Amended in Assembly March 17, 2016

California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 1560

Introduced by Assembly Member Mathis

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(Coauthors: Assembly Members Baker, Brough, Chang, Gonzalez, Lackey, and Olsen)

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(Coauthors: Senators Anderson, Bates, Berryhill, Hall, and Huff)

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January 4, 2016

An act to add Sections 699.6 and 971.5 to the Military and Veterans Code, relating to veterans.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 1560, as amended, Mathis. Veterans: substance abuse programs.

Existing law establishes the Department of Veterans Affairs, which is responsible for administering various programs and services for the benefit of veterans. Under existing law, the department is authorized to assist every veteran of the United States in establishing the veteran’s right to any privilege, preference, care, or compensation provided for by the laws of the United States or of the state.

This bill would, notwithstanding any other law, specifically authorize the department to refer a veteran to begin insert a end insert drug and alcohol treatment begin delete programs end delete begin insert program end insert for veterans that begin delete are end delete begin insert is end insert administered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The bill would also authorize the department to, by regulation, create a form for the purpose of making these referrals.

Existing law authorizes each county board of supervisors to appoint a county veterans service officer to perform specified veterans-related services. Under existing law, the county veterans service officer is required to assist every veteran of the United States in establishing the veteran’s right to any privilege, preference, care, or compensation provided for by the laws of the United States or of the state.

This bill would, notwithstanding any other law, specifically authorize a county veterans service officer to refer a veteran to begin insert a end insert drug and alcohol treatment begin delete programs end delete begin insert program end insert for veterans that begin delete are end delete begin insert is end insert administered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The bill would authorize a county veterans service officer to use the form described above for the purpose of making these referrals.

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 699.6 is added to the Military and
Veterans Code, to read:

699.6.  

(a) Notwithstanding any other law, the department may
refer a veteran to begin insert a end insert drug and alcohol treatment begin delete programs end delete begin insert program end insert
for veterans that begin delete are end delete begin insert is end insert administered by the United States
Department of Veterans Affairs.

(b) The department may, by regulation, create a form for the
purpose of making a referral pursuant to subdivision (a).

SEC. 2.  

Section 971.5 is added to the Military and Veterans
Code, to read:

971.5.  

(a) Notwithstanding any other law, a county veterans
service officer may refer a veteran to begin insert a end insert drug and alcohol treatment
begin delete programs end delete begin insert program end insert for veterans that begin delete are end delete begin insert is end insert administered by the
United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

(b) A county veterans service officer may use begin delete a end delete begin insert the end insert form
developed by the department pursuant to Section 699.6 for the
purpose of making a referral pursuant to subdivision (a).