SB 1482 PASSES SENATE’S LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE
April 16, 2008

Senator Lou Correa’s Stolen Valor Forfeiture of Office bill, SB 1482 passes unanimously through the Senate Local Government Committee.

SB 1482, authored by Orange County State Senator Lou Correa and co-authored by Assemblymember Nell Soto-Pomona, passed unanimously out of the Senate’s Local Government Committee today. SB 1482 is sponsored by the Armed Forces Retirees Association of California (AFRAC). This bill was prompted by public officials lying about receiving military awards and decorations. Under the Federal “Stolen Valor Act of 2005” such acts are a federal crime, SB 1482 would require that if any public official is convicted under the Federal “Stolen Valor Act” they would automatically forfeit their position.

Similar legislation has previously been signed into law in Sacramento. On October 3, 2005 AB 787, authored by Assembly Member Devore, was signed into law making it a misdemeanor for a person to falsely claim to be, or present him or herself to be a veteran member of the Armed Forces of the United States, with the intent to defraud. This was prior to the passage of the 2005 “Stolen Valor Act” signed a year later by President Bush. The act imposes a term of six months of imprisonment and a maximum $5,000 fine for any false verbal, written or physical claim to an award or decoration authorized for armed service members.

Recently there have been quite a few stories of elected officials of cities, counties and districts publicly claiming awards and decorations for their military service. Most notably was a member of the Three Valleys Municipal Water District in Claremont who claimed he was a wounded veteran and recipient of the Medal of Honor and who is now being prosecuted under the Federal “Stolen Valor Act”. Such individuals have prompted the Armed Forces Retirees Association of California (AFRAC) to sponsor SB 1482 because as Al Potenza, the President of AFRAC, has said, “Those who falsely assert their claim on military awards and decorations, shame themselves and besmirch the achievements of American heroes whose extraordinary service in defense of the United States are rightly honored. Elected officials who act in such a disgraceful way betray their constituents and sully the reputation of decorated veterans. These elected officials should not be allowed to serve in their office if they are found guilty of this type of fraud and that is exactly what SB 1482 does.”

The California State Commanders Veterans Council (CSCVC) are joining with AFRAC and supporting this legislation. Conflicts during the United States War on Terrorism have created a new generation of decorated veterans and conceivably a new generation of frauds. SB 1482 is a necessary step in protecting the reputation and honor of decorated veterans.

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