Existing law establishes the Veterans’ Home of California system within the Department of Veterans Affairs and provides for the establishment and operation of veterans’ homes at various sites. Existing law requires the master plan for the overall operation of the veterans’ homes system be revised by the department every 5 years. Under existing law, the master plan is required to discuss, among other things, the location of future facilities at or within the vicinity of United States Department of Veterans Affairs facilities, the closure of facilities, and the expansion of existing facilities or conversion of existing facilities to provide different levels of service.

This bill would require the department to submit a report including, among other things, would, in the event the department recommends or proposes to close a veterans’ home, require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to convene a taskforce that includes representatives from the department, elected officials from the community where the home is located, residents of the home, staff employed at the home, and local veterans groups. The bill would require the taskforce to conduct a review of the proposed closure that includes a cost-benefit analysis specific to the home, a community impact analysis specific to the community where the home is located, to the Legislature if the department recommends or proposes the closure of a veterans’ home. and a review of community input, as specified. The bill would require the taskforce to submit recommendations regarding the proposed closure of the veterans’ home to the Legislature.