Assembly Standing Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs

We usually hear bills in presentation, Bill presentations in file order, and if the author of the next Bill and the file is not in the room, we'll immediately move to the next. So I see we have a quorum. So if the secretary could please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Okay, so we have a quorum, and I know Mister Ta is here. If you want to come up and present your witnesses, please go ahead.

Thank you, Madam Chair and Members of the Committee. I first like to thank the Committee staff for working with my Office on Technical Amendment that clarify the intent of the Bill. AB 1793 will ensure that dependent of active duty Members of the military who are stationed outside California but maintain a California residency will be eligible for Cowran and middle class scholarship program. Military service Members who are California resident may sometime receive government order requiring them to relocate outside the state for extended period of time.

Family Members often accommodate them for this duty assignment. Unfortunately, this duty assignment can occur during a dependent child school year, resulting in them being ineligible for Kow Ren in a middle class scholarship program. Since the parents are still officer resident of California, the student qualified for instate tuition rate at our college and University. However, under current law, the student is not considered eligible for Cowran or the middle class scholarship program because they are temporary leave out of the state.

AB 1793 would apply to a very small but deserving body of active duty service Members who have been relocated outside of California, but maintain their residency in California during their time in the service. I want to be clear. This measure will only apply to a very specific subset of individuals who meet two standards. Number one, independent of active military station outside of California. And number two, those who have maintained their California residency rather than changing residency to another location.

I'd like to introduce Seth Reeb from Reeb government relation to testify and support AB 1973.

Good afternoon chair Members. My name is Seth Reeb with Reeb government relations. I mean, I am a United States army combat veteran. I am here representing AmVets Department of California, California Association of County Veteran Service Officers, California State Commanders Veterans Council to express our support for Assembly Bill 1793 this legislation is a beacon of hope for the very small demographic of dependence of our brave service Members. Our military families make immense sacrifices for the security of our nation and the preservations of our freedoms.

It is a profound injustice that their children, through no fault of their own, face barriers to accessing the educational opportunities that Cal Grant, that Cal grants and middle class scholarship programs provide. This Bill is a small but significant step forward, rectifying that imbalance by extending eligibility to these deserving students. We are not only honoring the commitment of their parents, but also investing in the future leaders of our state and country.

Education is a cornerstone of success and it is our duty to ensure that it is accessible to all who seek it, regardless of the transient demands of military service. In closing, I urge your support and thank you.

Thank you. Are there any, is there anyone in opposition and any public support or opposition and come to the mic. Okay. If you'd like to close or. Sorry, let me open it up to the Committee. Any comments or questions?

First of all, thank you so much for bringing this forward. And you know, it's definitely important because of our military families and the sacrifices they make that they have the opportunity for the same opportunity to get grants to, to go to college. So I think this is long overdue and I definitely will be supporting it. So thank you.

Thank you so much.

Thank you. Would you like to close

Thank you for Committee staff for working with my office And I respectfully ask for the aye vote.

Thank you. Thank you so much. This is an important Bill. As someone who went through college as a military veterans kid and using a Cal grant, I definitely know how important that is. Secretary, can you call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Thanks. Thank you.

Okay, that will be on hold and for absent Members. Next, do we have Assemblymember Carrillo, would you like to present? Thank you.

Good afternoon, Madam Chair and Committee Members. Thank you for allowing me to present. Assembly Bill 2736 this Bill seeks to improve access to higher education for family Members of disabled veterans by allowing them to receive the California college fee waiver at the same time as the survivors. Independents educational assistance or DEA program spouses and children of disabled veterans with 100% service connected disability rating meet the eligibility requirements for both programs. Due to the severity of the veterans injuries during their times of service.

These programs were established to provide much needed financial support for the family Members and disabled veterans who wanted to pursue higher education. In 1972, a Bill was passed that prohibited the acceptance of both benefits at the same time under the college fee Waiver Plan A, one of the four plans under which dependents may be eligible despite the right of both forms of aid. The reasoning for this prohibition was that DEA program fully covered tuition during this time and receiving both programs was considered duplicate assistance.

However, there is an exacerbated need to accept both programs simultaneously due to the increase in living expenses, rising tuition rates, and the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic for veterans and their families, including the hundreds of thousands that live within my district. These economic pressures can be particularly burdensome considering the additional costs associated with disabilities and the unique circumstances they face stemming from their time of service.

California has seen the positive impact that higher educational programs had had over on the lives of veterans and their families, and there isn't a clear justification for denying accessible forms of aid. Concurrently, AB 2736 will remove the outdated language that doesn't allow for spouses and dependents of disabled veterans to simultaneously accept monthly payments from the DEA program while receiving tuition coverage under Plan A of the California College fee waiver. The DEA program is federally funded and will not impact the state's General Fund.

Additionally, this Bill will not expand or affect eligibility for either forms of financial assistance. It will only eliminate barriers that impede access to both of these programs at the same time. Joining me today to testify in support is Carla Seylas. She is a constituent in the Merced region and has been a proud advocate for similar measures related to supporting our veteran community.

Good afternoon Committee Members. I am Carla Cejas from Merced. My husband served 20 years in the army. He is a combat veteran who served multiple deployments to Iraq and is 100% service connected disabled. I am also a PhD student at University of California, Merced.

I'm here in support of AB 2736 which amends plan A of the Calvin College fee waiver that can be used at a community college, CSU or UC campus currently under plan A. Spouses as myself can only benefit from the fee waiver if they are the unmarried surviving spouse of a wartime veteran whose death was rated as service connected or the spouse of a veteran who is 100% service connected disabled and served during a period of war.

