BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 2263
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ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 2263 (Bradford)
As Amended May 23, 2014
Majority vote
VETERANS AFFAIRS 9-0 PUBLIC SAFETY 7-0
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|Ayes:|Quirk-Silva, Ch�vez, |Ayes:|Ammiano, Melendez, |
| |Medina, Brown, Eggman, | |Jones-Sawyer, Quirk, |
| |Fox, Grove, Muratsuchi, | |Skinner, Stone, Waldron |
| |Salas | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
| | | | |
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APPROPRIATIONS 17-0
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|Ayes:|Gatto, Bigelow, | | |
| |Bocanegra, Bradford, Ian | | |
| |Calderon, Campos, | | |
| |Donnelly, Eggman, Gomez, | | |
| |Holden, Jones, Linder, | | |
| |Pan, Quirk, | | |
| |Ridley-Thomas, Wagner, | | |
| |Weber | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Permits a veterans service organization to volunteer
as an advocate for inmate veterans. Specifically, this bill :
1)Mandates that at each facility that is under the jurisdiction
of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), a
federally certified veterans service organization may
volunteer to serve as a veterans advocate.
2)Directs that the advocate is responsible for developing a
veterans economic recidivism prevention plan within 180 days
prior to an inmate's release date.
3)Requires the economic recidivism prevention plan to include:
a) Facilitating access of each inmate who is a veteran to
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county veterans service officers, California Department of
Veterans Affairs and United States Department of Veterans
Affairs officers and personnel, so that the inmate may
pursue claims for federal veterans benefits or any other
right, privilege or compensation provided because of the
inmate's military service.
b) Developing a plan for how an inmate who is a veteran
will access earned veterans benefits on release.
4)Mandates that the CDCR shall:
a) Facilitate access by the advocate to inmate veterans.
b) Provide advocates with access to existing resources
including computer and Internet access to the extent that
it would facilitate implementing the economic recidivism
prevention plan and not pose a safety or security threat.
5)Directs that advocates' access is subject to the same security
guidelines and training requirements that are imposed on other
visitors and volunteers.
6)Specifies that advocates' access is allowed to the extent that
it does not pose a security or safety threat.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, minor absorbable administrative costs to CDCR to
facilitate advocate access.
COMMENTS : According to the author:
Recidivism rates among veterans continue to be an
issue primarily for economic reasons. Currently the
Department of Corrections has been doing a good job of
trying to provide veteran inmates with information and
forms to apply and receive VA benefits. However, the
process for qualifying for VA benefits is often
burdensome for even people with a four year college
degree.
One of the major problems is that facilities do not
have a designated person responsible for assuring that
veterans are able to have access to VA benefits upon
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release.
AB 2263 would ask the Department of Corrections to
designate a parole officer at each facility to assist
veterans in filing claims for veteran's benefits in
order to help reduce recidivism among this population.
Veterans make up approximately 10% of the prison population in
California. Of those veterans, 40% served in the conflicts in
Iraq and Afghanistan. Though the exact effect is unknown, it is
logical that supporting veterans, particularly with whatever
financial assistance job assistance, and housing as soon as
possible upon their release would have a positive impact on
recidivism. As stated by the California Correctional Peace
Officers Association, "The transition from inmate to parolee is
a difficult one for everyone released from prison. To the extent
that veterans are eligible for services from the federal
government it will ease their transition and thereby reduce
recidivism. In our view, the potential benefits of this measure
will far exceed its costs."
Veterans who are inmates should be able to have their benefits
begin as soon as possible on release from incarceration. Due to
the nature of incarceration, it may be extremely challenging or
impossible for veterans to pursue their benefits without
assistance. Having a veteran service officer in each facility
increases the likelihood that a veteran will apply and be
approved for any compensation, health care, etc. to which the
veteran is entitled while still incarcerated. Then the veteran
will not have to wait for months or even years for benefits to
commence upon release.
Under federal law, incarcerated veterans are only eligible to
receive 10% of their existing federal benefits. However, the
amount not received by the veteran may be apportioned to the
spouse, child or children, and dependent parents of the veteran
while the veteran is incarcerated if the proper paperwork is
filed and accepted.
Analysis Prepared by : John J. Spangler / V.A. / (916)
319-3550
FN: 0003838
AB 2263
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