Existing law requires the Department of Veterans Affairs, by July 1, 2015, to develop a transition assistance program for veterans who have been discharged from the Armed Forces of the United States or National Guard of any state, to assist those veterans in successfully transitioning from military to civilian life in the state.

This bill would authorize the Department of Veterans Affairs to accept donations of personal property, including cash or other gifts, to be used to further the purposes of the transition assistance program. The bill would create the CalTap Endowment Fund in the State Treasury for the purpose of receiving cash donations, and would continuously appropriate moneys in the fund for the purpose of funding competitive grants in support of the transition assistance program. By creating a continuously appropriated fund, the bill would make an appropriation.

Existing law requires the Department of Veterans Affairs, by July 1, 2015, to develop a transition assistance program for veterans who have been discharged from the Armed Forces of the United States or National Guard of any state, to assist those veterans in successfully transitioning from military to civilian life in the state.

This bill would authorize the Department of Veterans Affairs to accept donations of personal property, including cash or other gifts, to be used to further the purposes of the transition assistance program. The bill would create the CalTap Endowment Fund in the State Treasury for the purpose of receiving cash donations, and would continuously appropriate moneys in the fund for the purpose of funding competitive grants in support of the transition assistance program. By creating a continuously appropriated fund, the bill would make an appropriation.

Existing law requires the Department of Veterans Affairs, by July 1, 2015, to develop a transition assistance program for veterans who have been discharged from the Armed Forces of the United States or National Guard of any state, to assist those veterans in successfully transitioning from military to civilian life in the state.

This bill would authorize the Department of Veterans Affairs to accept donations of personal property, including cash or other gifts, to be used to further the purposes of the transition assistance program. The bill would create the CalTap Endowment Fund in the State Treasury for the purpose of receiving cash donations, and would continuously appropriate moneys in the fund for the purpose of funding competitive grants in support of the transition assistance program. By creating a continuously appropriated fund, the bill would make an appropriation.

Existing law requires the Department of Veterans Affairs, by July 1, 2015, to develop a transition assistance program for veterans who have been discharged from the Armed Forces of the United States or National Guard of any state, to assist those veterans in successfully transitioning from military to civilian life in the state.

This bill would authorize the Department of Veterans Affairs to accept donations of personal property, including cash or other gifts, to be used to further the purposes of the transition assistance program. The bill would create the CalTap Endowment Fund in the State Treasury for the purpose of receiving cash donations, and would continuously appropriate moneys in the fund for the purpose of funding competitive grants in support of the transition assistance program. By creating a continuously appropriated fund, the bill would make an appropriation.

 UNFINISHED BUSINESS  

Bill No: SB 1304

Author: Roth

:

Vote:

SENATE VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE: 7-0, 4/24/18

AYES: Newman, Nielsen, Dodd, Hueso, Nguyen, Roth, Wilk

SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: Senate Rule 28.8

SENATE FLOOR: 38-0, 5/21/18

AYES: Allen, Anderson, Atkins, Bates, Beall, Berryhill, Bradford, Cannella, Dodd, Fuller, Gaines, Galgiani, Glazer, Hernandez, Hertzberg, Hill, Hueso, Jackson, Lara, Leyva, McGuire, Mitchell, Monning, Moorlach, Morrell, Newman, Nguyen, Nielsen, Pan, Portantino, Roth, Skinner, Stern, Stone, Vidak, Wieckowski, Wiener, Wilk

NO VOTE RECORDED: De León

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 76-0, 8/16/18 (Consent) - See last page for vote

SUBJECT:

SOURCE: California Department of Veterans Affairs

DIGEST:

This bill authorizes the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) to accept donations of personal property, including cash or other gifts, to be used to further the purposes of the state’s strategic plan for providing veterans with transitional assistance, as specified, or to reimburse the state for expenditures made by the state for these purposes.

Assembly Amendments

make a minor grammatical adjustment and reassign the bill to a different author.

ANALYSIS:

Existing law:

1. Requires CalVet to develop a transition assistance program (CalTAP) to help California veterans successfully transition from military to civilian life.
2. Requires the CalTAP program to include, but not be limited to, the following California-specific information: higher education benefits, vocational training assistance, small business resources, health care programs and services, mental health resources, military sexual trauma resources, and housing information.

