CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20192020 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 2994Introduced by Assembly Member GloriaFebruary 21, 2020 An act to add Section 885 to the Military and Veterans Code, relating to veterans. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 2994, as introduced, Gloria. Veterans: discharge upgrades.Existing law provides certain benefits to veterans who have been honorably discharged from the Armed Forces of the United States, including burial benefits and financial assistance, relief, and support to indigent veterans. Existing law establishes the Department of Veterans Affairs and authorizes it to assist every veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States and the dependent or survivor of every veteran in presenting or pursuing any claim against the United States arising out of the veterans military service. Existing law establishes a competitive grant program that is administered by the department for California veteran service providers to provide supportive services that improve the quality of life for veterans and their families.This bill would establish a grant program to be administered by the department that will fund service providers to educate veterans about discharge upgrades and help veterans file discharge upgrade applications. The bill would specify that funding for the grant program is subject to appropriation by the Legislature.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 885 is added to the Military and Veterans Code, to read:885. (a) The department shall establish the Veterans Military Discharge Upgrade Grant Program to help fund service providers who, for free or at low cost, will educate veterans about discharge upgrades and assist qualifying veterans in filing discharge upgrade applications.(b) The department shall develop criteria, procedures, and accountability measures as may be necessary to implement the grant program. The department may prioritize veteran recipients of the services, such as prioritizing those who are able to demonstrate their less than honorable characterization of service was connected to a mental health condition, traumatic brain injury, sexual assault or harassment, or sexual orientation.(c) Funding for the grant program is subject to appropriation by the Legislature.
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20192020 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 2994Introduced by Assembly Member GloriaFebruary 21, 2020 An act to add Section 885 to the Military and Veterans Code, relating to veterans. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 2994, as introduced, Gloria. Veterans: discharge upgrades.Existing law provides certain benefits to veterans who have been honorably discharged from the Armed Forces of the United States, including burial benefits and financial assistance, relief, and support to indigent veterans. Existing law establishes the Department of Veterans Affairs and authorizes it to assist every veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States and the dependent or survivor of every veteran in presenting or pursuing any claim against the United States arising out of the veterans military service. Existing law establishes a competitive grant program that is administered by the department for California veteran service providers to provide supportive services that improve the quality of life for veterans and their families.This bill would establish a grant program to be administered by the department that will fund service providers to educate veterans about discharge upgrades and help veterans file discharge upgrade applications. The bill would specify that funding for the grant program is subject to appropriation by the Legislature.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20192020 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 2994
Introduced by Assembly Member GloriaFebruary 21, 2020
Introduced by Assembly Member Gloria
February 21, 2020
An act to add Section 885 to the Military and Veterans Code, relating to veterans.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2994, as introduced, Gloria. Veterans: discharge upgrades.
Existing law provides certain benefits to veterans who have been honorably discharged from the Armed Forces of the United States, including burial benefits and financial assistance, relief, and support to indigent veterans. Existing law establishes the Department of Veterans Affairs and authorizes it to assist every veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States and the dependent or survivor of every veteran in presenting or pursuing any claim against the United States arising out of the veterans military service. Existing law establishes a competitive grant program that is administered by the department for California veteran service providers to provide supportive services that improve the quality of life for veterans and their families.This bill would establish a grant program to be administered by the department that will fund service providers to educate veterans about discharge upgrades and help veterans file discharge upgrade applications. The bill would specify that funding for the grant program is subject to appropriation by the Legislature.
Existing law provides certain benefits to veterans who have been honorably discharged from the Armed Forces of the United States, including burial benefits and financial assistance, relief, and support to indigent veterans. Existing law establishes the Department of Veterans Affairs and authorizes it to assist every veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States and the dependent or survivor of every veteran in presenting or pursuing any claim against the United States arising out of the veterans military service. Existing law establishes a competitive grant program that is administered by the department for California veteran service providers to provide supportive services that improve the quality of life for veterans and their families.
