SACRAMENTO – Assembly Bill 557, authored by Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada, was signed by Gov. Jerry Brown on Monday.

This legislation revises requirements for quarterly financial statements provided to members of California’s six veterans homes to ensure that the information provided in these statements is consistent with existing state law.

“AB 557 requires that the quarterly statements sent to residents are printed in a font that is 14-point or larger to assist residents in understanding the information necessary for residents to make informed financial decisions,” Yamada said. “It is a companion bill to AB 1823, legislation I authored and which was signed into law last year, requiring veterans home residents to be provided adequate information about their obligations to pay for unreimbursed costs of care.”

Both AB 557 and AB 1823 were proposed by the Allied Council at the California Veterans Homes at Yountville, an organization that advocates on behalf of the residents.

Two years ago, the widow of a former resident received notice from the state and had been largely unaware of existing law allowing for the recovery of unreimbursed costs of care.

AB 557 also provides technical changes to quarterly statements sent to veterans home members so they are clearly informed of CalVet’s ability to recover their finances and personal property held outside the premises of the veterans home in addition to assets held by the Home.

California’s six veterans homes provide essential care to disabled and elderly veterans. The homes charge veterans for the care provided according to the veteran’s ability to pay.

When an immediate family member survives the veteran, or the deceased veteran leaves an estate, the state may seek reimbursement from the heirs for the difference between the actual cost of the veteran’s care and the amount already paid.