Veterans' Issues

Veterans' Legislation

Veterans' Legislation

SB 182 (Johannessen-R) Veterans: farm and home purchase

Provides that any reserves maintained under the master agreement between the State Department of Veterans Affairs and insurance companies may not exceed a level greater than ten percent in excess of actuarial requirements, plus a reasonable contingency reserve.

(Died in Senate Veterans Affairs Committee)

SB 589 (Perata-D) Disabled veteran business enterprises

Revises the definition of "disabled veteran business enterprise" with respect to ownership requirements. Adds various provisions regarding the renting of equipment by a disabled veteran business enterprise. Adds requirements with respect to the certification of a disabled veteran business enterprise. Makes it a misdemeanor to provide fraudulent declarations or fraudulently obtain benefits.

(Died in Assembly Veterans Affairs Committee)

SB 844* (Chesbro-D) Veterans' Home of California

Provides $5.8 million in reimbursement authority, in augmentation to authority provided in the 2000-01 Budget Act, for the renovation of the Lincoln Theater at the Veterans' Home of Yountville.

Chapter 362, Statutes of 2002

SB 959 (Knight-R) Veterans' Homes of California: administration

Establishes the Division of Veterans' Health Services within the State Department of Health Services, beginning July 1, 2002, and vests the administration of the Veterans' Homes of California in that division.

(Died in Senate Veterans Affairs Committee)

SB 1033 (Knight-R) Bid preferences: disabled veteran business enterprises

Creates an additional three percent bid preference for certified small businesses that also are certified as disabled veteran business enterprises.

(Died in Assembly Appropriations Committee)

Similar legislation was AB 2323 (Wyman-R), which died in Senate Appropriations Committee.

SB 1234* (Johannessen-R) Veterans' homes

Authorizes the State Public Works Board to issue lease-revenue bonds up to $62 million to finance the acquisition, design, construction, renovation, or expansion of veterans' homes at Yountville, Barstow, Chula Vista, Lancaster, Saticoy, and West Los Angeles, and in Fresno County and Shasta County.

Chapter 217, Statutes of 2002

Similar legislation was SB 1234 (Johannessen-R), which died in Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, SB 1773 (Chesbro-D), Chapter 219, Statutes of 2002, AB 2089 (Aanestad-R), which died in Assembly Veterans Affairs Committee, AB 2559 (Wesson-D), Chapter 216, Statutes of 2002, and AB 2953 (Wiggins-D), Chapter 218, Statutes of 2002.

SB 1251 (Johannessen-R) Veterans' farm and home purchase program

Corrects and updates various obsolete references and makes several technical changes to the Military and Veterans Code regarding Cal-Vet home loans.

Chapter 465, Statutes of 2002

SB 1281 (Haynes-R) Veterans homes: accounting for charges

Requires the veterans home administrator to provide each member of the home, upon admission, with a written notice of the costs of care that may be incurred in excess of the member contribution fee and with a quarterly statement listing all charges for the cost of care provided to the member in excess of the member fee.

Chapter 466, Statutes of 2002

SB 1309* (Johannessen-R) Farm and home purchases: life or disability insurance

Increases the reserves requirement that must be maintained by insurance companies that provide life or disability insurance for Cal-Vet Farm and Home Loan participants from 20 percent to 25 percent.

(Died in Assembly Appropriations Committee)

SB 1321 (Haynes-R) Veterans' homes: Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Fund

Requires the State Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) to maintain a 30 percent reserve in the Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Fund at each Veterans' Home of California site. Requires any money in excess of the reserve to be transferred to a special fund to reduce or defray member fees according to rules to be established by DVA.

(Died in Senate Appropriations Committee)

SB 1455* (Johannessen-R) Northern California Veterans Cemetery

Increases the state imposed maximum on federal grant money from $6 million to $7 million for the new State Veterans Cemetery in Shasta County.

