BILL ANALYSIS �
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CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AJR 46 (Frazier)
As Amended August 20, 2014
Majority vote
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|ASSEMBLY: |77-0 |(July 3, 2014) |SENATE: |35-0 |(August 25, |
| | | | | |2014) |
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Original Committee Reference: V.A.
SUMMARY : Urges the United States Congress to pass, and the
United States President to sign into law, Senate Bill 2738, the
Toxic Exposure Research Act of 2014, and encourage the members
of the California Congressional Delegation to join as coauthors
on the bill.
The Senate amendments are technical in nature and reflect the
fact that Congress adopted a joint bill, Senate Bill 2738. The
Senate amendments delete the references to Senate Bill 1602 and
House Resolution 4816, two prior bills on the subject of
establishing in the United States Department of Veterans Affairs
(USDVA) a national center for research on the diagnosis and
treatment of health conditions of the descendants of veterans
exposed to toxic substances. The amendments substitute a
reference to the new joint bill, Senate Bill 2738.
FISCAL EFFECT : None. This bill is keyed non-fiscal by the
Legislative Counsel.
COMMENTS : For the purpose of clarity, the key provisions of the
joint bill are substantially the same as those in Senate Bill
1602 and House Resolution 4816.
Senate Bill 2738, the bill now referenced in this measure:
1)Directs the USDVA to establish a National Center for Research
on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Health Conditions of the
Descendants and of Individuals Exposed to Toxic Substances
During Service in the Armed Forces.
2)Mandates that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs must establish
an advisory board to study and evaluate claims of exposure to
toxic substances by current and former members of the Armed
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Forces that is related to the service of the member in the
Armed Forces.
3)Permits the Department of Defense to declassify documents
related to any known incident in which not less than 100
members of the Armed Forces were exposed to a toxic substance
that resulted in at least one case of a disability that a
member of the medical profession has determined to be
associated with that toxic substance.
4)Directs the Secretary of the USDVA, the Secretary of Health
and Human Services, and the Secretary of Defense to jointly
conduct a national outreach and education campaign directed
towards members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and their
family members to communicate information about the Center's
efforts, incidents of exposure of members of the Armed Forces
to toxic substances, health conditions resulting from such
exposure, and the potential long-term effects of such exposure
on the individuals exposed to those substances and the
descendants of those individuals.
Analysis Prepared by : John Spangler / V.A. / (916) 319-3550
FN: 0005441