BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 2198
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 2198 (Nielsen)
As Introduced February 23, 2012
Majority vote
Veterans Affairs 8-0 APPROPRIATIONS 16-0
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|Ayes:|Pan, Atkins, Block, |Ayes:|Fuentes, Blumenfield, |
| |Gorell, Nielsen, V. | |Bradford, Charles |
| |Manuel P�rez, Williams, | |Calderon, Campos, Davis, |
| |Yamada | |Donnelly, Gatto, Hall, |
| | | |Hill, Lara, Mitchell, |
| | | |Nielsen, Norby, Solorio, |
| | | |Wagner |
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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 :
1)Expands the reporting requirement to include:
a) The number of veterans and their dependents who came in
contact with a CVSO;
b) The number of veterans and their dependents for whom
federal or state claims were filed, including new or
increased claims;
c) 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; and,
d) The number of homeless veterans and their dependents who
were assisted in obtaining federal benefits.
2)Extends the January 1 due date to March 1.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, negligible state costs.
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
AB 2198
Page 2
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.
Analysis Prepared by : Jenny Callison / V. A. / (916) 319-3550
FN: 0003487