Chapter 502, Statutes of 2002

SB 1462* (Morrow-R) Surviving spouses of military veterans

Allows a $50 tax credit for a "qualified surviving spouse" of a military retiree who receives federal military survivor benefits. Defines "qualified surviving spouse" as a widow or widower of a military retiree who is 62 years of age at the end of the taxable year and has an annual gross income of $30,000 or less (individual) or $60,000 or less (married/re-married). Allows the credit to be carried over until exhausted. Sunsets this credit on January 1, 2005.

(Died in Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee)

SB 1469* (Johannessen-R) Property tax: veterans' organization exemption

Provides that property owned by an organization that satisfies the requirements for the veterans' organization exemption may not be denied the veterans' organization exemption because the property is occasionally made available for private rentals as a service to the community, under specified conditions.

(Died in Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee)

SB 1470* (Johannessen-R) California State Military Museum

Requires the Adjutant General to establish a California State Military Museum and resource center, and limits state funding to $100,000 per year.

Chapter 469, Statutes of 2002

SB 1773* (Chesbro-D) Veterans' homes: renovation

Appropriates, continuously, $15 million from the Veterans' Home Fund to the Department of Veterans' Affairs for the renovation of the Veterans Home of California, Yountville.

Chapter 219, Statutes of 2002

Similar legislation was SB 1234 (Johannessen-R), Chapter 217, Statutes of 2002, AB 2559 (Wesson-D), Chapter 216, Statutes of 2002, and AB 2953 (Wiggins-D), Chapter 218, Statutes of 2002.

SB 1776* (Poochigian-R) Income taxes: bank and corporation taxes: credits

Allows a 100% tax credit for an employer for the amount of benefits paid to a qualified employee while on active duty as a result of Operation Enduring Freedom or any future military action. Specifies that the credit shall include any benefits paid on or after September 11, 2001 and before January 1, 2002 (in addition to the 2002 year and beyond). Defines "qualified employee" as an employee who is a member of the California National Guard or a United States military reserve organization that is ordered to active duty on or after September 11, 2001 as a result of Operation Enduring Freedom.

(Died in Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee)

SB 1858* (Knight-R) Veterans affairs: administration

Requires one member of the California Veterans Board (Board) to have an accounting or auditing background, as specified. Also allows the Inspector General and the Board access to the documents and employees of the State Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA). Requires the Secretary of DVA to conduct audits, as specified by statute, on internal controls, and to provide those audits to the Inspector General.

Chapter 977, Statutes of 2002

SB 1893 (Johannessen-R) Veterans' farm and home purchase program

Increases the loan limit for a single-family home and also reduces mortgage rates for qualifying veterans under the California Veterans Farm and Home Purchase Act (Cal-Vet).

Chapter 473, Statutes of 2002

SCR 56 (Johannessen-R) POW Recognition Day

Designates April 9, 2002 as POW Recognition Day in California.

Resolution Chapter 30, Statutes of 2002

SCR 62 (Margett-R) United States Military Academy: bicentennial

Commemorates the bicentennial of the founding of the United States Military located at West Point, New York.

Resolution Chapter 54, Statutes of 2002

SR 30 (Johannessen-R) North Bay Veterans Stand Down 2002

Recognizes July 19, 2002, as "North Bay Stand Down 2002" at the Dixon May Fair in Dixon, California, which is to help and assist homeless veterans.

Read and adopted

AB 34* (Runner-R) Veterans' Home of California

Appropriates monies in the Veterans' Home Fund, as specified, subject to the approval of the State Department of Finance, and continuously appropriates, without regard to fiscal years, certain federal matching funds, as specified.

Chapter 728, Statutes of 2002

AB 214 (Calderon-D) Military reserve relief

Compliments, and in certain circumstances extends, some of the benefits provided for in the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940.

(Died in Assembly Governmental Organization Committee)

AB 294* (Zettel-R) Income taxes: exclusion: military retirement benefits

Provides a gross income exclusion of survivor benefits and payments received under a federal Retired Serviceman's Family Protection Plan, a Survivor Benefit Plan, or a Supplemental Survivor Benefit Plan. The provisions of the bill become effective for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2002.

