LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS NOW IN APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEES

Most of the Committee actions on legislation are now in the Appropriations Committees. And, as certainly was the case last year, any bill that would commit funds from the State Budget, or would reduce tax income, is going to the Suspense File. The Committees have until Friday, May 23, to take bills off the Suspense File and pass them, but I would not expect to seen many such actions.

The Governor’s May Revise of the Budget for the next fiscal year, and the estimates of income/expenditures for this year, should be released very soon. Again, as was the case last year, the state’s overall fiscal condition is expected to be a very high deficit.

Here are some of the bills that have been held by the Assembly Appropriations Committee:
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.

AB 2671 Prisoners: veterans. (Mary Salas, Chula Vista)
Requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to establish an Incarcerated Veterans Transition Program to assist honorably discharged incarcerated veterans in successfully obtaining federal and state benefits.
Also requires each county sheriff and the Secretary of the Department of Corrections to ascertain whether a newly committed prisoner is a military veteran. If the person is a veteran, the county sheriff or the Secretary shall report the veteran status to the county veteran service officer.

AB 2896 Vehicles: special license plates. (Sally Lieber, Mountain View)
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: This is the Assembly version of the “Gold Star License Plates” which would require the persons applying for the special plates to pay for them so, supposedly, the costs of the program to the DMV would be recouped.

On the Senate side, one bill has been placed on Suspense:
SB 1219 Student financial aid: member and former members of the Armed Forces. (Gilbert Cedillo, Los Angeles)
Would, commencing with the 2009–10 award year, entitle a student who was not awarded a Cal Grant A or B award at the time of his or her high school graduation, who is a member or former member of the United States Armed Forces, and who enrolls at a campus of the California Community Colleges or a qualifying baccalaureate program, to a Cal Grant A or B award.

One bill was passed by the Assembly Appropriations Committee:
AB 3016 Personal income taxes: contributions: California Military Family Relief Fund. (Paul Cook, Yucaipa.)
Would extend the benefits of the California Military Family Relief Fund to California residents who are members of the military reserves and who have been called to active duty.
(Previously, the program was limited to families of the California National Guard.)
Note: It is interesting that the Committee Consultant estimated that this bill would result in a “revenue reduction” of some $15,000, even though the funds come from persons who either commit part of their income tax refunds, or who pay additional money with their taxes to contribute to this program. Possible problem of paranoia by state bureaucrats.

One bill was passed by the Senate and sent to the Assembly:
SB 1450 Sales and use taxes: exemptions: thrift stores operated by nonprofit organizations on military installations. (Bob Dutton, Rancho Cucamonga)
Would exempt from sales and use taxes the sales by a nonprofit organization that operates a thrift store on a military installation, whose purpose is to assist members of the Naval Services of the U.S., and eligible family members and survivors. (Specifically intended to assist the Navy Relief Society.)

Complete information on all state legislation involving veterans issues is available at the website: http://www.califveterans.com.

By all accounts, the Assembly Veterans Recognition Day on May 7 was highly successful. Many thanks to all who helped make this event possible — particularly the Council’s legislative advocates, Pete Conaty and Dana Nichol.

Bill Manes, Legislative Officer
California State Commanders Veterans Council

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