Relating to veterans services and making appropriations

This bill provides that the provisions of Code chapters 35, 35A, 35B, 35C, and 35D do not limit the ability of a veterans’ service organization to represent a veteran in the United States department of veterans affairs benefit claims process or to be granted power of attorney by a veteran for those purposes. The bill replaces the county commissions of veteran affairs fund and training program account with the county veterans services excellence fund and training program and administration account. Moneys in the fund are appropriated to the department of veterans affairs (IDVA) to be used to incentivize counties to effectively increase veteran outreach and efficiency in the application for individual federal veteran compensation. Under current law, IDVA annually allocates $10,000 from the fund to each county commission of veteran affairs (CCVA) or to each county sharing the services of an executive director or administrator, and each county must report on the expenditure of its allocation in a form agreed to by IDVA and the county representatives. The bill strikes the specified allocation amount. The bill provides that for FY 2026-2027, each county shall receive an equal amount of moneys from the fund. For subsequent fiscal years, allocations shall be based on performance criteria established by IDVA. The bill requires the veterans services excellence training program and administration account to fund training and support for CCVAs and strikes provisions that credit remaining moneys in the fund to the account and that allocate $3,000 to each CCVA or each county sharing the services of an executive director or administrator for training expenses. The bill requires IDVA to verify that each executive director and administrator of a CCVA be in compliance with education and training standards established by the commandant and removes the requirement to verify they are proficient in general computer use. The bill requires IDVA to create a statewide standardized electronic claim system through which county veterans service offices must submit all United States department of veterans affairs claims and requires IDVA to communicate county veterans service office performance metrics to CCVAs and boards of supervisors. A CCVA must review the quarterly performance report generated by IDVA. Under current law, when the balance of the veterans trust fund is $50 million or more, lottery revenues that would otherwise be deposited in the veterans trust fund is distributed to county directors of veteran affairs. The bill provides that the first $300,000 of these moneys is transferred to the county veterans services excellence training program and administration account.