BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 1637
Page 1
Date of Hearing: April 29, 2014
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS
Sharon Quirk-Silva, Chair
AB 1637 (Frazier and Bloom) - As Introduced: February 11, 2014
SUBJECT : Driver's licenses: veteran designation.
SUMMARY : [As proposed to be amended in Committee] Allows an
applicant for a driver's license (DL) or identification card
(ID) to request the DL or ID be printed with the word "VETERAN."
The California Department of Motor Vehicles (department) would
be required to print the word "VETERAN" on the face of a
driver's license or identification card as specified.
Specifically, this bill :
1)Requires the department to modify the DL application for an
original, duplicate or in-person renewal DL or ID so that the
application allows an applicant to request the word "VETERAN"
be printed on the face of the DL or ID.
2)Directs that a form will be developed by the California
Department of Veterans Affairs and the department to
acknowledge verification of veteran status. A County Veterans
Service Office (CVSO) will verify the veteran's status as a
veteran, sign the form, and return it to the veteran. The
department will accept this signed form as proof of veteran
status.
3)Directs the department to, upon payment of any required
departmental fee, print the word "VETERAN" on the face of a DL
or ID in a location determined by the department issued to a
person who makes this request and presents the verification to
the department.
4)Mandates that the department may charge a fee in the amount of
____ dollars ($____) to any person who requests, that the
person's DL or ID be printed with the word "VETERAN".
EXISTING LAW:
1)Requires a DL issued by DMV to state the class of license for
which the licensee has qualified and to contain the
distinguishing number assigned to the applicant, the date of
expiration, the true full name, age, and mailing address of
AB 1637
Page 2
the licensee, a brief description and engraved picture or
photograph of the licensee for the purpose of identification,
and space for the signature of the licensee.
2)Specifies the contents of a DL and requires the application
for a DL or ID to contain a space for an applicant to indicate
whether they have served in the armed forces and to give their
consent to be contacted regarding eligibility to receive state
or federal veteran benefits.
3)Requires the department to collect specific information and
electronically transmit to the Department of Veterans Affairs
each relevant applicant's true full name and mailing address.
4)Allows this specified information to be used by the Department
of Veterans Affairs for the purpose of assisting individuals
to access veterans' benefits and prohibits its dissemination
except as needed for that purpose.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS : Active Duty and Reserve veterans have a Military ID
card to show their status. Similarly those who have retired
from service also have a similar lifetime ID. Many veterans who
are receiving services through the United States Department of
Veterans Affairs Health Administration have an ID from that
Administration. However many veterans fall into none of the
foregoing categories. For example, a Marine who served three
tours in Afghanistan and left the service after 12 years to
pursue civilian opportunities could very likely have no ID to
prove his veterans status. For servicemembers like that, the
only method of proving service is by showing a DD 214.
Upon leaving active service and upon discharge or separation
from service, servicemembers are issued a discharge document, a
DD-214. The DD214 has a substantial amount of personal
information on it, is paper. For these and a variety of other
reasons, it is not practical for servicemembers to carry a DD
214 with them. This is particularly true for homeless veterans.
The bill is drafted so that verification of veteran status
happens at the office of the County Veteran Service Officer
(CVSO). This of course lowers the work burden on DMW, but has
the additional important effect of increasing veteran traffic to
AB 1637
Page 3
the CVSOs. CVSOs can then facilitate connecting veterans to all
federal, state, and local benefits to which the veteran may be
entitled.
According to the author: Having the veteran's designation would,
"?be helpful to medical and law enforcement agencies. This
designation would ensure that these entities are informed and
therefore better equipped to handle medical and law enforcement
situations - for example, a situation involving a veteran with
some sort of trauma, such as posttraumatic stress disorder as a
result of their service." This function of the proposed
designation is supported by a letter from The California Police
Chief's Association, Inc. That Association stated in support
of this bill, "Community policing is a fact in today's law
enforcement culture, knowing when a veteran is in front of a
police officer can and does result in better outcomes and
improved community relations."
Federal, state, and local governments offer varying degrees of
benefits and services for veterans. In the past, the DD-214
sufficed for veterans' relatively infrequent experiences with
the federal Veterans Affairs system. However, in the last
decade, numerous private, non-profit service providers have
begun to offer a variety of services for veterans, including;
housing, mental health, drug counseling, and financial,
educational, and occupational assistance. According to a San
Diego Union Tribune article, "California veterans may be losing
out on $400 million in federal benefits." Driving additional
traffic to the CVSOs is very likely to result in increased
benefits being paid to California veterans.
Veterans groups also point out that as large numbers of service
members return from overseas deployments, they desire an
efficient means of proving their eligibility for benefits and
discounts (such as those available from Home Depot or Jiffy
Lube).
In consideration of these potential advantages, 40 states
currently offer veterans designation on DL's with several
additional states considering pending legislation. Previous
versions of this bill have led to ongoing discussions with DMV
related to establishing the appropriate fee cover the cost
associated with the proposed veteran designation. The author's
office has indicated that discussions will continue with DMV to
identify the proper fee to be included in this bill.
AB 1637
Page 4
Previous legislation:
AB 531 (Frazier) required the department to offer a DL or ID
printed with the word "VETERAN" indicating the licensee or
possessor of an identification card is a military veteran. That
bill was held on suspense in the Assembly Appropriations
Committee.
AB 1725 (Lowenthal) required the department to offer a DL with a
symbol indicating the licensee is a military veteran, such as
the letter "V", or some other appropriate form of designation.
That bill was held on suspense in the Assembly Appropriations
Committee.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
American Legion (co-sponsor)
AMVETS (co-sponsor)
American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees
(AFSCME), AFL-CIO
Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs
California Association of County Veteran Service Officers
(co-sponsor)
California Association of County Veterans Service Officers
(co-sponsor)
California Labor Federation
California-Nevada Conference of Operating Engineers
California Professional Firefighters
California State Commanders Veterans Council (co-sponsor)
California Police Chiefs Association
Contra Costa County
County of Los Angeles
Delta Veterans Group
Los Angeles County Probation Officers Union
Los Angeles Police Protective League
Military Officers Association of America, California Council of
Chapters (co-sponsor)
Plumas County
Riverside Sheriff's Association
Solano County
Town of Danville
Veterans Caucus of the California Democratic Party
AB 1637
Page 5
Veterans Employment Committee of Contra Costa County
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of California (co-sponsor)
Vietnam Veterans of America, California State Council
(co-sponsor)
Vietnam Veterans of Diablo County
Analysis Prepared by : John Spangler / V. A. / (916) 319-3550