Bill Text: CA SB1198 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Department of Veterans Affairs: publicity of benefit

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2012-09-20 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 408, Statutes of 2012. [SB1198 Detail]

Download: California-2011-SB1198-Introduced.html

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BILL NUMBER: SB 1198	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Calderon

                        FEBRUARY 22, 2012

   An act to add Section 711 to the Military and Veterans Code,
relating to veterans.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1198, as introduced, Calderon. Department of Veterans Affairs:
publicity of benefit programs for homeless veterans.
   Existing law establishes the Department of Veterans Affairs within
state government and sets forth its powers and duties, including,
but not limited to, administration of veterans benefits programs.
   This bill would require the department to publicize information
pertaining to benefits that are available to qualified homeless
veterans, including, but not limited to, the veterans pension
programs administered by the United States Department of Veterans
Affairs and the Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing voucher program.
This bill would require the department to publicize this information
using printed material, its Internet Web site, and other forms of
media, as specified.
   The bill would also require the information to state that veterans
may receive assistance from a county veterans service office in
applying for any benefits that they may be qualified to receive.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 711 is added to the Military and Veterans Code,
to read:
   711.  (a) The department shall publicize information pertaining to
benefit programs that are available to qualified homeless veterans,
including, but not limited to, all of the following:
   (1) The veterans pension programs administered by the United
States Department of Veterans Affairs (38 U.S.C. Sec. 1501 et seq.),
especially the eligibility for those veterans that are 65 years of
age or older or are permanently and totally disabled.
   (2) The Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing voucher program
(Public Law 110-161), and any programs that assist homeless veterans
in securing rental housing.
   (3) CalFresh (Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 18900) of Part 6
of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code).
   (b) The department shall publicize this information using all of
the following methods:
   (1) Printed material, including, but not limited to, flyers and
posters, with the information that can be provided to county veterans
service offices, homeless shelters, Veterans Affairs hospitals, and
other public and private entities that come into contact with
homeless veterans.
   (2) On the department's Internet Web site.
   (3) Any other media under which promotional material or
information for Veterans' Farm and Home Purchase Act of 1974, and
subsequent acts, which are collectively referred to as the CalVet
Home Loan program, is distributed. The department shall, to the
extent possible, publicize that veterans not eligible for loans under
the CalVet Home Loan Program may be eligible for housing assistance
under the Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing voucher program.
   (4) Any other method that the department determines would
publicize and create awareness to homeless veterans about the benefit
programs available to them.
   (c) The information shall also state that veterans may receive
assistance from a county veterans service office in applying for any
benefits that they may be qualified to receive.