BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 1592
Page 1
Date of Hearing: March 21, 2012
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Cameron Smyth, Chair
AB 1592 (Olson) - As Amended: March 13, 2012
SUBJECT : Veterans: benefits: fee waiver.
SUMMARY : Allows a governing board of any county or city to
grant financial assistance, relief, and support to disabled
veterans by reducing or waiving specified fees for modifying a
dwelling for the purpose of greater accessibility.
Specifically, this bill :
1)Allows a governing board of any county or city to grant
financial assistance, relief, and support to disabled veterans
by reducing or waiving building inspection or permit fees
charged by the county or city for the modification of a
dwelling owned by a disabled veteran for the purpose of making
the dwelling more accessible.
2)Requires the governing body to use its general fund or other
appropriate revenue source to compensate for the difference
between a fee reduced or waived pursuant to the bill's
provisions and the fee that would otherwise be charged.
3)Uses the same definition for "disabled veterans" as existing
law, which is defined as "a veteran of the military, naval, or
air service of the United States, including, but not limited
to, the Philippine Commonwealth Army, the Regular Scouts, "Old
Scouts" and the Special Philippine Scouts, "New Scouts," who
has a least a 10-percent service-connected disability and who
is domiciled in the state."
EXISTING LAW :
1)Allows the board of supervisors of any county or the
legislative body of any city to grant financial assistance,
relief, and support to indigent veterans, and specifies that
such assistance, relief, and support shall be administered
through and by any military, naval, or marine organization
created for the purpose of aiding, relieving and supporting
such veterans.
2)Allows eligible veterans to hawk, peddle and vend any goods,
AB 1592
Page 2
wares or merchandise owned by him, as specified, without
payment of any business license, tax or fee by any
municipality, county or the state.
FISCAL EFFECT : None
COMMENTS :
1)This bill, sponsored by Mono County, permits cities and
counties to waive certain local government fees for disabled
veterans for the modification of a dwelling owned by the
disabled veteran for the purpose of making the dwelling more
accessible. According to the author and sponsor, "counties
like Mono would like to help disabled veterans return to
civilian life, just as they are currently able to do for
indigent veterans." They believe that this bill will "allow
local jurisdictions the option of reducing or waiving building
inspection and permit fees for ADA-type modifications to homes
owned by veterans with service-related disabilities."
2)The Committee may wish to consider whether this bill should
include a definition of the term "accessible" as it used in
the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to provide
clarification to cities and counties about the types of
modifications that could qualify for reduced or waived fees.
3)This bill contains provisions that ensure that the burden of
any reduction or waiving of fees is not placed on other fee
payers but is instead borne by the city or county's general
fund or other appropriate revenue source.
4)California offers several programs targeted to benefit the
needs of veterans. According to the California Department of
Veterans Affairs, there are programs in place that waive
college tuition fees for veterans' dependents at community
colleges, the CSU and UC system, a Disabled Veteran Business
Enterprise Program, and a program that gives veterans
preference in civil service examinations. Additionally, there
are programs that waive motor vehicle registration fees,
provide free "DV" handicap parking license plates for
qualified veterans, allow for reduced fishing and hunting
license fees for veterans, provide lifetime California Parks
passes, and allow for a waiver of municipal, county and state
business license fees and taxes for veterans for specified
business activities. This bill could potentially add
AB 1592
Page 3
additional benefits for those disabled veterans that wish to
modify their homes, if the county in which the disabled
veteran lives chooses to waive or reduce building inspection
or permit fees.
5)This bill is double-referred to the Committee on Veterans
Affairs.
6)Support argument : This bill sets up a program that is
permissive in nature and allows cities and counties to help
with the financial aspects of modifying and upgrading
dwellings owned by veterans.
Opposition argument : While this bill is permissive and does
not require all local governments to reduce or waive fees,
there is some question about whether legislation is even
needed to allow local governments to waive or reduce fees.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
Mono County �SPONSOR]
California State Association of Counties
Regional Council of Rural Counties
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by : Debbie Michel / L. GOV. / (916)
319-3958