Legislative Update Report - May 20, 2007

[boardman]

Legislative Update Report - California Veterans Affairs - May 20, 2007

FEDERAL SCENE – CAL-VET PROGRAM
There are a couple more Members of the California delegation in the House who have now become cosponsors of the bill, H.R. 551. Of those who were included in the list I sent out last week, Jim Costa (Bakersfield), Buck McKeon (Santa Clarita), and Linda Sanchez (Cerritos) have now signed on bringing the total number of California signers to 42. That is very good, but there are still a few more out there who need to be contacted by their constituents –
Xavier Becerra, District 31, (Los Angeles)
John Campbell, District 48, (Newport Beach)
Jerry Lewis, District 41, (San Bernardino)
George Miller, District 7, (Concord)
George Radanovich, District 19 (Fresno)
Edward Royce, District 40,(Fullerton)
Maxine Waters, District 35, (Los Angeles)

Also, I inadvertently left off last week:
Gary Miller, District 42, including cities pf Anaheim (part), Brea, La Habra, Mission Viejo, Placentia, Rancho Santa Margarita, Yorba Linda, Diamond Bar, La Habra Heights, Whittier, Rowland Heights, Chino and Chino Hills.
District office: 1800 E. Lambert Road, Suite 150, Brea, CA 92821. Phone: 714-257-1142. Fax: 714-257-9242 ..
Email: gary.miller@mail.house.gov

STATE LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Information available at this time is that the leadership of both houses has instructed all committees that absolutely no new commitments for expenditures from the State General Fund are to be approved for Fiscal Year 2007-2008. It is not clear if this prohibition is temporary in nature. However, so far, it has had a negative impact on the efforts of the VFW and the County Veterans Service Officers to obtain significant funding for services related to filing claims by veterans and dependents for federal benefits. The impact has been made clear to the Legislators that the need for these services is urgent, and that the net result would be a significant increase in the federal payments to veterans of California. The Legislators, so far, refused to provide the necessary funding.

All bills which have been waiting for action by the Appropriations Committees, and which do require new funding, are still being held under suspense. A few bills, which do not involve funding, or significant loss of revenue to the state, are being approved:

AB 111 National Guard Assumption Program of Loans for Education. (Sam Blakeslee, San Luis Obispo.)
This bill proposes to continue a program which was first authorized three years ago, to provide for the state to assume the education loans of members of the National Guard who are taking college level courses. This is a very modest benefit and would be available only to persons who have established financial need. However, it is the only college level education assistance program currently available to members of the National Guard.
Funds have been included in the FY 2007-2008 Budget by the Governor for this program. That part of the Budget was approved by the Assembly Budget Committee, on the condition that another bill, SB 983 (Lou Correa, Garden Grove) which would provide a much more significant education program, would not be passed. However, on the Senate side, that item in the Budget was not approved. This will have to be part of the Conference Committee to resolve the differences.

AB 257 Parks: veterans: park passes. (Joel Anderson, La Mesa)
Existing law requires that a veteran who has a disability rating of 50 percent or higher, or who is a former POW, upon payment of a fee of $3.50, be issued a pass entitling the bearer to the use of all facilities, including boat launching facilities, in units of the state park system.
This bill would eliminate the fee requirement for these park passes, and would additionally make a veteran who is a recipient of the Medal of Honor eligible for a pass.
Passed by the Assembly and sent to the Senate.

AB 282 Crimes: military decorations. (Paul Cook, Yucaipa)
Would provide that it is a misdemeanor for a person to falsely represent himself or herself, verbally or in writing, to have been awarded any decoration or medal from the Armed Forces of the United States, the California National Guard, State Military Reserve, or Naval Militia, or any service medals or badges awarded to the members of such forces, or the ribbon, button, or rosette of any such badge, decoration, or medal, or any colorable imitation of such item, with the intent to defraud.
Passed by the Assembly Committee on Appropriations and sent to a floor vote.

AB 392 Military service: benefits. (Ted Lieu, El Segundo)
Would require a qualified employer to allow a qualified employee that is a spouse of a qualified member of the Armed Forces, National Guard, or Reserves to take up to 10 days of unpaid leave during a period that the qualified member will be on leave from deployment.
The bill has been made an emergency act so it will become effective as soon as it is passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor.
Passed by the Assembly and sent to the Senate.

SB 599 California Mexican American Veterans Memorial Beautification and Enhancement Committee. (Gloria Negrete McLeod, Montclair)
Would delete the current provisions in state law establishing the California Mexican American Veterans’ Memorial Beautification and Enhancement Commission, and would instead require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a California Mexican American Veterans’ Memorial Beautification and Enhancement Committee.
Existing law also provides for an income tax check off for donations of funds for the memorial. This bill would delete that provision and, instead, provide for the Department to receive contributions for the memorial.
Passed by the Senate and sent to the Assembly.

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