This bill authorizes CalVet to accept donations of personal property, including cash or other gifts, to be used to further the purposes of the state’s strategic plan for providing veterans with transitional assistance, as specified, or to reimburse the state for expenditures made by the state for these purposes.

Background

Transition assistance for veterans. California is home to more than 1.8 million military veterans, approximately 11% of the national total. During the recent downsizing of the active force, approximately 30,000 separating troops have been returning to California annually.

Historically, veterans have faced transitional challenges after returning from active military service and continue to be disproportionately represented among the homeless and unemployed.

The U.S. Department of Defense’s (DOD) Transition Assistance Program (TAP) was developed in 1990 to assist separating and retiring military members in preparing for their transition back to civilian life. One of the biggest criticisms of the DOD-TAP program was that it was not available to all separating service members and often did not support the needs of National Guard or Reserve members. Through enactment of the Vow to Hire Heroes Act of 2011 (VOW Act), Congress mandated a new transition program for exiting service members, which is an improvement, but has not met all prior concerns.

CalTAP program. The State of California long has supplemented the federal government in delivering veterans benefits, but has lacked a dedicated, comprehensive, uniform program focused on transition. In 2014, the Legislature enacted AB 1509 (Fox, Chapter 647, Statutes of 2014), which required CalVet to develop a state-level transition assistance program (CalTAP) plan to help veterans recently discharged from the military, including the National Guard of any state. AB 1509 required the program plan to include certain California-specific transition assistance information.

Currently, CalVet continues to roll out a newly modified version of the CalTAP. CalTAP is designed to educate veterans and their families about benefits available to them. The main mission of CalTAP is outreach to and education of veterans not yet seeking or aware of benefits. Currently in its implementation phase, the newly modified program will offer online and in–person presentations from state, federal, and community-based partner organizations to inform and connect veterans to available benefits. Outreach through CalTAP will focus on younger veterans as they leave military service, but presentations will also be available for veterans at all stages of life.

CalVet’s CalTAP Web site states:

The California Transition Assistance Program (CalTAP) offers a full array of transition assistance to all Veterans in the state (not only those who have recently exited the military). It is essential that Veterans are connected to the state system of care as they progress in their lives and the needs of both veterans and their families change.

The goals of the CalTAP are:

• To inform and connect veterans of all eras to their earned federal and state benefits.
• To coordinate the delivery of the program with all stakeholders to ensure the unmet, emerging, or expanding needs of veterans and their families are met.
• To provide continued support and assistance to veterans and their families as their needs change overtime.

CalTAP is intended to work in collaboration with federal, state, and community-based organizations.

According to CalVet, the CalTAP curriculum will employ current best practices and will be updated continuously by frequent reference to current veteran demographics and benefits usage data. CalVet intends that the program’s core curriculum will lead veterans through three pathways: education, employment, and entrepreneurship. The CalTAP format will employ a variety of learning formats, including online and in-person options.

Comments

Since 1947 existing law has provided CalVet with the general authority “to request and receive donations.” (Military and Veterans Code (MVC) Section 694)

In addition to this general authority, the Legislature repeatedly has established specific authority for CalVet to receive, manage and expend donations of money and property to support particular CalVet-managed programs, including the state veterans cemeteries’ endowment funds (MVC § 1402, 1403, 1414, 1416, 1451, 1457, 1480) and the state veterans homes’ Morale, Welfare, and Recreation funds (MVC § 1039.3).

SB 1304 is simply one more in a series of legislative grants of specific authority to receive and use donations – in this case to support the newly revised and expanded CalTAP program.

Related/Prior Legislation

SB 156 (Anderson, Chapter 497, Statutes of 2017) required CalVet and the California National Guard to provide specified assistance to military-affiliated and veteran noncitizens, as specified, to help them acquire United States citizenship.

AB 1509 (Fox, Chapter 647, Statutes of 2014) required, by July 1, 2015, CalVet to develop a transition assistance program for veterans discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces or the National Guard of any state as specified.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: Fiscal Com.: Local:

According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, state costs are negligible.

