BILL NUMBER: AB 2143INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Gilmore FEBRUARY 18, 2010 An act relating to military and veterans. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 2143, as introduced, Gilmore. The Department of Veterans Affairs: consolidation of services to veterans. Existing law establishes the Department of Veteran's Affairs within state government and sets forth its powers and duties, including, but not limited to, administration of veterans benefits programs. Existing law establishes the California Veterans Board within the department and sets forth its powers and duties, including, but not limited to its power to determine operational policy for the department. This bill would declare the intent of the Legislature to subsequently provide for the consolidation under the jurisdiction of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the California Veterans Board or all programs that currently bestow any benefits for which veterans may be eligible but which are currently under the jurisdiction of other state agencies, and to provide for a commensurate transfer of staff and other assets from those agencies to the department and to the board. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. It is the intent of the Legislature to subsequently enact a measure including provisions that would consolidate, under the jurisdiction of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Veterans Board, all programs that currently bestow any benefits for which veterans may be eligible but which are under the jurisdiction of other state agencies, and to provide for a commensurate transfer of staff and other assets from those agencies to the department and to the board.