BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 2198
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CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 2198 (Nielsen)
As Amended August 16, 2012
Majority
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|ASSEMBLY: |76-0 |(May 14, 2012) |SENATE: |38-0 |(August 21, |
| | | | | |2012) |
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Original Committee Reference: V.A.
SUMMARY : Alters the annual reporting requirements of the
Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) to the Legislature.
Specifically, this bill :
1)Alters the due date of the annual report by CalVet determining
the amount of new or increased monetary benefits paid to
eligible veterans by the federal government attributable to
the assistance of county veterans service officers (CVSO) from
January 1 to October 1.
2)Requires the annual report by CalVet on the activities of
county veteran service officers to include the following:
a) The number of veterans and their family members who have
contacted or utilized the services of the county veterans
service officers 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.
c) The annualized monetary value of benefits received by
veterans and their dependents as a result of the efforts of
county veterans service officers, broken down by type of
benefit.
d) A summary of other services provided by county veterans
service officers 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.
3)Mandates that the report contain:
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a) The number of monthly federal benefit payments obtained
on behalf of veterans.
b) The total value of those monthly benefit payments.
c) The average value of those monthly benefit payments.
d) The number of one-time benefit payments obtained,
including both single-payment benefits and retroactive
payments.
e) The total value of one-time benefit payments obtained.
f) The average value of these one-time benefit payments
obtained.
The Senate amendments make technical, non-substantive changes
and alter the due date of the annual report to October 1.
AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY , this bill altered the contents and
due date of the statutorily required annual report on the
activities of CVSOs to March 1. However, after passage in the
Assembly, the underlying statute this bill would alter, Military
and Veterans Code Section 972.1, was subsequently amended by a
budget trailer bill, SB 1006 (Budget and Fiscal Review
Committee), Chapter 32, Statutes of 2012, which took immediate
effect June 27, 2012. SB 1006 created new requirements for a
CVSO workload unit definition, a performance-based CVSO
incentive formula, a CVSO performance review and the development
of a best practices manual.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee, pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8, there are 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 is the author's belief that by changing the due
date of the report from January 1 to October 1, there will be an
increased 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
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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. Finally, 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 : John Spangler / V. A. / (916) 319-3550
FN: 0005272