BILL ANALYSIS �
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | AB 2198|
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CONSENT
Bill No: AB 2198
Author: Nielsen (R), et al.
Amended: 6/11/12 in Senate
Vote: 21
SENATE VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE : 7-0, 6/12/12
AYES: Correa, Cannella, Berryhill, Calderon, Negrete
McLeod, Rubio, Lieu
NO VOTE RECORDED: Runner
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : Senate Rule 28.8
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 76-0, 5/14/12 - See last page for vote
SUBJECT : Department of Veterans Affairs: reporting
requirements
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill changes reporting requirements in the
annual county veterans service officers (CVSOs) report.
ANALYSIS :
Existing law:
1. Requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) to
disburse funds, appropriated to DVA for the purpose of
supporting CVSOs pursuant to the annual Budget Act, on a
pro rata basis, to counties that comply with certain
CONTINUED
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conditions.
2. Requires DVA to annually determine the amount of new or
increased monetary benefits paid to eligible veterans by
the federal government attributable to the assistance of
CVSOs, and requires DVA to prepare and transmit its
determination for the preceding fiscal year to the
Department of Finance and the Legislature on or before
January 1 of each year.
3. Requires DVA to annually prepare a report of the
activities of CVSOs and may require each CVSO to submit
information required to prepare the report.
DVA is required to submit an annual report on the activity
of CVSOs. Specifically, this bill:
1. Changes the reporting requirement to include:
A. The number of veterans and their family members
who have contacted or utilized the services of the
county veterans service offices during the fiscal
year;
B. The number of claims filed to achieve benefits
such as pension, disability compensation, and
healthcare on behalf of veterans and their
dependents; and
C. The annualized monetary value of benefits received
by veterans and their dependents as a result of
county veterans service office's efforts, broken down
by type of benefit.
D. The report will also contain a summary of other
services provided by county veterans service offices
and special events and activities in which county
veterans service offices participated; such as
veterans outreach events, homeless veteran "Stand
Downs," and job fairs for veterans.
2. Extends the January 1 due date to October 1.
Comments
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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's office, the impact
of the report is diminished as a result of the absence of
the Legislature. It is the belief of the author's office
that by changing the due date of the report from January 1
to October 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's office, 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 report only displays
the amount of money that veteran will be receiving.
According to the author's office, 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.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
SUPPORT : (Verified 6/26/12)
American Legion, Department of California
AMVETS, Department of California
California Association of County Veterans Service Officers
California State Commanders Veterans Council
Vietnam Veterans of America, California State Council
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 76-0, 5/14/12
AYES: Achadjian, Alejo, Allen, Ammiano, Beall, Bill
Berryhill, Block, Blumenfield, Bonilla, Bradford,
Brownley, Buchanan, Butler, Charles Calderon, Campos,
Carter, Cedillo, Chesbro, Conway, Cook, Davis, Dickinson,
Donnelly, Eng, Feuer, Fong, Fuentes, Furutani, Beth
AB 2198
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4
Gaines, Galgiani, Garrick, Gatto, Gordon, Gorell, Grove,
Hagman, Halderman, Hall, Harkey, Hayashi, Roger
Hern�ndez, Hill, Huber, Hueso, Huffman, Jeffries, Jones,
Knight, Lara, Logue, Bonnie Lowenthal, Ma, Mansoor,
Mendoza, Miller, Mitchell, Monning, Morrell, Nestande,
Nielsen, Norby, Olsen, Pan, V. Manuel P�rez, Portantino,
Silva, Skinner, Smyth, Solorio, Swanson, Torres, Wagner,
Wieckowski, Williams, Yamada, John A. P�rez
NO VOTE RECORDED: Atkins, Fletcher, Perea, Valadao
RM:m 6/26/12 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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