AB 526 — Military service: benefits.

Summary

Existing law authorizes, to the extent permitted by federal law, members of the United States Military Reserve and National Guard who are called to active duty as a result of the Iraq or Afghanistan conflicts, to defer payments on mortgages, credit cards, retail installment accounts and contracts, real property taxes and assessments, and vehicle leases for the period of active duty, plus 60 calendar days, or 180 days, whichever is the lesser, as specified. Existing law also requires any entity that was providing any type of health care coverage to a member of the United States Military Reserve or National Guard who is called to active duty as a result of the Iraq or Afghanistan conflicts to reinstate the health care coverage without waiting periods or exclusion of coverage for preexisting conditions, and makes a violation of this requirement subject to enforcement under the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975, a willful violation of which is a crime. Existing law also provides that a spouse or legal dependent, or both, of a member is entitled to the benefits accorded to a member, if the member is eligible for those benefits. This bill would extend those deferral provisions and reinstatement of health care coverage provisions to a reservist, as defined, who is called to active duty on and after January 1, 2014, and to a spouse or legal dependent, as specified. This bill would also authorize the deferral of payments on any obligations owed to a utility company. The bill would limit the deferment period on financial obligations to not more than 180 days within a 365-day period. This bill would also require a copy of the activation or deployment orders and any other information that substantiates the duration of the service member's military service to be delivered to an obligor in order for an obligation of a reservist to be deferred, as provided. This bill would expand the scope of an existing crime by requiring a reservist to provide information under the penalty of perjury, and by making violations of the reinstatement of health care coverage for reservists requirement subject to enforcement under the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975, thereby imposing a state‑mandated local program. This bill would additionally impose a state‑mandated local program by imposing new duties upon local tax officials with respect to the deferral of any payment of property tax or any special assessment. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Bill Text

• Chaptered 09/06/13 - Chaptered Current pdf September 06, 2013
• Enrolled 08/23/13 - Enrolled pdf August 23, 2013
• Amended 06/14/13 - Amended Senate pdf June 14, 2013
• Amended 04/01/13 - Amended Assembly pdf April 01, 2013
• Introduced 02/20/13 - Introduced pdf February 20, 2013
• AB526 View text html

Action History

1. September 06, 2013

   Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 236, Statutes of 2013.

2. September 06, 2013

   Approved by the Governor.

3. August 26, 2013

   Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4:15 p.m.

4. August 19, 2013

   Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 77. Noes 0. Page 2580.).

5. August 15, 2013

   In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending. May be considered on or after August 17 pursuant to Assembly Rule 77.

6. August 15, 2013

   Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 1844.).

7. August 13, 2013

   Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.

8. August 12, 2013

   From committee: Be placed on second reading file pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to consent calendar.

9. June 25, 2013

   From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: to consent calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (June 25). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

10. June 14, 2013

    From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on JUD.

11. June 11, 2013

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (June 11). Re-referred to Com. on JUD.

12. May 09, 2013

    Referred to Coms. on V.A. and JUD.

13. April 25, 2013

    In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

14. April 25, 2013

    Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 76. Noes 0. Page 1121.)

15. April 18, 2013

    Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.

16. April 17, 2013

    From committee: Do pass. To consent calendar. (Ayes 17. Noes 0.) (April 17).

17. April 04, 2013

    Re-referred to Com. on APPR. pursuant to Assembly Rule 96.

18. April 04, 2013

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on HEALTH. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (April 2). Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.

19. April 02, 2013

    Re-referred to Com. on V.A.

20. April 01, 2013

    From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on V.A. Read second time and amended.

21. March 04, 2013

    Referred to Coms. on V.A. and HEALTH.

22. February 21, 2013

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.

23. February 20, 2013

    Read first time. To print.

Sponsors

• Beth Gaines · Cosponsor
• Gray · Cosponsor
• Bigelow · Cosponsor
• Shannon Grove · Cosponsor
• Hagman · Cosponsor
• Harkey · Cosponsor
• Knight · Cosponsor
• Maienschein · Cosponsor
• Melendez · Primary
• Morrell · Cosponsor
• Nielsen · Cosponsor
• Wagner · Cosponsor
• Wilk · Cosponsor
• Robert Garcia · Cosponsor

Votes

Subjects