Legislative Update
Posted by Warren Enos on 31 May 2008 | Tagged as: California Legislative Matters
STATE LEGISLATURE PASSES MAJOR CALENDAR DEADLINE
As of this date, the State Legislature has passed a major calendar deadline in that both the Assembly and the Senate must have completed action on the bills that were introduced in their respective houses since last January.
The following is a summary of some of the bills that have successfully completed this initial stage:
AB 1814 Veterans claims. (Chuck DeVore, Irvine and Paul Cook, Yucaipa)
VFW sponsored bill to permit California Department of Veterans Affairs to contract with veteran service organizations.
AB 2082 Student financial aid: military service. (Mary Salas, Chula Vista)
Expands the criteria for giving special and additional consideration for Competitive Cal Grant awards to applicants who are members of the California National Guard.
Note: This is about the only bill to provide any form of education benefits to the National Guard that is still alive for this year.
AB 2670 Department of Veterans Affairs: qualified residential rental project programs. (May Salas, Chula Vista)
Intended to provide rental housing for homeless veterans.
AB 2671 Prisoners: veterans. (Mary Salas, Chula Vista)
Incarcerated Veterans Transition Program to assist honorably discharged incarcerated veterans in successfully obtaining federal and state benefits. Bill was amended to remove similar program at the County level due to effect of mandated costs on local governments.
AB 3065 Public employment: veterans. (Assembly Committee on Veterans Affairs)
Permits veterans and retired military personnel honorably discharged from military service to apply for promotional civil service examinations, including examinations for career executive assignments.
SB 1455 Vehicles: specialized license plates. (Dave Cogdill, Fresno; and Jeff Denham, Modesto.
The is the Senate version of the Gold Star license plate program.
SB 1482 Local Government: forfeiture of office. (Lou Correa, Santa Ana)
Called the “Stolen Valor Forfeiture of Office” bill, requires an elected official to be removed from office if convicted of federal crime against “Stolen Valor” act.
SB 1778 County Veterans Services Officers: funding.
Increases annual target for state subvention to counties for Veteran Service Offices from $5 million to $11 million.
Bills that have failed passage and are considered dead:
AB 1758 Postsecondary Education. (Chuck DeVore, Irvine) California National Guard Education Assistance Program.
SB 1752 California National Guard Education Assistance Award Program. (Mark Wyland, San Juan Capistrano/Carlsbad)
These two bills constitute the major effort to establish an education benefit program for members of the California National Guard.
AB 1919 Sales and use taxes: exemptions: thrift stores operated by nonprofit organizations on military installations. (James Silva, Huntington Beach)
AB 2055 Military personnel: Combat Stress Support Team Program. (May Salas, Chula Vista).
Would create support teams for National Guard personnel to provide emergency crisis counseling, referral and personal support, combat stress evaluations, and mental health support. The Appropriations Committee refused to approve this bill even though the analysis indicated “minimum annual General Fund costs of about $200,000.”
AB 2557 Vehicles: special license plates (National Guard). (Chuck DeVore, Irvine)
The Legislature again kills an effort to provide special license plates as a very small token of appreciation for the service of the members of the National Guard.
AB 2896 Vehicles: special license plates. (Sally Lieber, Mountain View)
This is the Assembly version of the Gold Star license plate program authorization. The Senate version, SB 1455 above, which is better, is still alive but may face great difficulty in the Assembly.
SB 1219 Student financial aid: member and former members of the Armed Forces. (Gilbert Cedillo, Los Angeles)
Cal-Grant A or B awards for veterans.
SB 1222 County veteran service officers funding. (Gilbert Cedillo, Los Angeles)
Would provide “3 bucks a vet” for support of veterans benefits and services.
Complete information on all state legislation involving veterans issues is available at the website: http://www.califveterans.com
Bill Manes, Legislative Officer
California State Commanders Veterans Council
One Response to “Legislative Update”
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Dear Bill,
Thank you for your yeoman and knowledgeable work on what is hot or cold in State legislation.
Too bad our CA National Guard education benefits remain non-existent. Our legislators talk a good game and tell us how much they appreciate our military but they seldom seem to fund the proper priorities. This is one.
Oh, we can get free fishing licenses and park passes and some licence plates and even a memorial statue or two but not the stuff that really counts.
Best,
Bill Gavitt