SUPPORT: (Verified 8/16/18)

California Department of Veterans Affairs (source)

OPPOSITION: (Verified 8/16/18)

None received

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 76-0, 8/16/18

AYES: Acosta, Aguiar-Curry, Travis Allen, Arambula, Baker, Berman, Bigelow, Bonta, Brough, Burke, Caballero, Calderon, Carrillo, Cervantes, Chau, Chávez, Chen, Chiu, Choi, Chu, Cooley, Cooper, Cunningham, Dahle, Daly, Eggman, Flora, Fong, Frazier, Friedman, Gabriel, Gallagher, Eduardo Garcia, Gipson, Gloria, Gonzalez Fletcher, Gray, Grayson, Harper, Holden, Irwin, Jones-Sawyer, Kalra, Kamlager-Dove, Kiley, Lackey, Levine, Limón, Maienschein, Mathis, Mayes, Medina, Melendez, Mullin, Muratsuchi, Nazarian, Obernolte, O'Donnell, Patterson, Quirk, Quirk-Silva, Reyes, Rivas, Rodriguez, Rubio, Salas, Santiago, Steinorth, Mark Stone, Thurmond, Ting, Voepel, Waldron, Weber, Wood, Rendon

NO VOTE RECORDED: Bloom, Cristina Garcia, Low, McCarty

Prepared by:

8/18/18 12:32:58

**** END ****

Date of Hearing: August 8, 2018

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, Chair

SBPCA Bill Id:SB 1304

Author:(Roth) – As Amended Ver:June 28, 2018

Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: No

SUMMARY:

This bill authorizes the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) to accept donations to support the state’s program for veterans transition assistance, as specified, or to reimburse the state for expenditures made by the state for these purposes. Specifically, this bill:

1. Authorizes CalVet to accept donations of personal property, including cash or other gifts, to be used to further the purposes of the transition assistance program.
2. Creates the CalTap Endowment Fund in the State Treasury to receive cash donations and continuously appropriates moneys in the fund to fund competitive grants in support of the transition assistance program.

FISCAL EFFECT:

Negligible state cost.

COMMENTS:

Purpose and Background. California is home to more than 1.8 million military veterans, approximately 11% of the national total. Since the recent downsizing of the active force, approximately 30,000 separating troops have been returning to California annually. Historically, veterans have faced transitional challenges after returning from active military service and continue to be disproportionately represented among the homeless and unemployed.

The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) developed the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) in 1990 to assist separating and retiring military members in their transition back to civilian life. One criticism of the TAP program was it was not available to all separating service members and often did not support the needs of National Guard or Reserve members. Through the Vow to Hire Heroes Act of 2011 (VOW Act), Congress mandated a new transition program for exiting service members, which improved upon the old program but did not meet all the existing need.

AB 1509 (Fox), Chapter 647, Statutes of 2014, required CalVet to develop a state-level transition assistance program (Cal-TAP) plan to help veterans recently discharged from the military, including the National Guard of any state. Cal-TAP is designed to educate veterans and their families about benefits available to them. Currently, CalVet is rolling out a newly modified Cal-TAP designed to educate veterans and their families about benefits available to them. This bill allows CalVet to accept private donations in support of the Cal-TAP program.

Analysis Prepared by: Jennifer Swenson / APPR. / (916) 319-2081

Date of Hearing: June 26, 2018

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS

Jacqui Irwin, Chair

SBPCA Bill Id:SB 1304

Author:(Newman) – As Introduced Ver:February 16, 2018

SENATE VOTE: 38-0

SUBJECT: Veterans: transitional assistance program: funding

SUMMARY: This bill authorizes the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) to accept donations to be used to support the state program to provide veterans with transitional assistance, as specified, or to reimburse the state for expenditures made by the state for these purposes. Specifically, this bill:

1. Authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to accept donations of personal property, including cash or other gifts, to be used to further the purposes of the transition assistance program.
2. Creates the CalTap Endowment Fund in the State Treasury for the purpose of receiving cash donations, and would continuously appropriate moneys in the fund for the purpose of funding competitive grants in support of the transition assistance program.

