Bill Text: CA AB2263 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Chaptered


Bill Title: Veterans service advocate: correctional facilities.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Passed) 2014-09-27 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 652, Statutes of 2014. [AB2263 Detail]

Download: California-2013-AB2263-Chaptered.html
BILL NUMBER: AB 2263	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	CHAPTER  652
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  SEPTEMBER 27, 2014
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  SEPTEMBER 27, 2014
	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 25, 2014
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 26, 2014
	AMENDED IN SENATE  AUGUST 4, 2014
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 23, 2014
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 22, 2014

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Bradford
   (Coauthor: Senator Mitchell)

                        FEBRUARY 21, 2014

   An act to add Sections 2695.1, 2695.2, 2695.3, 2695.4, and 2695.5
to the Penal Code, relating to veterans.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2263, Bradford. Veterans service advocate: correctional
facilities.
   Existing law establishes the Department of Veterans Affairs, which
is responsible for administering various programs and services for
the benefit of veterans, and the Department of Corrections and
Rehabilitation, to oversee the state prison system. Existing law also
authorizes each county board of supervisors to appoint a county
veterans service officer to perform specified veterans-related
services, including assisting veterans in pursuing claims for federal
or state veterans' benefits. Under existing law, the Department of
Corrections and Rehabilitation is required to develop guidance
policies relative to the release of veterans who are inmates with the
intent to assist veterans who are inmates in pursuing claims for
federal veterans' benefits, or in establishing rights to any other
privilege, preference, care, or compensation provided under federal
or state law because of honorable service in the military. In
developing those policies, the Department of Corrections and
Rehabilitation is authorized to coordinate with the Department of
Veterans Affairs and the county veterans service officer or veterans
service organizations.
   This bill would authorize a veterans service organization to
volunteer to serve as a veterans service advocate at each facility
that is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Corrections and
Rehabilitation. The advocate would be authorized to develop a
veterans economic recidivism prevention plan for each inmate who is a
veteran. The bill would require, in order to assist with the
development and execution of that plan, the Department of Corrections
and Rehabilitation to, among other things, provide the advocate with
access, subject to restrictions, to inmates who are veterans and to
existing resources, as specified, that would assist the advocate in
implementing the veterans economic recidivism prevention plan. The
bill would require the advocate to coordinate with the United States
Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Veterans Affairs,
and county veterans service officers, as specified. The bill would
define "advocate" and "veteran" for these purposes, and would include
a related statement of legislative intent.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  It is the intent of the Legislature to help male and
female inmates who have served in the military to access federal and
state veterans' benefits earned from military service so that those
inmates are better equipped to successfully reintegrate into the
community, thereby reducing costs to the state.
  SEC. 2.  Section 2695.1 is added to the Penal Code, to read:
   2695.1.  At each facility that is under the jurisdiction of the
Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, a veterans service
organization may volunteer to serve as a veterans service advocate.
  SEC. 3.  Section 2695.2 is added to the Penal Code, to read:
   2695.2.  (a) The advocate shall be authorized to develop a
veterans economic recidivism prevention plan for each inmate who is a
veteran during the 180-day period preceding the inmate's release
date.
   (b) The veterans economic recidivism prevention plan for each
inmate who is a veteran shall include, but not be limited to, the
following:
   (1) Facilitating access of the inmate to 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
privilege, preference, care, or compensation provided under federal
or state law because of the inmate's service in the military.
   (2) Developing a plan for how the inmate will access earned
veterans' benefits that he or she may be eligible for upon the inmate'
s release.
   (c) In order to assist with the development and execution of the
veterans economic recidivism prevention plan, the Department of
Corrections and Rehabilitation shall do both of the following:
   (1) (A) Facilitate access by the advocate to each inmate who is a
veteran.
   (B) Access by the advocate is subject to those department
screening and clearance guidelines and training requirements that are
imposed on other visitors and volunteers.
   (C) 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.
   (2) 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.
   (d) A copy of the veterans economic recidivism prevention plan
shall be provided to the inmate prior to the inmate's release.
  SEC. 4.  Section 2695.3 is added to the Penal Code, to read:
   2695.3.  The advocate shall coordinate with the United States
Department of Veterans Affairs in order to provide each inmate who is
a veteran with access to earned veterans' benefits.
  SEC. 5.  Section 2695.4 is added to the Penal Code, to read:
   2695.4.  The advocate shall coordinate with the California
Department of Veterans Affairs 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
veterans economic recidivism prevention plan.
  SEC. 6.  Section 2695.5 is added to the Penal Code, to read:
   2695.5.  For purposes of this article, the following definitions
shall apply:
   (a) "Advocate" means a veterans service organization that is
federally certified and has volunteered to serve as a veterans
service advocate pursuant to this article.
   (b) "Veteran" means 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.
                     
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