BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 2198
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Date of Hearing: April 10, 2012
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS
Paul J. Cook, Chair
AB 2198 (Nielsen) - As Introduced: February 23, 2012
SUBJECT : Department of Veterans Affairs: reporting
requirements
SUMMARY : The Department of Veterans Affairs (Department) is
required to submit an annual report on the activity of County
Veteran Service Officers (CVSO). Specifically, this bill :
Expands the reporting requirement to include:
1) The number of veterans and their dependents who came in
contact with a CVSO.
2) The number of veterans and their dependents for whom
federal or state claims were filed, including new or
increased claims.
3) The number of veterans and their dependents who received
services from the federal government that relieved any
financial obligation of the state or a county.
4) The number of homeless veterans and their dependents who
were assisted in obtaining federal benefits.
This bill also extends the January 1 due date to March 1.
EXISTING LAW : Requires the Department to annually prepare a
report of the activities of CVSO, as specified, and may require
each CVSO to submit information required to prepare the report.
Existing law requires the following minimum information be
included in the report:
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
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payments;
5) The total value of one-time benefit payments obtained;
and
6) The average value of these one-time benefit payments
obtained.
The report must break down each of the foregoing totals by
county and include a statewide total. The Department is
required to transmit a copy of the report to the Department of
Finance, the State Department of Health Care Services, the
California Veterans Board, and to each Member of the Legislature
on or before January 1 of each year.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS : The annual report on the activities of CVSOs is
currently due on January 1. At that time the Legislature is not
in session, and according to the author, the impact of the
report is diminished as a result of the absence of the
Legislature. It is the author's belief that by changing the due
date of the report from January 1 to March 1, there will be a
chance for the actions of the CVSOs to be brought to the
attention of the members of the Legislature.
The information presently requested in the report is focused on
funding and the benefit payments being obtained by the CVSOs.
According to the author, the report does not give the full
picture on the actions of CVSOs and the amount of work they
actually do. For example, the total number of claims filed by
CVSOs is not reported. A CVSO may make multiple claims for one
veteran, but rather than demonstrating the amount of work the
report only displays the amount of money that veteran will be
receiving.
According to the author the CVSOs now use a system which makes
it easier for them to compile useful information for the report
which is being requested in this bill.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
The American Legion-Department of California
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AMVETS- Department of California
California Association of County Veterans Service Officers
California State Commanders Veterans Council
Opposition
None on File.
Analysis Prepared by : Jenny Callison / V. A. / (916) 319-3550