Benefit awareness & access prog.; establishes, military service members transition to civilian life.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on specific benefits or how the outreach program will operate, leaving these aspects open to interpretation.

Program for Military Transition Benefits

This law creates a program to help military service members, veterans, Virginia National Guard members, Armed Forces Reserve residents, and their families learn about and access benefits when they leave the military.

What This Bill Does

• Creates an outreach program to inform transitioning military personnel, veterans, Virginia National Guard members, Armed Forces Reserve residents, and their family members about available federal, state, and local benefits.
• Requires collaboration between the Department of Veterans Services and other agencies to develop this program.
• Includes information on how well the program is working in an annual report sent to government officials.

Who It Names or Affects

• Military service members transitioning from military to civilian life
• Veterans
• Members of the Virginia National Guard
• Residents of the Commonwealth in the Armed Forces Reserves and their family members

Terms To Know

Outreach program

A plan that helps people learn about and use available services or benefits.

Annual report

A yearly document sent to government officials with information on how well a program is working.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify the exact details of how the outreach program will be run.
• It's unclear what specific benefits and services will be covered in the program.

Official Summary Text

Department of Veterans Services; benefit awareness and access; program.
Establishes an outreach program to ensure military service members transitioning from military to civilian life, veterans, members of the Virginia National Guard, residents of the Commonwealth in the Armed Forces Reserves, and their family members can easily access federal, state, and local benefits and other programs and services available to them. The bill requires the outcomes of such program to be published in the annual report submitted to the Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs, the Governor, and the General Assembly.

Current Bill Text

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered
2.2-2001.7
, relating to Department of Veterans Services; benefit awareness and access; program.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered
2.2-2001.7
as follows:

§
2.2-2001
.
7
.
Benefit awareness and access; program
.

A.
The
Department
, in collaboration with relevant agencies of the Commonwealth, localities, and service providers,

shall
develop a

comprehensive
outreach
program
for
military service members transitioning from military to civilian life, veterans, members of the Virginia National Guard, residents
of the Commonwealth
in the Armed Forces Reserves, and their family members
. The purpose of such program is to ensure such individuals

are aware of

and
can
easily
access federal, state,
and
local
benefits
and other programs

and services available to them.

B. The Commissioner shall include the
outcomes
of the program in the annual report submitted to the Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs, the Governor, and the General Assembly pursuant to §
2.2-2004
.
The report shall include
outreach
initiatives facilitated pursuant to
the program and the outcomes of such initiatives.