Bill Text: CA AB2143 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

---

Bill Title: Military and veterans: benefits programs: workforce

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 2-1)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2010-08-05 - Re-referred to Com. on V.A. [AB2143 Detail]

Download: California-2009-AB2143-Amended.html

---

BILL NUMBER: AB 2143	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 27, 2010
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 19, 2010
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 6, 2010

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Gilmore
   (Principal  coauthor:   Assembly Member
  Cook   coauthors:   Assembly
Members   Arambula   and Cook  )

                        FEBRUARY 18, 2010

   An act to add Section 64.5 to the Military and Veterans Code,
relating to military and veterans.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2143, as amended, Gilmore.  The  Department of
Veterans Affairs: consolidation of services to veterans.
   Existing law establishes the Department of Veterans Affairs within
state government and sets forth its powers and duties, including,
but not limited to, administration of veterans benefits programs.
Existing law establishes the California Veterans Board within the
department and sets forth its powers and duties, including, but not
limited to  ,  its power to determine operational policy for
the department.
   This bill would establish the California Veterans Services and
Workforce Development Division within the Department of Veterans
Affairs for the purpose of coordinating and administering veterans
assistance programs in the state, and would require the division to
perform various functions and duties relating to the coordination and
administration of veterans assistance programs, as specified. 
The bill would require the administrative and support staff
responsible for the administration of the specified programs to be
transferred from the Employment Development Department to the
division, and would require the costs of the transfer to utilize
existing resources of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  The Legislature hereby finds and declares the
following:
   (a) California has the largest veteran population in the nation,
comprised of an estimated 2 million veterans. Each month, thousands
of military personnel are released from active service, and face
tremendous challenges transitioning back into civilian life.
   (b) The challenges military veterans face are compounded by a
complex system of veteran assistance programs that is difficult to
navigate.
   (c) The United States Department of Veterans Affairs expended
approximately $6 billion in California in the 2005 federal fiscal
year. Of that amount, $2.66 billion was in disability payments
(compensation and benefits) to veterans. The states that have the
largest veteran populations in the nation are California, Florida,
and Texas. Texas veterans have collected 44 percent more disability
benefits than the amount collected by California veterans.
   (d) Increasing disability benefit participation in California in
an amount that would approach the national average could generate an
additional $330 million in annual payments to California veterans.

   (e) It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this act to
consolidate the veterans assistance programs and their dedicated
staff as identified in Section 64.5 of the Military and Veterans
Code, as added by this act, within the California Veterans Services
and Workforce Development Division of the Department of Veterans
Affairs. 
  SEC. 2.  Section 64.5 is added to the Military and Veterans Code,
to read:
   64.5.  (a) The California Veterans Services and Workforce
Development Division is hereby established within the department for
the purpose of coordinating and administering veterans assistance
programs in the state. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall have
authority over the division.
   (b) The division shall do all of the following:
   (1) Coordinate with other state agencies that provide benefits and
assistance to veterans to ensure that information about veterans
assistance programs and benefits is made available to all state
agencies that serve veterans in the state.
   (2) Administer the Transitional Assistance Program (TAP) and the
Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program (DVOP),  and oversee the
duties of Local Veteran Employment Representatives (LVER)  as
prescribed under the Jobs for Veterans State Grants program, in
cooperation with the Employment Development Department. The division
shall work with staff from the Employment Development Department to
develop a plan whereby responsibility for the administration of TAP
and DVOP shall be transferred from the Employment Development
Department to the division.
   (3) Ensure that other state agencies and officials that are
involved in the implementation and administration of veterans
services programs are informed when any changes in existing programs
are required, or new programs are established that provide assistance
and benefits to veterans, and require that those agencies and
officials report to the division when those changes occur or new
programs are established.
   (4) Collaborate with staff from other state agencies  , 
including, but not limited to, the Labor and Workforce Development
Agency, the Employment Training Panel, the California Workforce
Investment Board, the State Department of Mental Health, the
Department of General Services, the State Department of Alcohol and
Drug Programs, and representatives of the University of California,
the California State University, and the California Community
Colleges with regard to the provision of veterans services and
benefits. 
   (c) 1/-/ In complying with this section, all administrative and
support staff responsible for the administration of the DVOP, the
TAP, and Local Veteran Employment Representatives shall be
transferred from the Employment Development Department to the
division.  
   (2) Any costs associated with the implementation of these
transfers shall utilize existing resources of the Department of
Veterans Affairs.