(a) The advocate shall be authorized to develop a veterans economic recidivism prevention plan for each inmate who is a veteran during the 180-day period preceding the inmate’s release date.

(b) The veterans economic recidivism prevention plan for each inmate who is a veteran shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(1) Facilitating access of the inmate to county veterans service officers, California Department of Veterans Affairs and United States Department of Veterans Affairs officers and personnel, so that the inmate may pursue claims for federal veterans’ benefits or any other privilege, preference, care, or compensation provided under federal or state law because of the inmate’s service in the military.

(2) Developing a plan for how the inmate will access earned veterans’ benefits that he or she may be eligible for upon the inmate’s release.

(c) In order to assist with the development and execution of the veterans economic recidivism prevention plan, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall do both of the following:

(1) (A) Facilitate access by the advocate to each inmate who is a veteran.

(B) Access by the advocate is subject to those department screening and clearance guidelines and training requirements that are imposed on other visitors and volunteers.

(C) Access by the advocate shall be allowed to the extent it does not pose a threat to the security or safety of the facility, or to inmates and staff.

(2) Provide the advocate with access to existing resources, including, but not limited to, computer and Internet access, that would assist the advocate in implementing the veterans economic recidivism prevention plan, to the extent it does not pose a threat to the security or safety of the facility, or to inmates and staff.

(d) A copy of the veterans economic recidivism prevention plan shall be provided to the inmate prior to the inmate’s release.

(Added by Stats. 2014, Ch. 652, Sec. 3. (AB 2263) Effective January 1, 2015.)