Due to our veteran being 100% service connected disabled, veteran children and their spouse are eligible to receive Chapter 35 federal benefits known as survivors Independence education assistant. For 36 months, veterans have earned federal benefits for themselves and their families due their sacrifice. Often, spouses and children of 100% disabled veterans serve as unpaid caregivers to their veteran. Some spouses become the family's primary income earners since the veteran is disabled, furthering their education improves their financial outlook post degree attainment.

The current language and plan A for the Calvin College fee waiver discriminates against the most vulnerable military and veteran families in California. Under Plan B of the Calvet fee waiver, children of veterans who are 0% disabled or more do not have to have served during wartime are in fact allowed to use Chapter 35 benefits and the Calvit College fee waiver. Concurrently.

There is no additional fiscal impact to our state because if families are currently eligible to use the Calvic College fee waiver under plan a, this Bill will alleviate our constraints and allow us to use federal benefits we are entitled to use and the Calvic College fee waiver. Concurrently, we must create and pass policies which decrease barriers and increase support in attaining higher education for the most vulnerable California veteran families. Please vote yes in advance. AB 2736 thank you for your time.

Thank you so much. Any primary witnesses in opposition? Okay, Members of the public, in support or opposition, please state your name and your position or any organization you're associated with.

Chair and Members Stanicia Boatner with the California State Association of Counties in support of AB 2736.

Thank you.

My name is Thomas Norton. I'm a veteran and I also support this Bill.

My name is Jessica Bastos. I'm a veteran and I support this Bill.

Sergeant Burke Christopher, disabled combat veteran and I support this Bill.

My name is Alex Penalver. I'm a combat veteran and I support this Bill.

Thank you. Thank you so much. And I'll repeat what I said earlier. My dad's disabled Vietnam veteran. I went to school on this waiver. I know how important it is, and it's critical for military families to make sure that their kids and spouses have an opportunity for higher education. So really appreciate the author bringing this forward. Want to open it up to to any questions from the Committee? Okay, we have a motion and a second. And secretary, can you call the roll, please?

[Roll Call]

Thank you. Assemblymember Villapudua, if you want to make your way down, but in the interim, we're going to call the consent calendar, please.

On consent we have AB 1854 by Assemblymember Schiavo that motion is do pass.

Do we have a motion on the consent calendar? On the consent.

[Roll Call]

Thank you and we'll keep the roll open.

I'm proud to present AB 1882 today to clarify existing law for disabled veterans license plate eligibility. By making it consistent with federal regulations. This Bill addresses the ambiguity in current statute that deters disabled veterans from applying for their benefits that they may be eligible for by more explicit definition. The qualifications we can better extend the important benefits of disabled veterans license plates to veterans who suffer from burdensome alignments that restrict their mobility.

Second, this Bill established a vehicle registration fees exceptions for a disabled veteran who has served service connected to disability rating of 50% or greater. Currently, we are working with stakeholders and will be amending the second section once it's out of Committee. This will help relieve financial burden for our disabled veterans who fought for our country and deserve a better support to cope with the rising costs of living. Here with me to testify is Chuck Jameson, Member of the military office of Associations of America.

Good afternoon chair Members. My name is Seth Reeb. Chuck has asked me to go first. I'm with Reeb government relations and I'm representing American Legion, Department of California, AMVETS Department of California, California State Commander's Veterans Council all in support of this Bill. The Assembly Bill 1882 is a crucial piece of legislation that seeks to extend much needed benefits to our partially disabled veterans. AB 1882 is a testament to our state's commitment to honoring the sacrifices made by our servicemen and women.

By expanding the definition of disabled veteran and including partially disabled veterans with a service connected disability rating of 50% or greater, this Bill acknowledges the diverse challenges faced by our veterans. The bill's alignment with federal regulations provides clarity and consistency, making it easier for medical providers to determine eligibility for disabled veteran license plates. We urge your support for 1882 and thank the author for this piece of legislation.

My name is Chuck Jamison. I served eight years active duty and another 30 guard and Reserve. I represent several, I mean several service organizations. I'm a service officer in the VFW and I know that this Bill will help a number of folks. I know some personally, and I know it will help a lot. So thank you for your consideration of Bill 1882.

Thank you. Any principal witnesses in opposition? Anyone in the public, either in support or opposition, name and organization and position. Thank you.

Jessica Bastos. I'm a veteran and I support this Bill.

My name is Thomas Norton. I'm a veteran and I support this Bill.

Sergeant Christopher Burritt and veteran, support this Bill.

Clifton Wilson with Shaw Yoder Antwih Schmelzer & Lange. On behalf of San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors and support. Thank you.

Alex Penaubert, combat veteran. I support this.

Thank you. Any questions or comments by the Committee? Okay, we have a motion and a second. Secretary, you need to call the roll. AB 1882.

My apologies. Do you want to close? Okay.

I just want to say these changes would improve the challenges disabled veterans face to qualify for privileges that they may other in other states willingly have been giving them. So respectfully ask for an Ivo.

Thank you. Now we'll call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Okay, and that's out. And so we'll lift. We'll go back and lift the call for absent Members on the first Bill. AB 1793. Mister Ta secretary can call the roll.

[Roll Call]

And consent is out. And this brings our hearing to a close. Thank you, everybody. And we are adjourned.