable:               

           SUMMARY  

          This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (CDVA) to 
          include in its annual report regarding the activities of county 
          veterans service officers (CVSO) the percentage of veterans 
          receiving federal veteran compensation and pension benefits, and 
          how California ranks among the states in this percentage.  
          
          FISCAL EFFECT  

          Minor absorbable costs to CDVA to add an additional component to 
          its annual CVSO report. 

           COMMENTS 

           Rationale  . According to the committee, California, home to 
          approximately two million veterans, has the highest veteran 
          population in the country.  The state, however, falls below the 
          national average in terms of  percentage of veterans receiving 
          federal veterans benefits.  A 2009 review by the Bureau of State 
          Audits indicates that only 12.86 percent of veterans in 
          California participate in federal benefit programs, compared to 
          16.72 percent and 14.88 percent in Texas and Florida.  The 
          national average is 13.94 percent. 

          In its 2010-2015 Business Plan, CDVA states intent to "increase 
          the percentage of veterans in California who receive USDVA 
          compensation and benefits to at least the national average by 
          2014."   

          Modifying the current reporting requirements to include USDVA 
          benefits participation rates gives legislators additional 








                                                                  AB 1226
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          information to evaluate the effectiveness of efforts to reach 
          veterans and connect them with benefits and allows the 
          Legislature to better track the CDVA's progress.   

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Geoff Long / APPR. / (916) 319-2081