Legislative Update Report - April 22, 2007

[boardman]

Legislative Update Report - California Veterans Affairs - April 22, 2007

The legislative committees continue to push the bills through the hearing process to meet the calendar deadlines. The following are some of the significant actions this past week:

Passed by Assembly Committee on Transportation:
AB 1661 Driver's license and identification cards: Selective Service System registration. (Paul Cook, Yucaipa)
Would require the Department of Motor Vehicles to forward the personal information of male applicants for an original driver’s license or identification card under 26 years of age to the Selective Service System in an electronic format if the applicant indicates his agreement to be registered with the system. The department would be required to provide a notice on the application form regarding registration requirements and the penalties imposed for a failure to register.

Passed by the Assembly Committee on Appropriations:
AB 7 Armed Service Members: consumer loans. (Ted W. Lieu, El Segundo)
Would make it unlawful to violate specified provisions of the John Warner National Defense Deposit Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007, relating to the Armed Forces. This would provide for state enforcement of the federal law to control the actions of those who provide the "payday loans" to military personnel.
The bill includes an emergency clause so it would be effective as soon as it is passed and signed by the Governor.
It is now on the Consent Calendar for Assembly floor vote.

AB 111 National Guard Assumption Program of Loans for Education: operative date. (Sam Blakeslee, San Luis Obispo)
Extends the program life to July 1, 2010, or three additional years. This program is supposed to provide a minimal education benefit for members of the California National Guard but has never been put into effect because no funds were provided in the budget. The Governor’s 2007-2008 State Budget, for the first time, provides funds.
This bill also includes an emergency clause.
Placed on suspense file by Assembly Appropriations Committee. (These bills will be taken up at a later date when the Committee has determined if funds are available for any of the costs involved.)

AB 11 Vehicles: special license plates. (National Guard) (Chuck DeVore, Irvine.)
Provides for the issuance of special license plates by the department for an active member of the California National Guard and exempts license plates issued under the bill from the payment of a $40 application fee and a $30 transfer fee.

AB 138 Vehicles: veterans: parking. (Karen Bass, Los Angeles.)
Would authorize veterans displaying special license plates on their vehicles to park, without charge, in a state or local authority parking facility, a parking space in a time restricted zone of one hour or more, or a metered parking space. The special license plates include Pearl Harbor Survivor, Medal of Honor, Legion of Valor, American POW, Purple Heart.

AB 445 Vehicles: special license plates: disabled veterans. (Pedro Nava, Santa Barbara.)
Would provide for the issuance of special license plates to a veteran who has a service connected disability rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs at 100 percent. Would exempt license plates issued under the bill from the payment of a $40 application fee and a $30 transfer fee.
These plates would not authorize the vehicle to use disabled parking spaces.
Passed by Senate Committee on Judiciary:

SB 904 Public records: military service. (Jim Battin, Palm Desert)
Existing law authorizes the State Registrar, local registrar, or county recorder to issue a certified copy of a military service record pursuant to the receipt of a written or faxed request for a certified copy of a military service record.
This bill would, instead, only authorize a county recorder to issue a certified copy or an informational certified copy of a military service record.
This bill would also require the county recorder, when furnishing an informational certified copy of a military service record, to alter that record by obliterating the service member’s personal information.
The intent of the bill is to prevent unauthorized persons from obtaining copies of the DD214 or other discharge documents which the veteran has placed on file, and using the documents for identity theft or similar illegal actions.

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