SPRING BREAK ENDS MARCH 23RD

The Congress and the California State Legislature are both on their “Spring Breaks.” The Legislature is scheduled to return to Sacramento on March 24 and to begin a lengthy series of committee hearings on all the bills that have been introduced this year.

We are beginning to receive many requests from Legislators for support of the bills which they have introduced. Thanks to the work of our Legislative Lobbyist, Pete Conaty, over the past years, the Council is considered to be an important participant in the legislative process and our views are actively solicited. Attached is a list of some bills for which the Council should take a position at this time – or, in some cases, bills for which support letters have already been sent. For those bills which are indicated as “recommending support” please send your comments to me as soon as possible if you have any objections to the proposed support position. It is important that we send the letters before the committees start their hearings.

Bill Manes, Legislative Officer
California State Commanders Veterans Council

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Legislative Update Report – California Veterans Affairs – March 16, 2008

AB 1758 Postsecondary education. (Chuck DeVore, Irvine)
Would create the California National Guard Education Assistance Program, for the purpose of promoting recruitment and retention of members of the California National Guard. Would also provide for covering the costs of the program by repealing the existing provision in the Education that permits aliens without lawful immigration status to attend the State Universities and Colleges by paying the lower fees for California residents.
Scheduled for hearing by Assembly Committee on Higher Education on March 25.
Council position: Support. A letter has already been sent to Assemblymember DeVore based on the Council’s Legislative Platform adopted January 26, 2008.

AB 1818 Housing: veterans. (Felipe Fuentes, Arleta)
Would authorize a housing developer or a provider of rental housing who has received a loan or grant from the Department of Housing and Community Development or the California Housing Finance Agency, and whose housing is subject to rental or ownership restrictions imposed pursuant to the loan or grant, to limit, in whole or in part, the sale, rental, or occupancy of that housing to veterans or to grant preference to veterans regarding the sale, rental, or occupancy of the housing.
Council position: Support. A letter has already been sent to Assemblymember Fuentes based on the Council’s Legislative Platform adopted January 26, 2008.

AB 2055 Military Personnel: Combat Stress Support Team Program. (Mary Salas, Chula Vista)
Would require the Military Department to create a Combat Stress Support Team Program, to provide emergency crisis counseling, referral and personal support, combat stress evaluations, and mental health support for state military personnel and their families.
Council position: Support. A letter has already been sent to Assemblymember Salas based on the Council’s Legislative Platform adopted January 26, 2008.

AB 2238 Dependent children: our-of-home placements. (Cameron Smyth, Valencia)
Would provide that it is the right of a child in foster care who is 17 years of age or older to enter into a program for delayed entry into military service or to immediately enlist in active military service, with the consent of his or her foster parent or social worker.
Council position: Recommend support. The bill’s author has specifically requested support on this issue.

AB 2429 Extracurricular activities: Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) programs. (Audra Strickland, Westlake Village)
Would require that a school or school district that prohibits Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) programs from being established or conducting activities on its campus or campuses, or that prohibits or hinders its pupils from participating in an off-campus JROTC program, be prohibited from expending state funds on any extracurricular activity.
Council position: Recommend support.

AB 2557 Vehicles: special license plates. (Chuck DeVore, Irvine)
Would provide for the issuance of special license plates for an active member of the California National Guard who furnishes a certificate provided by the Adjutant General and would exempt these license plates from the payment of a $40 application fee and a $30 transfer fee.
Council position: Support. A letter will be sent to Assemblymember DeVore based on the Council’s Legislative Platform adopted January 26, 2008.

AB 2577 Veterans: County Veterans Service Offices. (Mary Salas, Chula Vista)
States that Veteran service officers, within the Department of Veterans Affairs, should not be included in the proposed cuts to California’s budget for the 2008–09 fiscal year.
Council position: Support. A letter will be sent to Assemblymember Salas based on the Council’s Legislative Platform adopted January 26, 2008.

AB 2896 Vehicles: special license plates. (Nell Soto, Ontario)
Would authorize a surviving family member of a person who was killed in action in military service to have a special license plate with the Gold Star and the inscription, “Gold Star Family.”
Note: A very similar bill, SB 1455, is in the process of being introduced by Senator Dave Cogdill (Fresno).
Council position: Recommend support of both bills. The Council supported similar legislation last year. Based upon preliminary review of both bills, the Senate version would probably be preferred so it is expected that the Council should expend greater effort on that bill.

SB 1220 Housing: Multifamily Housing Program: veterans. (Gilbert Cedillo, Los Angeles)
Would authorize a sponsor, as defined, of a project funded by the Multifamily Housing Program, to restrict occupancy of a project to persons with veteran status if the veterans to be served possess significant barriers to social reintegration and employment due to a physical or mental disability, substance abuse, or the effects of long-term homelessness that require specialized treatment and services, and the sponsor also provides, or assists in providing, the specialized treatment and services.
Council position: Recommend support. (The bill has a similar purpose to AB 1818, above, but is probably a much better approach.)

Bill Manes, Legislative Officer
California State Commanders Veterans Council

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