EXISTING LAW: Establishes the transition assistance program for veterans who have been discharged from the Armed Forces of the United States or the National Guard of any state.

FISCAL EFFECT: Reported out of Senate Appropriations according to Senate Rule 28.8.

COMMENTS: Transition Assistance for Veterans. California is home to more than 1.8 million military veterans, approximately 11% of the national total. During the recent downsizing of the active force, approximately 30,000 separating troops have been returning to California annually.

Historically, veterans have faced transitional challenges after returning from active military service and continue to be disproportionately represented among the homeless and unemployed.

The U.S. Department of Defense’s (DOD) Transition Assistance Program (TAP) was developed in 1990 to assist separating and retiring military members in preparing for their transition back to civilian life. One of the biggest criticisms of the TAP program was that it was not available to all separating service members and often did not support the needs of National Guard or Reserve members. Through enactment of the Vow to Hire Heroes Act of 2011 (VOW Act), Congress mandated a new transition program for exiting service members, which is an improvement, but has not met all prior concerns.

CalTAP Program. The State of California long has supplemented the federal government in delivering veterans benefits, but has lacked a dedicated, comprehensive, uniform program focused on transition. In 2014, the Legislature enacted Assembly Bill 1509 (Fox, Ch. 647, Stats. 2014), which required CalVet to develop a state-level transition assistance program (Cal-TAP) plan to help veterans recently discharged from the military, including the National Guard of any state. AB 1509 required the program plan to include certain California-specific transition assistance information.

Currently, CalVet continues to roll out a newly modified version of the California Transition Assistance Program (Cal-TAP). Cal-TAP is designed to educate veterans and their families about benefits available to them. The main mission of Cal-TAP is outreach to and education of veterans not yet seeking or aware of benefits. Currently in its implementation phase, the newly modified program will offer online and in–person presentations from state, federal, and community-based partner organizations to inform and connect veterans to available benefits. Outreach through Cal-TAP will focus on younger veterans as they leave military service, but presentations will also be available for veterans at all stages of life.

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

California Department of Veterans Affairs (Sponsor)

Opposition

None on File.

Analysis Prepared by: / V.A. / (916) 319-3550

 THIRD READING  

Bill No: SB 1304

Author:

:

Vote:

SENATE VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE: 7-0, 4/24/18

AYES: Newman, Nielsen, Dodd, Hueso, Nguyen, Roth, Wilk

SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: Senate Rule 28.8

SUBJECT:

SOURCE: California Department of Veterans Affairs

DIGEST:

This bill authorizes the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) to accept donations of personal property, including cash or other gifts, to be used to further the purposes of the state’s strategic plan for providing veterans with transitional assistance, as specified, or to reimburse the state for expenditures made by the state for these purposes.

ANALYSIS:

Existing law:

1. Requires CalVet to develop a transition assistance program (CalTAP) to help California veterans successfully transition from military to civilian life.
2. Requires the CalTAP program to include, but not be limited to, the following California-specific information: higher education benefits, vocational training assistance, small business resources, health care programs and services, mental health resources, military sexual trauma resources, and housing information.

This bill authorizes CalVet to accept donations of personal property, including cash or other gifts, to be used to further the purposes of the state’s strategic plan for providing veterans with transitional assistance, as specified, or to reimburse the state for expenditures made by the state for these purposes.

Background

Transition assistance for veterans. California is home to more than 1.8 million military veterans, approximately 11% of the national total. During the recent downsizing of the active force, approximately 30,000 separating troops have been returning to California annually.

Historically, veterans have faced transitional challenges after returning from active military service and continue to be disproportionately represented among the homeless and unemployed.

The U.S. Department of Defense’s (DOD) Transition Assistance Program (TAP) was developed in 1990 to assist separating and retiring military members in preparing for their transition back to civilian life. One of the biggest criticisms of the DOD-TAP program was that it was not available to all separating service members and often did not support the needs of National Guard or Reserve members. Through enactment of the Vow to Hire Heroes Act of 2011 (VOW Act), Congress mandated a new transition program for exiting service members, which is an improvement, but has not met all prior concerns.

