Veterans' Issues

Veterans' Legislation

Veterans' Legislation

SB 4* (Johannessen-R) Northern California Veterans Cemetery

Requires the State Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA), in voluntary cooperation with the Shasta County Board of Supervisors and the boards of supervisors of other participating Northern California counties, to design, develop and construct a state-owned and state-operated Northern California Veterans Cemetery to be located in Northern California. Appropriates $520,000 as follows: $70,000 for a temporary staff position within DVA to oversee and coordinate the project, and $450,000 to the Northern California Veterans Cemetery Master Development Fund.

Chapter 604, Statutes of 1999

SB 36 (Baca-D) Veterans' preference: local agencies

Requires any city, county, or city and county, general law or chartered, when it has established a civil service system, to implement a veterans' preference system by January 1, 2002, or adopt a resolution identifying reasons that the local agency does not do so.

Chapter 201, Statutes of 1999

SB 73 (Murray-D) State contracts: participation goals

Authorizes substantial increases in the award of state contracts for professional bond services to small businesses and to businesses owned by disabled veterans. Authorizes local agencies to establish incentive programs to encourage participation of small business enterprises in local contracts.

Vetoed by the Governor

SB 101 (Johannessen-R) California Veterans Board

Increases the membership of the California Veterans Board from six to seven, and also changes the date on which the board is to submit its annual report to the Legislature from August 1 to September 1.

(In Assembly Veterans Affairs Committee)

SB 152 (Johannessen-R) Deputy Secretary of Veterans Homes

Requires the Governor to appoint a Deputy Secretary of Veterans Homes to serve at the pleasure of the Secretary of the State Department of Veterans Affairs, to be responsible for the administration of all sites of the California Veterans Homes, for the purpose of overseeing and monitoring all aspects of medical care that is being provided to men and women veterans who are residents at any California veterans home.

Chapter 511, Statutes of 1999

SB 183* (Johannessen-R) County veterans service officers: disbursements to counties

Appropriates $4,100,000 annually from the General Fund to the State Department of Veterans Affairs to fund the activities of county veterans' service offices.

(In Senate Appropriations Committee)

SB 224 (Baca-D) Seniors', Veterans', and Disabled Health Care Protection Act

Establishes the Seniors', Veterans', and Disabled Health Care Protection Act of 1999, which, among other things, requires the State Department of Health Services to license and regulate nurses' registries, other than those providing private duty nursing employment services.

(In Senate Business and Professions Committee)

SB 249* (Johannessen-R) Farm and home purchases: life or disability insurance

Requires the Secretary of the State Department of Veterans Affairs to conduct a study of the life and disability insurance coverage that is being provided for the purchasers of farm and homes under the Veterans Farm and Home Purchase Act to determine what other life and disability insurance is available that would provide equal or better coverage and a more equitable or lower cost to the purchasers. Requires that copies of the study be submitted to the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, the Assembly Committee on Veterans Affairs, and the fiscal committees from each house on or before January 1, 2000.

Chapter 472, Statutes of 1999

SB 251 (Knight-R) Children of deceased or disabled veterans

Expands the income eligibility criteria whereby the University of California, California State University, and California Community Colleges are prohibited from charging children of disabled or deceased US military veterans.

Chapter 689, Statutes of 1999

SB 281 (Chesbro-D) Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Fund

Requires the Administrator of the California Veterans Home to maintain a Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Fund to include any funds derived from golf course green fees and range ball fees, in addition to money and property included in the existing Post Fund, as specified. Requires the Administrator to prepare and submit a report to the Secretary of the State Department of Veterans Affairs and specified committees of the Legislature regarding funds received and expended by the newly created fund no later than August 20 of each year.

Chapter 902, Statutes of 1999

SB 467* (McPherson-R) Central Coast Veterans Cemetery

Requires the State Department of Veterans Affairs, in voluntary cooperation with the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, to develop a master plan for a state-owned and state-operated Central Coast Veterans Cemetery to be located on the grounds of the former Fort Ord in Monterey County. Appropriates $140,000 from the General Fund to the Central Coast Veterans Cemetery Master Development Fund for the master development plan of the cemetery, as specified.

(In Assembly Appropriations Committee)

SB 630* (Dunn-D) Veterans' homes

Proposes that a $50 million General Obligation (GO) bond measure to construct and/or renovate state-owned veterans homes be placed on the March, 2000 statewide ballot. Provides a goal that three percent of the construction contracts for these homes are awarded to disabled veteran business enterprises. Requires any outstanding veterans homes revenue bonds to be paid off by the GO bonds emanating from this Act.

Chapter 728, Statutes of 1999

SB 637 (Baca-D) Veterans

Removes a January 1, 2000 sunset date so that spouses of service-connected, totally disabled veterans can receive specified education benefits beyond age 27. Revises the State Employment Development Department's hiring preferences for the position of Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program specialist in order to conform to federal law.

