BILL ANALYSIS �
SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS
LOU CORREA, CHAIRMAN
Bill No: AB 1931
Author: Gorell
Version: May 25, 2012
Hearing Date: June 26, 2012
Fiscal: Yes
Consultant: Donald E. Wilson
SUBJECT OF BILL
California Department of Veterans Affairs (CDVA)
consolidation of services.
PROPOSED LAW
1. Establish the California Veterans and Workforce
Development Division (CVSWDD) within CDVA.
2. CVSWDD shall coordinate with other state agencies,
including the California Interagency Council on Veterans,
that provide benefits and assistance to veterans to ensure
that information be made available to all state agencies
that serve California veterans.
3. Provides that the CVSWDD shall administer programs and
services described in the federal Jobs for Veterans State
Grant Program, including but not limited to, overseeing the
federal Local Veterans' Employment Representatives program
(LVER), and the Transition Assistance Program (TAP), as
currently administered by the Employment Development
Department (EDD).
4. Provides that the division shall work with staff from
the EDD to develop a plan which shall be completed by May
1, 2013.
5. Ensures that other state agencies and officials who are
involved in the implementation and administration of
veterans service programs be informed of any changes to
existing programs or new programs that are established.
6. The Division shall collaborate with the California
Interagency Council on Veterans to implement any further
change to the delivery of veterans services not prescribed
by the plan developed in coordination with EDD.
EXISTING LAW AND BACKGROUND
1. Establishes the Department of Veterans.
2. County Veteran Service Organization Survey, CDVA
January 2010: In January 2010, the California
Department of Veterans Affairs surveyed County Veteran
Service Offices (CVSOs). A total of 32 CVSO
representatives completed the questionnaire, which
addressed such issues as training, use of work
studies, claim submissions, transportation options,
and program budget cuts. The summary below is a
selection of the survey's findings, primarily focused
on workforce development needs of veterans.
The three top priority "needs" of veterans were
reported as advocacy and assistance with benefits,
employment, and healthcare. Other high priority
issues included financial assistance, housing and
homelessness, and dental care.
The most pressing administrative issue
identified was having very limited funding for
support staff which impaired the ability of the CVSO
to provide outreach, file claims, and generally meet
local veterans' needs in a timely fashion.
While 65.6% of all CVSOs served veterans on
both an appointment and walk-in basis, 62.5%
reported having waiting lists for veterans who had
requested assistance with claims or a benefit
analysis.
1. Since 1946, California has received an annual
workforce development grant called the Jobs for
Veterans State Grant Program from the federal
Department of Labor (DOL). Federal guidance defines
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the funds as a limited use "staffing grant." Recent
changes have shifted the funding from a "staffing
grant" to a "resource". The Employment Development
Department (EDD) administers the program through a
five- year Business Plan.
2. Key Objectives of the business plan are as follows
Implementation of AB 3065, Chapter 590,
Statutes of 2008, which allows veterans without
civil service status to take promotional exams;
Partnerships with public utilities and
community colleges to train and employ veterans;
Development of business relationships with
various organizations in the health care, banking,
transportation and green industries, as well as
other emerging technology fields.
Continuing to assess and target
veteran-friendly industries for additional
recruiting and marketing programs to veterans;
Providing WIA funds to public and private
sector entities in partnership with the EDD for job
training and placement of veterans in high growth
fields such as health care, emergency medical
technology, construction, security, law enforcement
and computer services; and
Recruiting, training, and preparing Veteran
Workforce Specialists and Veteran Employment Service
Specialist staff in anticipation of higher than
average retirement of eligible employees over the
next five years.
1. California has low veteran participation rates in
federal programs compared to other states with large
veteran populations such as Texas.
2. AB 716 (Huber) of 2009 was intended to help CDVA
identify veterans in the state with the help of EDD
and the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The bill
was vetoed by the Governor.
COMMENT
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1. Legislative Counsel advises that this bill is in
conflict with SB 1505 (DeSaulnier); however, 1505 is being
held and unlikely therefore to create a conflict problem.
2. Why is DVOP not included in the transfer? Should the
transfer not be complete?
RECOMMENDED AMENDMENT - Include DVOPs in the transfer to
CDVA.
3. Throughout the winter recess in 2009 and early 2010,
the California Research Bureau sponsored site visits to
several locations to review the various programs and how
those programs service veterans. Topics from workforce
development to mental health and homelessness were covered.
The main factor that recurred over and over at these events
was the lack of coordination by CDVA with other state
agencies and departments that offer services and programs
to veterans and the lack of appropriate outreach necessary
to funnel these veterans to the proper program.
Attempts are being made now through the Veterans
Interagency Council to create ways to test their
effectiveness and whether or not they are serving veterans.
Creating advisory councils and evaluations will reveal
what we already know about CDVA's effectiveness or the
inability to provide meaningful programs to our veterans.
4. Texas used to have low participation rates like
California now has. In 2005 Texas ranked 32nd amongst
states in veteran employment. Texas now has more veterans
collecting federal benefits than California does in spite
of the fact that California has 400,000 more veterans than
Texas does.
5. Most attribute Texas's success to the fact that in 2006
it transferred its veteran workforce program from its
workforce commission to its veterans commission.
According to the author's office, "Texas's prior poor
performance was attributed to a lack of focus and limited
ability to provide direct assistance to unemployed
veterans. The veteran representatives at the Texas One
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Stops served a variety of client groups including veterans.
Once the workforce programs were transferred, the TVC
convened a veteran stakeholder focus group to develop clear
performance standards and reporting requirements to help
guide the program. In addition, the veteran
representatives at the One Stops were directed to
exclusively serve veterans as guided by the newly
established standards."
6. This bill is attempting to duplicate the success of the
Texas restructuring.
SUPPORT
None received
OPPOSE
None received
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