CalTAP program. The State of California long has supplemented the federal government in delivering veterans benefits, but has lacked a dedicated, comprehensive, uniform program focused on transition. In 2014, the Legislature enacted AB 1509 (Fox, Chapter 647, Statutes of 2014), which required CalVet to develop a state-level transition assistance program (CalTAP) plan to help veterans recently discharged from the military, including the National Guard of any state. AB 1509 required the program plan to include certain California-specific transition assistance information.

Currently, CalVet continues to roll out a newly modified version of the CalTAP. CalTAP is designed to educate veterans and their families about benefits available to them. The main mission of CalTAP is outreach to and education of veterans not yet seeking or aware of benefits. Currently in its implementation phase, the newly modified program will offer online and in–person presentations from state, federal, and community-based partner organizations to inform and connect veterans to available benefits. Outreach through CalTAP will focus on younger veterans as they leave military service, but presentations will also be available for veterans at all stages of life.

CalVet’s CalTAP Web site states:

The California Transition Assistance Program (CalTAP) offers a full array of transition assistance to all Veterans in the state (not only those who have recently exited the military). It is essential that Veterans are connected to the state system of care as they progress in their lives and the needs of both veterans and their families change.

The goals of the CalTAP are:

• To inform and connect veterans of all eras to their earned federal and state benefits.
• To coordinate the delivery of the program with all stakeholders to ensure the unmet, emerging, or expanding needs of veterans and their families are met.
• To provide continued support and assistance to veterans and their families as their needs change overtime.

CalTAP is intended to work in collaboration with federal, state, and community-based organizations.

According to CalVet, the CalTAP curriculum will employ current best practices and will be updated continuously by frequent reference to current veteran demographics and benefits usage data. CalVet intends that the program’s core curriculum will lead veterans through three pathways: education, employment, and entrepreneurship. The CalTAP format will employ a variety of learning formats, including online and in-person options.

Comments

Since 1947 existing law has provided CalVet with the general authority “to request and receive donations.” (Military and Veterans Code (MVC) Section 694)

In addition to this general authority, the Legislature repeatedly has established specific authority for CalVet to receive, manage and expend donations of money and property to support particular CalVet-managed programs, including the state veterans cemeteries’ endowment funds (MVC § 1402, 1403, 1414, 1416, 1451, 1457, 1480) and the state veterans homes’ Morale, Welfare, and Recreation funds (MVC § 1039.3).

SB 1304 is simply one more in a series of legislative grants of specific authority to receive and use donations – in this case to support the newly revised and expanded CalTAP program.

Related/Prior Legislation

SB 156 (Anderson, Chapter 497, Statutes of 2017) required CalVet and the California National Guard to provide specified assistance to military-affiliated and veteran noncitizens, as specified, to help them acquire United States citizenship.

AB 1509 (Fox, Chapter 647, Statutes of 2014) required, by July 1, 2015, CalVet to develop a transition assistance program for veterans discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces or the National Guard of any state as specified.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: Fiscal Com.: Local:

SUPPORT: (Verified 5/9/18)

California Department of Veterans Affairs (source)

OPPOSITION: (Verified 5/9/18)

None received

Prepared by:

5/9/18 13:30:03

**** END ****

SENATE COMMITTEE ON

Senator Josh Newman, Chair

2017 - 2018 Regular

Bill No: Hearing Date: 4/24/18

Subject:

DESCRIPTION

Summary:

This bill authorizes the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) to accept donations of personal property, including cash or other gifts, to be used to further the purposes of the state’s strategic plan for providing veterans with transitional assistance, as specified, or to reimburse the state for expenditures made by the state for these purposes.

Existing law:

1. Requires CalVet to develop a transition assistance program (CalTAP) to help California veterans successfully transition from military to civilian life.
2. Requires the CalTAP program to include, but not be limited to, the following California-specific information: higher education benefits, vocational training assistance, small business resources, health care programs and services, mental health resources, military sexual trauma resources, and housing information.

