Existing law authorizes the board of supervisors of each county to appoint a county veterans service officer to perform duties relating to the administration of benefits to veterans. Existing law authorizes the board to prescribe the qualifications of a county veterans service officer and fix the compensation of that officer. Existing law requires the California Department of Veterans Affairs annually to prepare a report of the activities of county veterans service officers, including information on the number of veterans and their family members who have contacted or utilized the services of the county veterans service officers and the benefits received by veterans and their dependents as a result of the efforts of the county veterans service officers.

This bill would require that any veterans service officer vacancy be filled within 12 months after the date of the vacancy and would require the appointee to obtain and maintain accreditation from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, as specified, within 9 months after that appointment.

Existing law requires the California 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 a county that complies with certain conditions.

This bill would require the California Department of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the California Association of County Veterans Service Officers, to develop a service capacity and performance framework to inform funding allocations for county veterans service offices. The bill would require the department to prepare and submit a report to the Legislature describing the proposed framework and its anticipated fiscal and operational impact, as specified. The bill would additionally require the department, by no later than January 1, 2028, and every 3 years thereafter, to prepare a report analyzing data regarding the configuration, structure, and operations of each veterans service office and to transmit the report, as specified, to the Legislature, the Department of Finance, the State Department of Health Care Services, and the California Veterans Board.

The bill would also require the California Department of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the California Association of County Veterans Service Officers, to create a standardized statewide digital survey platform to collect feedback from veterans for services provided at service offices.