Chapter 404, Statutes of 1999

SB 703* (Poochigian-R) Veterans: World War II Memorial

Appropriates $1,032,000 from the General Fund to the State Department of Veterans Affairs for allocation, as specified, for the construction of the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. in honor of Californians who served their country in that war.

Chapter 864, Statutes of 1999

SB 1064 (Perata-D) Taxation: contributions

Allows the Mexican American Veterans' Memorial Beautification and Enhancement Account check-off to remain on the tax form through at least the 2000 tax year without having to receive a minimum level of contributions.

Chapter 989, Statutes of 1999

SCR 12 (Johannessen-R) POW Recognition Day

Proclaims April 9, 1999, as POW Recognition Day in California.

Resolution Chapter 55, Statutes of 1999

SCR 25 (Morrow-R) Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone Memorial Freeway

Designates a specified portion of Interstate 5 the "Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone memorial Freeway." Also requests the State Department of Transportation to determine the cost of appropriate signs showing this special designation, and upon receiving donations from nonstate sources covering that cost, to erect those signs.

Resolution Chapter 72, Statutes of 1999

SCR 33 (Dunn-D) Veterans of Foreign Wars Month

Commemorates the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Resolution Chapter 62, Statutes of 1999

SCR 35 (Monteith-R) Remembrance Memorial for California Korean War Veterans

Honors the Remembrance Memorial for California Korean War Veterans located in the San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery.

Resolution Chapter 45, Statutes of 1999

SCR 39 (Baca-D) Memorial Day and Veterans Day: days of remembrance

Encourages Californians to demonstrate their support for veterans on Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

Resolution Chapter 129, Statutes of 1999

SCR 47 (Morrow-R) University of California: Veterans Day

Requests the Regents of the University of California to designate November 11 as a Veterans Day holiday for both staff and students.

(In Senate Rules Committee)

SCR 52 (Rainey-R) Veterans of Foreign Wars Month

Proclaims the month of October 1999 as Veterans of Foreign Wars Month.

(In Senate Rules Committee)

SJR 6 (Solis-D) Filipino veterans of World War II

Memorializes the President and the Congress of the United States to take action necessary to honor our country's moral obligation to provide Filipino veterans with the military benefits that they deserve, including, but not limited to, holding related hearings, and acting favorably on legislation pertaining to the granting of full veterans' benefits to Filipino veterans of the United States Armed Forces.

Resolution Chapter 65, Statutes of 1999

Similar legislation is AJR 15 (Pacheco-R), Resolution Chapter 101, Statutes of 1999.

AB 92 (Floyd-D) Inspector General for Veterans Affairs

Creates the State Office of Inspector General for Veterans Affairs, subject to the direction of the Governor to replace the administratively-created position of Internal Auditor in the State Department of Veterans Affairs, as specified. Requires the inspector general to submit a report and make any recommendations he or she deems necessary for improving the operations of the veterans program to the board and to the Legislature annually.

Chapter 894, Statutes of 1999

AB 193 (Cardoza-D) Veterans homes

Establishes a Governor's Commission on California Veterans Homes consisting of 12 appointed and ex officio members to advise the Governor and the Legislature on the establishment of veterans homes in California. Requires the commission to report to the Governor and the Legislature on or before October 1, 2001, concerning its findings and recommendations for the development and construction of activities of veterans homes in California. Sunsets on January 1, 2002.

Chapter 810, Statutes of 1999

AB 274 (Baldwin-R) Home and farm purchases: life and disability insurance

Codifies current procedure regarding the State Department of Veterans Affairs including a life insurance benefit program and an option for disability insurance in any contract for the purchase of a home or farm made under the Veterans' Farm and Home Purchase Act of 1974, as well as prohibiting commingling money of Cal-Vet revenue.

(In Senate Veterans Affairs Committee)

AB 409 (Dickerson-R) Disabled veterans: contracts

Requires that certification of a disabled veteran business enterprise be continued for up to three years after the death or certification of permanent medical disability of the disabled veteran owning the enterprise. Requires the State Department of Veterans Affairs to appoint an advocate who will be responsible for overseeing implementation of this bill and general participation goals in state contracting.

Chapter 767, Statutes of 1999

AB 640 (Bates-R) Special license plates: fee exemptions

Authorizes the State Department of Motor Vehicles to require satisfactory proof of status as a Pearl Harbor survivor, recipient of the Purple Heart, or any recipient of one of the nation's highest decorations of valor.

Chapter 612, Statutes of 1999

AB 699 (Wiggins-D) Veterans' home: nonresident veterans: outpatient services

Authorizes the State Department of Veterans Affairs to work with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to allow veterans and their dependents that are not residents of the Home at Yountville to receive outpatient medical services at the Home. Establishes a rate for reimbursement from the federal government to the State of California for outpatient services rendered by the veterans home to those patients.

