ASSEMBLY THIRD READING

ATR Bill Id:AB 1935

Author:(Voepel)

As Amended Ver:May 4, 2020

Majority vote

SUMMARY:

Establishes a program to fund an academic study of mental health among women veterans in California and requires CalVet to report findings and recommendations to the Legislature.

Major Provisions

1. Requires the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) to:
   1. Establish a program to fund, upon appropriation by the Legislature, an academic study of mental health among women veterans in California, to include demographics and an analysis of:
      1. Stressors,
      2. Risk factors,
      3. Treatment modalities,
      4. Barriers to access,
      5. Suicide rate, and
      6. Other information deemed relevant;
   2. Submit a report, in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code, summarizing the findings and recommendations of the study to the Legislature no later than July 31, 2022.
2. States that funding the study is contingent upon an appropriation by the Legislature.

COMMENTS:

California is home to nearly 184,257 women who served in the United States (U.S.) Armed Forces and 4,369 women who are current National Guard members. Women have served in the U.S. Armed Forces in some capacity since the American Revolution. In 1948, Congress made women a permanent part of the military services. In 2013, women were officially allowed to serve on the front lines for the first time. That same year, the first four females graduate the Marine Corps School of Infantry.

The women veteran population is increasing rapidly throughout the nation, especially in California. Between 2005 and 2017, the women veteran population increased by 6.5%. Studies estimate that women veterans may comprise up to 15% of the veteran population in California by 2034.

In September 2019, the Department of Veterans Affairs released its annual report on veteran suicide prevention. Key findings from the report include:

1. The number of veteran suicides exceeded 6,000 each year from 2008 to 2017.
2. In 2017, the suicide rate for veterans was 1.5 times the rate for non-veterans, after adjusting for differences in age and sex.
3. In 2017, the suicide rate for women veterans was 2.2 times the rate for women non-veterans, after adjusting for differences in age.

According to the Author:

"AB 1935 works to find the problem to veteran women suicide and find solutions to helping those women who have served for the freedom of our nation."

Arguments in Support:

Women who served in the U.S. Armed Forces have unique needs. They are more likely to be primary caregivers for spouses, children, and parents. They are more likely to have gender specific health needs. They are younger and more diverse than their male counterparts.

Women veterans experience additional barriers to receiving and utilizing benefits and services. In California, many women do not self-identify as veterans and thus do not utilize benefits or participate in veterans events, comprising only 5% of the customer population served by County Veteran Services Offices in 2013. Additionally, women veterans have higher rates of physical/mental health problems, such as Military Sexual Trauma (MST), alcohol abuse, and drug abuse, than male veterans.

Arguments in Opposition:

None on file.

FISCAL COMMENTS:

According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee:

1. One-time costs of approximately $200,000 (General Fund (GF)) to fund the academic study required in the bill. CalVet indicates it lacks in-house expertise for such a study and would likely award a contract to an outside entity.
2. One-time costs of $230,000 (GF) in the first year and $219,000(GF) in the second year to CalVet for two limited-term staff to create, award and oversee the contract for the academic study and to submit the required report with findings and recommendations to the Legislature by July 31, 2022.

VOTES:

ASM VETERANS AFFAIRS: 11-0-0

YES: Irwin, Voepel, Boerner Horvath, Brough, Daly, Frazier, Gloria, Mathis, Muratsuchi, Petrie-Norris, Salas

ASM APPROPRIATIONS: 18-0-0

YES: Gonzalez, Bigelow, Bauer-Kahan, Bloom, Bonta, Calderon, Carrillo, Chau, Megan Dahle, Diep, Eggman, Fong, Gabriel, Eduardo Garcia, Petrie-Norris, McCarty, Robert Rivas, Voepel

UPDATED:

VERSION: May 4, 2020

CONSULTANT: Jenny Callison / V.A. / (916) 319-3550 FN: 0002912

Date of Hearing: June 2, 2020

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Lorena Gonzalez, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 1935

Author:(Voepel) – As Amended Ver:May 4, 2020

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

SUMMARY:

This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) to establish a program to fund an academic study of mental health among women veterans in California and requires CalVet to report findings and recommendations to the Legislature by July 31, 2022. The bill contains specified indicators to be included in the study.

The bill states that funding the study is contingent upon an appropriation by the Legislature.

FISCAL EFFECT:

1. One-time costs of approximately $200,000 (GF) to fund the academic study required in the bill. CalVet indicates it lacks in-house expertise for such a study and would likely award a contract to an outside entity.
2. One-time costs of $230,000 (GF) in the first year and $219,000(GF) in the second year to CalVet for two limited-term staff to create, award and oversee the contract for the academic study and to submit the required report with findings and recommendations to the Legislature by July 31, 2022.

