SECTION 1.
The Legislature finds and declares the following:(a) A 2009 audit performed by the State Auditor of the Department of Veterans Affairs confirmed that the department provides few direct services to veterans, outside of its veteran homes and Cal Vet Home Loan Program, and that the department has extremely limited interaction and few formal agreements with other state agencies and other departments that could provide additional services to veterans if done in a coordinated and efficient manner.
(b) This dysfunction unfortunately comes at a critical time, with California on the verge of experiencing the return of thousands of soldiers from Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) who will need to be reintegrated back into the workforce and the community. Many of these veterans will have served multiple tours of duty in combat zones and thus will likely suffer from both physical and mental health issues, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI).
(c) The 2009 audit additionally noted that the strategic plan of the department covering fiscal years 2007 to 2012, inclusive, is incomplete and has not formally assessed the needs of veterans or included key stakeholders in its strategic planning process, nor has it effectively measured the department’s progress towards meeting the goals and objectives identified in the plan.