Chapter 194, Statutes of 1999

AB 879 (Havice-D) Veterans: Deputy Secretary of Women Veterans Affairs

Deletes the January 1, 2001 repeal date for the position of Deputy Secretary for Women Veterans Affairs, thereby extending this position indefinitely.

Chapter 859, Statutes of 1999

AB 938* (Dutra-D) Escheat: military awards

Provides that all escheated property consisting of military awards and decorations delivered to the State Controller do not have to be sold at a public sale to the highest bidder, and shall be held in trust at the California National Guard Museum and Resource Center.

(In Senate Housing and Community Development Committee)

AB 1167 (Frusetta-R) Property tax exemption

For the 1999-2000 fiscal year and each fiscal year thereafter, modifies the current reduction and transfer provisions by eliminating the reduction and transfer amount for any veterans memorial district established pursuant to certain statutory provisions, as specified.

(In Assembly Local Government Committee)

AB 1269 (Frusetta-R) Veterans

Requires the State Department of Veterans Affairs and the State Employment Development Department to jointly prepare a study concerning employment opportunities for California veterans, as specified, and to report to the Legislature on or before July 1, 2001. Sunsets on January 1, 2002.

(In Assembly Veterans Affairs Committee)

AB 1365* (Oller-R) Income taxes: exclusion: military retirement benefits

Provides a gross income exclusion for retirement benefits received by an individual who served in active duty as a member of the United States armed forces and (upon that individual's death) by his/her surviving spouse.

(Failed passage in Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee; reconsideration granted)

AB 1515 (Margett-R) Special veterans design license plates: motorcycles

Allows the State Department of Motor Vehicles to issue the already available special "Veterans" license plates to motorcyclists.

(In Senate Transportation Committee)

AB 1527* (Briggs-R) Vehicle license fees: exemption: veterans

Exempts from taxation a vehicle owned by a veteran who has served in any war or conflict described in a specified statute provided that the vehicle is not exempt by reason of the existing exemption for a vehicle owned by a disabled veteran or Congressional Medal of Honor recipient.

(In Assembly Transportation Committee)

AB 1583 (Baldwin-R) Veterans special license plates: revenues

Requires that, after deduction of costs incurred by the State Department of Motor Vehicles, $1 for each license plate issued be transmitted by the department to the veteran's organization whose distinctive design or decal appears on the plate. Specifies that of the remaining revenue, one-half shall be deposited in the Veterans Service Office Fund and one-half shall be deposited in the California Environmental License Plate Fund.

(In Assembly Transportation Committee)

AB 1632 (Assembly Veterans Affairs Committee) Veterans' Home of California

Recasts provisions of existing law relating to veterans' home property to require that the property be for the exclusive use and benefit of the home and for specified persons residing in the home. Requires any cemetery that is situated on the site of the home to be regularly and appropriately maintained.

(In Assembly Veterans Affairs Committee)

AB 1633 (Assembly Veterans Affairs Committee) School facilities: disabled veteran business enterprises

Requires school districts to comply with a three percent participation goal for disabled veteran business enterprises when utilizing state school construction bond funds.

Chapter 133, Statutes of 1999

AB 1651 (Assembly Veterans Affairs Committee) Parks and recreation: disabled veterans: pass program

Revises the definition of "veteran", for purposes of the disabled veterans pass program, to mean any member of the Armed Forces who has a 50 percent or greater service-connected disability or who was held as a prisoner of war by forces hostile to the United States, as certified by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, and who was honorably discharged from service.

(In Assembly Veterans Affairs Committee)

ACR 5 (Mazzoni-D) Marin County Veterans Memorial Freeway

Names a specified portion of State Highway Route 101 in San Rafael the Marin County Veterans Memorial Freeway.

Resolution Chapter 49, Statutes of 1999

ACR 18 (Machado-D) Relative to California Veterans Day, 1999

Designates Thursday, November 11, 1999, as California Veterans Day, 1999.

Resolution Chapter 108, Statutes of 1999

ACR 39 (Wayne-D) Military Families Recognition Day

Designates Saturday, November 20, 1999, as Military Families Recognition Day.

Resolution Chapter 41, Statutes of 1999

AJR 15 (Robert Pacheco-R) Filipino veterans of the United States Armed Forces

Urges the President and Congress of the United States to grant full veterans benefits to Filipino veterans of the United States Armed Forces.

Resolution Chapter 101, Statutes of 1999

Similar legislation is SJR 6 (Solis-D), Resolution Chapter 65, Statutes of 1999.

AJR 25 (Briggs-R) Allied Hmong-Lao veterans

Calls upon the President and Congress of the United States to recognize the sacrifices and services rendered to our country by the Hmong-Lao veterans who served in the special guerrilla units that were allied with, and operating in support of, the military forces of the United States during the Vietnam War, by granting those veterans and their immediate families full United States citizenship.

Resolution Chapter 138, Statutes of 1999

Index (in Bill Order)