SACRAMENTO, CA – Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo’s Faster Services for Veterans Act (AB 2219) was signed into law today, strengthening California’s network of County Veterans Service Officers, helping veterans and their families connect more quickly to the federal and state benefits, programs, and services.
“Veterans should never have to fight through red tape to access the benefits and support they earned through service and sacrifice,” said Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo, Chair of the Assembly Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs. “The Faster Services for Veterans Act will help veterans and their families connect more quickly to someone that can help them navigate all the resources that can help improve their lives while also strengthening County Veterans Service Officer operations. This law goes a long way to ensure we live up to our responsibility to the veterans and military families who have sacrificed so much for us.”
The Faster Services for Veterans Act strengthens and modernizes California’s system for connecting veterans with assistance by improving coordination between the California Department of Veterans Affairs and County Veterans Service Officers.
The Faster Services for Veterans Act will:
- Create a statewide system allowing appointments, disability claims, and appeals to be distributed among County Veterans Service Offices, helping veterans receive assistance even when their local office is experiencing delays or capacity challenges.
- Establish a service capacity and performance framework to help inform funding for County Veterans Service Offices.
- Strengthen training and accreditation requirements for County Veterans Service Officers.
- Improve statewide data collection and reporting on veteran services.
- Create a standardized statewide survey so veterans can provide feedback on access, trust, effectiveness, and their overall experience receiving services.
The legislation builds on the Assemblywoman’s work to strengthen services and protections for veterans. Earlier this year, legislation she co-authored, Protecting Veterans from Predatory Practices Act (SB 694), was signed into law to protect veterans from companies charging illegal fees for assistance with disability benefit claims while free, federally accredited assistance is available through County Veterans Service Officers.
County Veterans Service Officers, or CVSOs, are accredited local professionals who help veterans and their families navigate VA claims and connect with health care, education, housing, employment, disability compensation, and other benefits and services. A recent USC study of 565 veterans in Los Angeles, Santa Clara, and Nevada counties found that veterans reported improvements in areas including health, financial security, employment, housing stability, and overall quality of life after working with CVSOs.
###