Legislative Update Report - CA Vet Affairs - July 1, 2007

[boardman]

Legislative Update Report - California Veterans Affairs - July 1, 2007

The State Legislature has now missed another constitutional deadline by failing to produce a State Budget by the beginning of the Fiscal Year on July 1. While the Budget Committees of both houses continue to struggle with the budget issues, the policy committees are busy conducting their hearings on other bills. These committees have just two more weeks to complete action on all bills which are still pending. Some bills which are progressing:

AB 7 Armed Service Members: consumer loans. (Ted W. Lieu, El Segundo; Lori Saldana, San Diego. Coauthors, Assembly: Jim Beall, San Jose; Shirley Horton, Lemon Grove; Bob Huff, Diamond Bar; Kevin Jeffries, Murrieta; John Laird, Santa Cruz; and Lois Wolk, Vacaville.)
This bill will provide for California enforcement of the new federal law relating to "payday loans" to military personnel. Effective October 1, 2007, the federal John Warner National Defense Authorization Act provides armed services members and their dependents a number of consumer credit services protections, including, among other things, that a creditor may not impose an annual percentage rate of interest greater than 36% on consumer credit loans (including payday loans).
The bill had been passed by the Assembly and has now been passed by the Senate Committees on Banking, Finance and Insurance, and on Judiciary.

AB 111 National Guard Assumption Program of Loans for Education. (Sam Blakeslee, San Luis Obispo.)
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.
The bill had previously passed the Assembly and has now been passed by the Senate Committees on Education and on Veterans Affairs.

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.
Previously passed by the Assembly and has now been passed by the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water.

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.
Previously passed by the Assembly. Has now been passed by the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs and sent to the Committee on Public Safety.

AB 767 Student financial aid: veterans and dependents. (Mimi Walters, Laguna Niguel)
Provides for waiver of fees, including enrollment fees, registration fees, differential fees, or incidental fees, at Community Colleges and State Universities, for veterans who received education benefits under the Federal Montgomery GI Bill, and who have no benefit months remaining under that program. Veterans who entered military service while resident of California are eligible, or have served on active duty as members of the California National Guard, are eligible for the state benefits.
Previously passed by the Assembly. Has now been passed by Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs and referred to the Committee on Education.

SB 630 Veterans Homes. (Samuel Aanestad, Nevada City)
Appropriates additional state funds for construction of the Greater Los Angeles Veterans Home project and authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to borrow state funds pending receipt of the federal share of the construction costs. Also appropriates $30 million for construction of the veterans homes in Fresno and in Shasta County.
Previously passed by the Senate. Has now been passed by the Assembly Committee on Veterans Affairs and referred to the Committee on Business and Professions, with a hearing scheduled on July 3.
The bill has an urgency clause so it will become effective as soon as it is passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor. The California Department of Veterans Affairs must have this bill passed so the necessary commitment can be made to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs by August 15 concerning the availability of the state funds for the home projects.

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