(Died in Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee)

AB 747 (Chavez-D) Governor's Commission on Homeless Veterans

Establishes a Governor's Commission on Homeless Veterans, consisting of 12 appointed and ex officio members, to advise the Governor and the Legislature, as specified, on the welfare of homeless veterans in California. Sunsets January 1, 2004.

(Died in Assembly Governmental Organization Committee)

AB 748 (Chavez-D) Cal-Vet program: financial audit

Requires the Bureau of State Audits to conduct an analysis of the effectiveness of the Cal-Vet program and to report to the Governor and the Legislature on the fiscal status of that program on or before January 1, 2004.

Vetoed by the Governor

AB 1593 (Wyman-R) Disabled veterans

Increases the number of military veterans eligible to be exempted, as disabled veterans, from paying motor vehicle registration fees, vehicle license fees, and fees related to special identification license plates. Specifies that to be eligible for exemptions, the veteran must currently be rated 100 percent disabled due to a diagnosed disease or disorder that substantially impairs or interferes with mobility. Reduces the threshold disability to 50 percent and eliminates the requirement that the disease or disorder needs to substantially impair or interfere with mobility.

(Died in Assembly Appropriations Committee)

AB 1799 (Chavez-D) Veterans service offices

Provides that the Veterans Service Office Fund shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the State Controller for allocation to the California Association of County Veterans Officers for allocation and disbursement to counties for operation of county veterans' service offices.

(Died in Assembly Veterans Affairs Committee)

AB 1850* (Nakano-D) Military service: health care benefits

Allows reservists of the California National Guard called up to active duty for 30 days or more in service to the state to be eligible for health care benefits that cover dependents.

Chapter 417, Statutes of 2002

AB 1965 (Bogh-R) Public postsecondary education: Medal of Honor recipients

Provides California State University and California Community College tuition and fee waivers to Congressional Medal of Honor recipients and their dependants, as specified.

Chapter 202, Statutes of 2002

AB 2090* (Aanestad-R) Veterans' homes

Enacts the Veterans' Homes Bond Act of 2002 that, upon approval of the state electorate, would authorize, for purposes of financing a plan for the design and construction of veterans' homes in Los Angeles, Fresno, and Shasta Counties in the state, the issuance, pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law, of bonds in the amount of $50,000,000. Provides for submission of these provisions to the voters at the November 5, 2002, statewide general election.

(Died in Assembly Veterans Affairs Committee)

AB 2428 (Correa-D) Veterans: benefits

Expands the definition of veteran for purposes of eligibility for home mortgage financing through the State Department of Veterans Affairs.

Chapter 419, Statutes of 2002

AB 2508 (Dickerson-R) Remembrance Memorial for California Korean War Veterans

Recognizes the existing Korean War Memorial in the San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery as the official state memorial for veterans of the Korean War.

Chapter 106, Statutes of 2002

AB 2559* (Wesson-D) Veterans' Home of California

Continuously appropriates $31 million from the Veterans' Home Fund to meet state funding requirements for the construction of new veterans' homes in Lancaster, Saticoy and West Los Angeles.

Chapter 216, Statutes of 2002

Similar legislation was SB 1234 (Johannessen-R), Chapter 217, Statutes of 2002, SB 1773 (Chesbro-D), Chapter 219, Statutes of 2002, and AB 2953 (Wiggins-D), Chapter 218, Statutes of 2002.

AB 2633 (John Campbell-R) Postsecondary education: veterans: residency

Specifies that a student who served on active duty as a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, and who was honorable discharged, is entitled to resident classification for tuition and fee purposes.

(Died in Assembly Appropriations Committee)

AB 2647 (Liu-D) Transportation

Exempts the State Department of Transportation from having to maintain a database list of disabled veteran business enterprises.

Chapter 168, Statutes of 2002

AB 2649 (Wyland-R) Military leave

Requires that temporary military leave of absence for a period not to exceed 30 calendar days.

(Died in Assembly Veterans Affairs Committee)

AB 2893 (Wayne-D) San Diego Regional Veterans Cemetery

Requires the State Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) to design, develop and construct a state-owned and state-operated veterans' cemetery in San Diego County. Appropriates $520,000 from the General Fund to the DVA for the design, development and construction of the cemetery.

