BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 2263
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CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 2263 (Bradford)
As Amended
August 4, 2014
Majority vote
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|ASSEMBLY: |77-0 |(May 29, 2014) |SENATE: |35-0 |(August 25, |
| | | | | |2014) |
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Original Committee Reference: V.A.
SUMMARY : Authorizes a veterans service organization to
volunteer to serve as a veterans service advocate (advocate) at
each facility that is under the jurisdiction of the Department
of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). Authorizes advocates
to perform certain functions to support incarcerated veterans.
The Senate Amendments :
1)Authorize advocates to develop a veterans economic recidivism
prevention plan (plan) for each inmate who is a veteran
(inmate) during the 180-day period preceding the inmate's
release date.
2)Mandate that the plan must include, but not be limited to, the
following:
a) Facilitating inmate access to county veterans service
officers, California Department of Veterans Affairs (CDVA)
and United States Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA)
officers and personnel, so that the inmate may pursue
claims for federal veterans' benefits or any other
privilege, preference, care, or compensation provided under
federal or state law because of the inmate's military
service.
b) Planning for the inmate's access to earned veterans'
benefits.
3)Require CDCR to:
a) Facilitate access by the advocate to each inmate who is
a veteran.
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i) Access by the advocate is subject to those
department screening and clearance guidelines and
training requirements that are imposed on other visitors
and volunteers.
ii) Access by the advocate shall be allowed to the
extent it does not pose a threat to the security or
safety of the facility, or to inmates and staff.
b) Provide the advocate with access to existing resources,
including, but not limited to, computer and Internet
access, that would assist the advocate in implementing the
veterans economic recidivism prevention plan, to the extent
it does not pose a threat to the security or safety of the
facility, or to inmates and staff.
c) Provide an inmate a copy of the inmate's plan prior to
the inmate's release.
1)Require advocates to coordinate with the USDVA in order to
provide each inmate with access to earned veterans' benefits.
4)Require advocates to coordinate with the CDVA and the county
veterans service officer in the county in which the facility
is located for advice, assistance, and training, and to
evaluate the effectiveness of the plan.
5)Define "Advocate" to mean a veterans service organization that
is federally certified and has volunteered to serve as a
veterans service advocate as specified.\
6)Define "Veteran" to mean a person who has been discharged from
the United States Army, United States Navy, United States Air
Force, United States Marine Corps, United States Coast Guard,
the Merchant Marine, or the American Red Cross.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee:
Approximately $100,000 - $200,000 in administrative costs to
the Department of Veterans Affairs (General Fund)
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Minor administrative costs to CDCR (General Fund)
The [CDVA] indicates the need for addition of 1-2 analysts
associated with training and assisting the advocates, and for
monitoring the program.
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
release.
Planning for release and for the implementation of whatever
benefits incarcerated veterans might be eligible for upon their
release would have a positive impact on recidivism. Some
benefits, while not available to the incarcerated veteran, are
available to the incarcerated veteran's family. 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."
Analysis Prepared by : John Spangler / V.A. / (916) 319-3550
FN: 0005031