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AB-708 Prisons: veterans service advocates.(2023-2024)

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Date Published: 02/13/2023 09:00 PM
AB708:v99#DOCUMENT


CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 708

Introduced by Assembly Member Flora

February 13, 2023

An act to amend Section 2695.2 of the Penal Code, relating to prisons.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 708, as introduced, Flora. Prisons: veterans service advocates.
Existing law establishes the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to oversee the state prison system. Existing law requires the department to develop guidance policies relative to the release of veterans who are inmates. Existing law authorizes a veterans service organization to volunteer to serve as a veterans service advocate at a facility that is under the jurisdiction of the department. For each inmate who is a veteran, existing law authorizes an advocate to develop a veterans economic recidivism plan during the 180-day period preceding the inmate’s release date. Existing law requires the veterans economic recidivism prevention plan to include specified information, including a plan for how the inmate will access earned veterans’ benefits that the inmate may be eligible for upon the inmate’s release.
This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to those provisions.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: NO   Local Program: NO  

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


SECTION 1.

 Section 2695.2 of the Penal Code is amended to read:

2695.2.
 (a) The advocate shall be authorized to develop develop, for each inmate who is a veteran, a veterans economic recidivism prevention plan for each inmate who is a veteran during the 180-day period preceding the inmate’s release date.
(b) The veterans economic recidivism prevention plan for each inmate who is a veteran shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(1) Facilitating access of the inmate to county veterans service officers, and California Department of Veterans Affairs and United States Department of Veterans Affairs officers and personnel, so that the inmate may pursue claims for federal veterans’ benefits or any other privilege, preference, care, or compensation provided under federal or state law because of the inmate’s service in the military.
(2) Developing a plan for how the inmate will access earned veterans’ benefits that he or she the inmate may be eligible for upon the inmate’s their release.
(c) In order to assist with the development and execution of the veterans economic recidivism prevention plan, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall do both of the following:
(1) (A) Facilitate access by the advocate the advocate’s access to each inmate who is a veteran.
(B) Access by the advocate The advocate’s access is subject to those department screening and clearance guidelines and training requirements that are imposed on other visitors and volunteers. any other visitor or volunteer.
(C) Access by the advocate The advocate’s access shall be allowed to the extent it does not pose a threat to the security or safety of the facility, or to inmates any inmate and staff.
(2) Provide the advocate with access to existing resources, including, but not limited to, computer and Internet internet access, that would assist the advocate in implementing the veterans economic recidivism prevention plan, to the extent it does not pose a threat to the security or safety of the facility, or to inmates any inmate and staff.
(d) A copy of the veterans economic recidivism prevention plan shall be provided to the inmate prior to before the inmate’s release.