If you read his veto message carefully (below), it is pretty clear that while he is supportive of Veterans Treatment Courts he still feels that a bill is not necessary and that it is up to individual county courts to decide if they need a Veterans Treatment Court.
While we have been introducing legislation for the past three years on this subject without success, it has been worth the effort because it kept Veterans Treatment Courts in front of the Legislature and in the public eye. Also, several dedicated volunteers like Jude Litzenberger from San Diego and Duncan Mac Vicar from Los Altos have been traveling the state helping county Superior Courts to establish the 15 Veterans Treatment Courts in existence and the 9 counties that are considering establishing courts, and they will continue to do so.
The fight for Veterans Treatment Courts will now shift to the county level. If your county does not have a Veterans Treatment Court, veterans groups need to contact their elected officials, such as Public Defenders, District Attorneys, veteran friendly judges, and judges who are veterans.
Of equal or more importance is the fact that the Governor did sign AB 2371, also by Assemblywoman Betsy Butler (D-Torrance), which helps direct veterans into treatment instead of prison.
Assemblywoman Butler also had AB 2490 singed into law. AB 2490 will require the State Prison System to help imprisoned, honorably discharged veterans file claims with the VA for the entitlements that they earned.
I personally want to thank Assemblywoman Betsy Butler for her unswerving dedication to helping veterans and the military since she was elected to the Assembly in 2010. Betsy's father served for 38 years in the Air Force, including the Vietnam War Era. Thank you Betsy from all California veterans.
Pete Conaty and Associates
The Veterans Advocate
office: 916-492-0550
fax: 916-492-8957
cell: 916-768-8940
http://www.peteconaty.com
