09/22/2005 GAAS:446:05 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Print Version |
Governor Schwarzenegger Signs Legislation to Benefit California's Military and Their Families
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed legislation that will further protect California's military and their families from the potential financial hardships they face during times of conflict.
"Members of our armed forces and their families make tremendous sacrifices to keep our country safe and Maria and I are grateful for their service. We will continue to do all we can to help California's military and their families cope with the challenges they face during these difficult times of deployment," said Governor Schwarzenegger. "These bills make significant improvements in the way our state supports service members and their families."
Governor Schwarzenegger signed the following legislation:
SB 513 by Senator Nell Soto (D-Pomona) - California National Guard: benefits and protection: deferral of interest on financial obligations.
- SB 513 shields the families of California National Guard members from financial hardship by requiring private institutions to defer any payments due on financial obligations owed by a member of the California National Guard killed in the line of duty for six months without penalty.
AB 276 by Assemblymember Joe Baca Jr. (D-Rialto) - State employees: military benefits.
- State employees who are called to active military duty currently enjoy full pay benefits for two years of activation. Full pay benefits include the difference between the amount of the soldier's military pay and the amount received as a state employee. AB 276 provides that payments received for hazardous duty, hostile fire or imminent danger pay will not be counted as military pay and that the state employee will be entitled to retain these and any other special and incentive pay provided by the Federal government.
AB 306 by Assemblymember Joe Baca Jr. (D-Rialto) - Military service: benefits.
- AB 306 expands and adds financial protections for service members called to active duty and ensures coverage of health insurance after service members return from their deployments.
AB 980 by Assemblymember Tom Umberg (D-Anaheim) - California militia: disability benefits.
- AB 980 guarantees that disability benefits for members of the California National Guard injured during federal active duty will be equal to those benefits received by regular active duty military personnel.
AB 1594 by Assemblymember Tom Umberg (D-Anaheim) - Military service: California National Guard Surviving Spouses and Children Relief Act of 2004: death benefits.
- AB 1594 allocates monies from the general fund for the purpose of providing death benefits to the spouses and families of California National Guard members on active duty.
AB 1666 by Assemblymember Dario Frommer (D-Los Feliz) - Military service: benefits.
- AB 1666 enacts the California Military Families Financial Relief Act. The Act provides additional protections for California National Guard members and reservists in order to alleviate the financial challenges they face upon being called to active duty. This includes requiring community colleges to refund tuition and fees or credit them to service members who have been granted an academic leave of absence during military service.