This bill:

1. Authorizes CalVet to accept donations of personal property, including cash or other gifts, to be used to further the purposes of the state’s strategic plan for providing veterans with transitional assistance, as specified, or to reimburse the state for expenditures made by the state for these purposes.

BACKGROUND

Transition Assistance for Veterans. California is home to more than 1.8 million military veterans, approximately 11% of the national total. During the recent downsizing of the active force, approximately 30,000 separating troops have been returning to California annually.

Historically, veterans have faced transitional challenges after returning from active military service and continue to be disproportionately represented among the homeless and unemployed.

The U.S. Department of Defense’s (DOD) Transition Assistance Program (TAP) was developed in 1990 to assist separating and retiring military members in preparing for their transition back to civilian life. One of the biggest criticisms of the TAP program was that it was not available to all separating service members and often did not support the needs of National Guard or Reserve members. Through enactment of the Vow to Hire Heroes Act of 2011 (VOW Act), Congress mandated a new transition program for exiting service members, which is an improvement, but has not met all prior concerns.

CalTAP Program. The State of California long has supplemented the federal government in delivering veterans benefits, but has lacked a dedicated, comprehensive, uniform program focused on transition. In 2014, the Legislature enacted Assembly Bill 1509 (Fox, Ch. 647, Stats. 2014), which required CalVet to develop a state-level transition assistance program (Cal-TAP) plan to help veterans recently discharged from the military, including the National Guard of any state. AB 1509 required the program plan to include certain California-specific transition assistance information.

Currently, CalVet continues to roll out a newly modified version of the California Transition Assistance Program (Cal-TAP). Cal-TAP is designed to educate veterans and their families about benefits available to them. The main mission of Cal-TAP is outreach to and education of veterans not yet seeking or aware of benefits. Currently in its implementation phase, the newly modified program will offer online and in–person presentations from state, federal, and community-based partner organizations to inform and connect veterans to available benefits. Outreach through Cal-TAP will focus on younger veterans as they leave military service, but presentations will also be available for veterans at all stages of life.

According to CalVet’s CalTAP web site:

The California Transition Assistance Program (CalTAP) offers a full array of transition assistance to all Veterans in the state (not only those who have recently exited the military). It is essential that Veterans are connected to the state system of care as they progress in their lives and the needs of both veterans and their families change.

The goals of the CalTAP are:

• To inform and connect veterans of all eras to their earned federal and state benefits.
• To coordinate the delivery of the program with all stakeholders to ensure the unmet, emerging, or expanding needs of veterans and their families are met.
• To provide continued support and assistance to veterans and their families as their needs change overtime.

CalTAP is intended work in collaboration with federal, state, and community-based organizations.

According to CalVet, the CalTAP curriculum will employ current best practices and will be update continuously by frequent reference to current veteran demographics and benefits usage data. CalVet intends that the program’s core curriculum will lead veterans through three pathways: education, employment, and entrepreneurship. The CalTAP format will employ a variety of learning formats, including online and in-person options.

COMMENT

Committee Analysis Comments:

Since 1947 existing law has provided CalVet with the general authority “to request and receive donations.” (MVC Sec. 694)

In addition to this general authority, the Legislature repeatedly has established specific authority for CalVet to receive, manage and expend donations of money and property to support particular CalVet-managed programs, including the state veterans cemeteries’ endowment funds (MVC § 1402, 1403, 1414, 1416, 1451, 1457, 1480) and the state veterans homes’ Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) funds (MVC § 1039.3).

SB 1304 is simply one more in a series of legislative grants of specific authority to receive and use donations – in this case to support the newly revised and expanded CalTAP program.

Related/Prior Legislation:

SB 156 (Anderson, Chapter 497, Statutes of 2017) requires CalVet and the California National Guard (CNG) to provide specified assistance to military-affiliated and veteran noncitizens, as specified, to help them acquire United States citizenship.

AB 1509 (Fox, Chapter 647, Statutes of 2014) requires, by July 1, 2015, CalVet to develop a transition assistance program for veterans discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces or the National Guard of any state as specified.

POSITIONS

Sponsor: California Department of Veterans Affairs

Support: None received

Oppose: None received

-- END --