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SB-1858 Veterans affairs: administration.(2001-2002)

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Senate Bill No. 1858
CHAPTER 977

An act to amend Section 66.5 of, and to add Sections 73.8 and 78.5 to, the Military and Veterans Code, relating to veterans, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately.

[ Filed with Secretary of State  September 27, 2002. Approved by Governor  September 26, 2002. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


SB 1858, Knight. Veterans affairs: administration.
Under existing law, the California Veterans Board consists of 7 members, all of whom are veterans. The Inspector General for Veterans Affairs provides ongoing and independent advice to the board. The Chief Administrative Officer of the Department of Veterans Affairs is the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
This bill would require one member of the board to have an accounting or auditing background, as specified. The bill would also allow the inspector general and the board access to the documents and employees of the department. The bill would require the secretary to conduct audits, as specified by statute, on internal controls, and to provide those audits to the inspector general. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 66.5 of the Military and Veterans Code is amended to read:

66.5.
 (a) One member of the board shall have substantial training or professional expertise in mortgage lending and real estate finance.
(b) One other member of the board shall have substantial training or professional expertise in geriatrics, gerontology, or long-term care.
(c) One member of the board shall have an accounting or auditing background, and preferably shall be a certified public accountant.
(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit any member of the board from serving the remainder of his or her term.
(e) The first vacancy in the membership of the board, that occurs after the enactment of the act adding this subdivision and does not require the training or expertise required by subdivision (a) or (b), shall be filled by the appointment of a member who meets the criteria required by subdivision (c).

SEC. 2.

 Section 73.8 is added to the Military and Veterans Code, to read:

73.8.
 The board and the inspector general shall have access to all documents and employees of the department.

SEC. 3.

 Section 78.5 is added to the Military and Veterans Code, to read:

78.5.
 The secretary shall conduct audits as required by Section 13402 of the Government Code, on internal controls of the department, that shall be provided to the inspector general.

SEC. 4.

 This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the meaning of Article IV of the Constitution and shall go into immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are:
In order to ensure that a member of the California Veterans Board have an accounting or auditing background and that the Inspector General for Veterans Affairs have access to all documents, including any audits, and employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs as soon as possible, it is necessary that this act take effect immediately.