(Died in Senate Appropriations Committee)

AB 2953* (Wiggins-D) Veterans' homes: renovation

Continuously appropriates, without regard to fiscal years, an amount up to $15 million from the Veterans' Home Fund to the State Department of Veterans' Affairs for renovating the Veterans' Home at Yountville. Becomes operative if AB 2559(Wesson-D), SB 1234(Johannessen-R), and SB 1773(Chesbro-D) are enacted and become effective on or before January 1, 2003.

Chapter 218, Statutes of 2002

Similar legislation is SB 1234 (Johannessen-R), Chapter 217, Statutes of 2002, SB 1773 (Chesbro-D), Chapter 219, Statutes of 2002, and AB 2559 (Wesson-D), Chapter 216, Statutes of 2002.

ACR 130 (Havice-D) Gold Star Mothers Week

Designates the week of May 27 to June 2, 2002, inclusive, as Gold Star Mothers Week, and urge Californians to pay heed to the heroic sacrifices of our fallen men and women and be aware of the sacrifices made by them.

Resolution Chapter 9, Statutes of 2002

ACR 135 (Strickland-R) Ventura County Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway

Designates that portion of State Highway Route 1 located in Ventura County as the "Ventura County Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway" and that portion of State Highway Route 126 between the City of Santa Paula and State Highway Route 101 as the "Korean War Veterans' Memorial Highway." Requests the Department of Transportation to determine the cost of appropriate plaques and markers showing these special designations and, upon receiving donations from non-state sources covering that cost, to erect those plaques and markers and signs.

Resolution Chapter 89, Statutes of 2002

ACR 187 (Nakano-D) Fall of Bataan

Recognizes April 9, 2002, as the 60th anniversary of the fall of Bataan and honor the services of the Filipino-American World War II veterans now living in the State of California.

Resolution Chapter 65, Statutes of 2002

ACR 196 (La Suer-R) Memorial Day

Recognizes May 27, 2002, as Memorial Day and urges Californians to honor the men and women of the United States who died in the pursuit of freedom and peace.

Resolution Chapter 76, Statutes of 2002

ACR 206 (Bates-R) National Military Appreciation Month

Honors those men and women who have served and are serving in our nation's military, and recognizes May 2002 as National Military Appreciation Month.

Resolution Chapter 77, Statutes of 2002

ACR 221 (Nakano-D) Japanese-American World War II veterans

Recognizes and thanks the Nisei World War II veterans for their extraordinary and heroic service to America during World War II, and declares that their sacrifice and valor should forever be a reminder of the true spirit of democracy in America.

Resolution Chapter 175, Statutes of 2002

ACR 227 (Canciamilla-D) Navajo Code Talkers Week

Declares August 14, 2002 and the following week as Navajo Code Talkers Week.

(Died in Assembly Rules Committee)

ACR 233 (Bogh-R) California Medal of Honor recipients

Recognizes and commends the bravery and selflessness of the Medal of Honor recipients of California, and express the Legislature's appreciation for their service and dedication to the citizens of California and the United States.

Resolution Chapter 116, Statutes of 2002

AJR 26 (Havice-D) Military reserve personnel

Memorializes the President and Congress to take various actions to ensure the fair treatment of military reservists when they apply for loans.

Resolution Chapter 96, Statutes of 2002

AJR 34 (Hollingsworth-R) Disabled military retirees

Urges the Congress of the United States to fund the National Defense Authorization Act For Fiscal Year 2002, to eliminate the penalty imposed against disabled military retirees for concurrent receipt of retirement and disability compensation.

Resolution Chapter 97, Statutes of 2002

AJR 50 (Dickerson-R) Veterans benefits

Requests the President and the Congress of the United States to enact legislation to establish a federal/state partnership to use local county veterans service officers to assist the United States Department of Veterans Affairs in eliminating the veterans claims processing backlog.

Resolution Chapter 150, Statutes of 2002

Index (in Bill Order)