20250AB__163899INT INTRODUCED 2026-01-26 2025 AB INT Introduced by Assembly Member Ta LEAD_AUTHOR ASSEMBLY Ta

An act to add

Section 972.3 to the Military and Veterans Code, relating to veterans. veterans County veterans service officers: additional resources. Existing law authorizes each county board of supervisors to appoint a county veterans service officer, and permits the county to provide the officer with any assistance and facilities that it determines to be necessary.

Existing law requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to disburse funds, appropriated to the department for the purpose of supporting county veterans service officers pursuant to the annual Budget Act, on a pro rata basis, to counties that comply with certain conditions. This bill would, upon appropriation by the Legislature, provide a stipend to counties that host an active United States military base for the purposes of maintaining a county veterans service officer, at least part time, at each active United States military base in the county, subject to base approval.

MAJORITY NO YES NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (

a) County veterans service officers generate higher benefits for the veterans who use their service, bringing more federal benefits to California. (

b) More than 33,000 service members were discharged from active duty in California in 2019. (

c) By providing these separating service members access to the benefits to which they are entitled, we can help new veterans offset the high cost of living in California, helping both the veteran and their family remain in California after they separate. (

d) It is the intent of the Legislature to ensure adequate resources are made available to California counties that are home to one or more active United States military bases so that they are able to station a county veterans service officer at each military base, at least part time, subject to base approval.

SEC.

Section 972.3 is added to the Military and Veterans Code , to read: 972.3. Upon appropriation by the Legislature, a county that hosts an active United States military base shall receive a stipend for the purposes of maintaining a county veterans service officer (CVSO), at least part time, on each active United States military base in the county, subject to base approval. A county shall not receive a stipend if the county chooses not to maintain a CVSO on a United States military base or the base in a county does not approve of a CVSO being maintained on that base.