COMMENTS:

1. Purpose. This bill seeks to fund an academic study of mental health among women veterans in California, in part to discover why the suicide rate is disproportionately higher for women veterans relative to non-veterans, and to recommend solutions.
2. Background: California is home to approximately 184,000 women who served in the United States Armed Forces and 4,400 women who are current National Guard members. Between 2005 and 2017, the women veteran population in California increased by 6.5%. Studies estimate that women veterans may comprise up to 15% of the veteran population in California by 2034.

According to the 2019 federal veteran suicide prevention annual report, veteran suicides exceeded 6,000 nationwide each year from 2008 to 2017. In addition, in 2017, the suicide rate for veterans was 1.5 times the rate for non-veterans, and the suicide rate for women veterans was 2.2 times the rate for women non-veterans.

1. Related Legislation. AB 3371 (Committee on Veterans Affairs), of this legislative session, requires additional data and cross-tabulations be added to an existing annual report on veteran suicide in California compiled by the California Department of Public Health. AB 3371 is pending a hearing in this committee.

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

Date of Hearing: May 6, 2020

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS

Jacqui Irwin, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 1935 (

Author:Voepel) – As Amended Ver:May 4, 2020

SUBJECT: Veterans: mental health

SUMMARY: Establishes a program to fund an academic study of mental health among women veterans in California and requires CalVet to report findings and recommendations to the Legislature by July 31, 2022. Specifically, this bill:

1. Requires the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) to:
   1. Establish a program to fund, upon appropriation by the Legislature, an academic study of mental health among women veterans in California, to include demographics and an analysis of:
      1. Stressors,
      2. Risk factors,
      3. Treatment modalities,
      4. Barriers to access,
      5. Suicide rate, and
      6. Other information deemed relevant;
2. Submit a report, in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code, summarizing the findings and recommendations of the study to the Legislature no later than July 31, 2022.

EXISTING LAW: Establishes the California Department of Veterans Affairs to provide services to veterans and their dependents and survivors.

FISCAL EFFECT: This bill is keyed fiscal but has not been analyzed in a fiscal committee.

COMMENTS:

California is home to nearly 184,257 women who served in the United States Armed Forces and 4,369 women who are current National Guard members. Women have served in the U.S. Armed Forces in some capacity since the American Revolution. In 1948, Congress made women a permanent part of the military services. In 2013, women were officially allowed to serve on the front lines for the first time. That same year, the first four females graduate the Marine Corps School of Infantry.

The women veteran population is increasing rapidly throughout the nation, especially in California. Between 2005 and 2017, the women veteran population increased by 6.5%. Studies estimate that women veterans may comprise up to 15% of the veteran population in California by 2034.

Women who served in the U.S. Armed Forces have unique needs. They are more likely to be primary caregivers for spouses, children, and parents. They are more likely to have gender specific health needs. They are younger and more diverse than their male counterparts.

Women veterans experience additional barriers to receiving and utilizing benefits and services. In California, many women do not self-identify as veterans and thus do not utilize benefits or participate in veterans events, comprising only 5% of the customer population served by County Veteran Services Offices in 2013. Additionally, women veterans have higher rates of physical/mental health problems, such as Military Sexual Trauma (MST), alcohol abuse, and drug abuse, than male veterans.

In September 2019, the Department of Veterans Affairs released its annual report on veteran suicide prevention. Key findings from the report include:

• The number of veteran suicides exceeded 6,000 each year from 2008-2017.
• In 2017, the suicide rate for veterans was 1.5 times the rate for non-veterans, after adjusting for differences in age and sex.
• In 2017, the suicide rate for women veterans was 2.2 times the rate for women non-veterans, after adjusting for differences in age.

According to the author, “AB 1935 works to find the problem to veteran women suicide and find solutions to helping those women who have served for the freedom of our nation.”

One of the most important aspects of suicide prevention among service members and veterans appears to be the ability to obtain ongoing mental health care. According to the 2019 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report, from 2016 to 2017, the suicide rate of veterans receiving recent VA care increased by 1.3%, whereas the suicide rate among veterans who were not receiving recent VA care increased by 11.8%, after adjusting for population differences by age and sex.

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

American Congress of Obstetricians & Gynecologists – District IX

American Legion, Department of California
AMVETs, Department of California

Associated Builders and Contractors Northern California Chapter
California Association of County Veterans Service Officers

California Psychological Association
California State Commanders Veterans Council
Military Officers Association of America, California Council of Chapters

National Association of Social Workers, California Chapter
Vietnam Veterans of America, California State Council

Opposition

None on File

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