Bill Text: CA SB348 | 2021-2022 | Regular Session | Amended

California Senate Bill 348 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Veterans’ homes: closure.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2021-08-26 - August 26 hearing: Held in committee and under submission. [SB348 Detail]

Download: California-2021-SB348-Amended.html

Amended IN Senate March 09, 2021

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2021–2022 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill

No. 348

Introduced by Senator Grove

February 09, 2021

An act to add Section 1053 of to the Military and Veterans Code, relating to veterans.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 348, as amended, Grove. Veterans’ homes: closure.

Existing law establishes the Veterans’ Home of California system within the Department of Veterans Affairs and provides for the establishment and operation of veterans’ homes at various sites. Existing law requires the master plan for the overall operation of the veterans’ homes system be revised by the department every 5 years. Under existing law, the master plan is required to discuss, among other things, the location of future facilities at or within the vicinity of United States Department of Veterans Affairs facilities, the closure of facilities, and the expansion of existing facilities or conversion of existing facilities to provide different levels of service.

This bill ~~would require the department to submit a report including, among other things,~~ would, in the event the department recommends or proposes to close a veterans’ home, require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to convene a taskforce that includes representatives from the department, elected officials from the community where the home is located, residents of the home, staff employed at the home, and local veterans groups. The bill would require the taskforce to conduct a review of the proposed closure that includes a cost-benefit analysis specific to the home, a community impact analysis specific to the community where the home is located, ~~to the Legislature if the department recommends or proposes the closure of a veterans’ home.~~ and a review of community input, as specified. The bill would require the taskforce to submit recommendations regarding the proposed closure of the veterans’ home to the Legislature.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 1053 is added to the Military and Veterans Code, to read:

1053.

(a) If the department recommends or proposes the closure of a veterans’ home, before the closure recommendation or proposal is acted upon, the ~~department shall submit a report to the Legislature, in accordance with Section 9795 of the Government Code, that includes all of the following:~~ Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall convene a taskforce that includes representatives from the department, elected officials from the community where the home is located, residents of the home, staff employed at the home, and local veterans groups. The taskforce’s review shall consist of, at a minimum, all of the following:

~~(a)~~

(1) A cost-benefit analysis specific to the home.

~~(b)~~

(2) A community impact analysis specific to the community where the home is located.

~~(c)~~

(3) A ~~detailed description~~ review of community input about the recommended or proposed home closure, including efforts undertaken by the department to encourage participation in community meetings and summaries of comments and feedback received at those meetings.

(b) At the conclusion of its review, the taskforce shall submit recommendations to the Legislature regarding the proposed closure of the veterans’ home.