This bill would establish a grant program to be administered by the department that will fund service providers to educate veterans about discharge upgrades and help veterans file discharge upgrade applications. The bill would specify that funding for the grant program is subject to appropriation by the Legislature.
## Digest Key
## Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 885 is added to the Military and Veterans Code, to read:885. (a) The department shall establish the Veterans Military Discharge Upgrade Grant Program to help fund service providers who, for free or at low cost, will educate veterans about discharge upgrades and assist qualifying veterans in filing discharge upgrade applications.(b) The department shall develop criteria, procedures, and accountability measures as may be necessary to implement the grant program. The department may prioritize veteran recipients of the services, such as prioritizing those who are able to demonstrate their less than honorable characterization of service was connected to a mental health condition, traumatic brain injury, sexual assault or harassment, or sexual orientation.(c) Funding for the grant program is subject to appropriation by the Legislature.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
## The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 885 is added to the Military and Veterans Code, to read:885. (a) The department shall establish the Veterans Military Discharge Upgrade Grant Program to help fund service providers who, for free or at low cost, will educate veterans about discharge upgrades and assist qualifying veterans in filing discharge upgrade applications.(b) The department shall develop criteria, procedures, and accountability measures as may be necessary to implement the grant program. The department may prioritize veteran recipients of the services, such as prioritizing those who are able to demonstrate their less than honorable characterization of service was connected to a mental health condition, traumatic brain injury, sexual assault or harassment, or sexual orientation.(c) Funding for the grant program is subject to appropriation by the Legislature.
SECTION 1. Section 885 is added to the Military and Veterans Code, to read:
### SECTION 1.
885. (a) The department shall establish the Veterans Military Discharge Upgrade Grant Program to help fund service providers who, for free or at low cost, will educate veterans about discharge upgrades and assist qualifying veterans in filing discharge upgrade applications.(b) The department shall develop criteria, procedures, and accountability measures as may be necessary to implement the grant program. The department may prioritize veteran recipients of the services, such as prioritizing those who are able to demonstrate their less than honorable characterization of service was connected to a mental health condition, traumatic brain injury, sexual assault or harassment, or sexual orientation.(c) Funding for the grant program is subject to appropriation by the Legislature.
885. (a) The department shall establish the Veterans Military Discharge Upgrade Grant Program to help fund service providers who, for free or at low cost, will educate veterans about discharge upgrades and assist qualifying veterans in filing discharge upgrade applications.(b) The department shall develop criteria, procedures, and accountability measures as may be necessary to implement the grant program. The department may prioritize veteran recipients of the services, such as prioritizing those who are able to demonstrate their less than honorable characterization of service was connected to a mental health condition, traumatic brain injury, sexual assault or harassment, or sexual orientation.(c) Funding for the grant program is subject to appropriation by the Legislature.
885. (a) The department shall establish the Veterans Military Discharge Upgrade Grant Program to help fund service providers who, for free or at low cost, will educate veterans about discharge upgrades and assist qualifying veterans in filing discharge upgrade applications.(b) The department shall develop criteria, procedures, and accountability measures as may be necessary to implement the grant program. The department may prioritize veteran recipients of the services, such as prioritizing those who are able to demonstrate their less than honorable characterization of service was connected to a mental health condition, traumatic brain injury, sexual assault or harassment, or sexual orientation.(c) Funding for the grant program is subject to appropriation by the Legislature.
885. (a) The department shall establish the Veterans Military Discharge Upgrade Grant Program to help fund service providers who, for free or at low cost, will educate veterans about discharge upgrades and assist qualifying veterans in filing discharge upgrade applications.
(b) The department shall develop criteria, procedures, and accountability measures as may be necessary to implement the grant program. The department may prioritize veteran recipients of the services, such as prioritizing those who are able to demonstrate their less than honorable characterization of service was connected to a mental health condition, traumatic brain injury, sexual assault or harassment, or sexual orientation.
(c) Funding for the grant program is subject to appropriation by the Legislature.