SB 1097: Veterans: military and veterans: gender-neutral terms.

Existing law establishes the Department of Veterans Affairs and sets forth its powers and duties, including, but not limited to, the administration of various programs providing benefits to veterans or their beneficiaries. Existing law establishes the California Veterans Board, whose duties include advising the department and its secretary on policies for operations of the department.

This bill would, for the purposes of these provisions, extend access to various programs and benefits to surviving domestic partners of veterans, where applicable.

Existing law exempts members of the active militia from road tax and head tax and from jury duty, with specified exemptions, and from service on any posse comitatus if the member furnishes a certificate from their commanding officer that they have performed the duties required of them in the prior year or during the term of their service, if less than a year.

This bill would instead exempt members of the active militia who are on active military orders if they furnish a copy of their active military orders or a letter from their immediate commanding officer or the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate.

Existing law exempts every officer and enlisted person of the State Guard, during the officers or enlisted persons service, from any posse comitatus and from jury duty.

This bill would instead exempt officers or enlisted persons of the State Guard from any posse comitatus or jury duty service while on active military orders.

The bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to, among other things, use gender-neutral language.