BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  AB 2215
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   April 30, 2014

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                  Mike Gatto, Chair

              AB 2215 (Maienschein) - As Introduced:  February 20, 2014 

          Policy Committee:                              Local  
          GovernmentVote:9 - 0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          Yes    Reimbursable:              Yes

           SUMMARY  

          This bill allows family members, and others who are authorized  
          to receive certified copies, to request recordation of military  
          discharge documents with county recorders.

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Minor and absorbable costs to county recorders.  County  
          recorders generally charge fees for recording documents.  
          However, they do not charge fees for recording DD214s and have  
          historically absorbed the costs.

          Unknown, but likely negligible cost to the state GF of any  
          potentially reimbursable mandate due to the expanded scope of  
          work for county clerks.

           COMMENTS  

           Purpose  . California law allows veterans to record their DD214s  
          (military discharge document) at the local county recorder's  
          office.  Before recording, the veteran must sign a statement  
          acknowledging that by recording the document, the DD214 will  
          become a public document.  In addition to the veteran, family  
          members of the veteran may obtain certified copies of the DD214.  
           However, family members are not authorized to request  
          recordation of military discharge documents, including DD214s. 

          The author notes that the statute does not consider situations  
          where the veteran is deceased or unable to sign the statement,  
          nor does the statute allow for a family member to record on  
          behalf of the veteran.  The County Recorders' Association of  








                                                                  AB 2215
                                                                  Page  2

          California, the sponsor of this bill, states, "County Recorders  
          have encountered situations where a veteran was incapacitated or  
          deceased and a family member is requesting recordation in order  
          to obtain benefits or preserve the historical significance of  
          the veteran's service.  Under current law, the Recorder is  
          required to reject the recording.  AB 2215 would assist veterans  
          and their families by allowing authorized persons to record the  
          military discharge document."


           Analysis Prepared by  :    Jennifer Swenson / APPR. / (916)  
          319-2081