Title MVC, California Mil. & Vet. Code

The following decorations are authorized for members of the National Guard, State Guard, and Naval Militia: (a) Medal of Valor. (b) Military Cross. (c) Order of California. (d) Memorial Medal. (e) Medal of Merit. (f) Commendation Medal. (g) Service Medal. (h) Good Conduct Medal. …

(a) A Medal of Valor may be presented to each person who, while an officer or enlisted member of the National Guard or Naval Militia, distinguishes themself by courageous conduct at the risk of life, above and beyond the call of duty while in the service of the state or of the Un…

A Military Cross may be presented to each person who, while an officer or enlisted member of the National Guard or Naval Militia, distinguishes themself by extraordinary heroism while in the service of the state or of the United States. (Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 129, Sec. 62. …

(a) The Order of California may be presented to an officer or enlisted member of the National Guard or Naval Militia who has distinguished themself by exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service to the state or the United States in a position of gr…

A Memorial Medal may be presented posthumously to any person who, while an officer, warrant officer, or enlisted member of the National Guard, the State Guard, or the Naval Militia is killed in the service of the state or the United States. (Amended by Stats. 2020, Ch. 97, Sec. 3…

(a) A Medal of Merit may be presented to each person who, while an officer, warrant officer, or enlisted member of the National Guard or Naval Militia, distinguishes themself by exceptionally meritorious service to the state or the United States in a duty of great responsibility …

A Commendation Medal may be presented to each person who, while an officer, warrant officer, or enlisted member of the National Guard, State Guard, or Naval Militia distinguishes themselves while serving in any capacity with the National Guard, State Guard, or Naval Militia by me…

A good conduct medal may be presented to each person who, while an enlisted member of the California National Guard, State Guard, or Naval Militia, has demonstrated fidelity through faithful and exact performance of duty, efficiency through capacity to produce desired results, an…

A State Service Ribbon may be presented by the Adjutant General to each person who after July 1, 1963, honorably serves on active duty with the State during a period of emergency declared by the Governor or while the United States is engaged in war as defined in Section 18 of thi…

A service medal or bar shall be issued for 10 years’ service in the California National Guard, the California Air National Guard, the Naval Militia, or the State Guard, and for each period of five years of service thereafter. Such medal or bar shall be issued to those entitled to…

A Federal Service Ribbon may be presented by the Adjutant General to each person inducted into the federal service as a member of a California National Guard unit after September 15, 1940, and who has completed not less than a total of 12 months honorable service in the armed for…

The Medal of Valor shall be presented by the Governor. The Military Cross, the Medal of Merit, the Service Medal, and other authorized medals and awards shall be presented by the Governor or The Adjutant General in the name of the Governor. (Enacted by Stats. 1935, Ch. 389.)

No more than one Medal of Valor, or one Military Cross, or one Medal of Merit shall be issued to any one person; but for each succeeding deed or act sufficient to justify the award of a Medal of Valor, or a Military Cross, or a Medal of Merit, a suitable bar or other device denot…

The Adjutant General may hold and conduct competitions and competitive military exercises, may procure and issue appropriate ribbons, badges, or insignia in connection therewith and for excellence in marksmanship, for drill attendance, and for competitive military training, and m…

(a) Except as provided by subdivision (b), decorations authorized by this code and decorations, medals, badges, ribbons, and insignia authorized by the laws or regulations of the United States pertaining to the National Guard, Air National Guard, and Naval Militia may be worn by …

(a) The Adjutant General may adopt, from time to time, any rules, regulations, and orders not inconsistent with this code which the Adjutant General deems necessary to carry into effect this chapter. (b) The Adjutant General may present duplicate medals or ribbons or other decora…

The California Veterans Board shall consist of seven members who shall be appointed by the Governor subject to the confirmation of the Senate. (Amended by Stats. 2000, Ch. 219, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2001.)

All members of the board shall be veterans as “veteran” is defined in Section 18540.4 of the Government Code. One of these members shall also be retired from the active or reserve forces of the United States military service. One of these members shall also be a resident of a Cal…

(a) Every member of the board shall be a member in good standing with a congressionally chartered veteran service organization. (b) One member of the board shall have substantial training, professional knowledge, or experience in the issues faced by female veterans which may incl…

(a) Of the members as appointed, except as provided in subdivision (b), one shall be appointed for a term expiring January 15, 1947, two for terms expiring January 15, 1948, two for terms expiring January 15, 1949, and two for terms expiring January 15, 1950. Subsequent appointme…

Each member of the board shall receive, for each day’s attendance at each meeting of the board, a per diem of fifty dollars ($50) and shall receive the same per diem for each day spent on official duties assigned by the board. In addition, each member shall be reimbursed for his …

(a) The board shall hold meetings at times and at places as shall be determined by it. (b) Special meetings may be called at any time by the chairperson or by the executive officer at the request of any four members, upon notice specifying the matters to be acted upon at the meet…

In the budget submitted by the department pursuant to Section 13320 of the Government Code, the board shall have its budget separately stated. Those funds allocated for the board shall be used solely as determined by the members of the board, for the board’s operation and other n…

(a) On or before January 10, 2009, and on or before January 10 of each year thereafter, the department shall provide the fiscal committees of both houses of the Legislature with a fiscal estimate package containing the anticipated budget year costs of carrying out the current yea…

(a) The Department of Veterans Affairs succeeds to, and is vested with, the duties, powers, purposes, responsibilities, and jurisdiction of the Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs, the Division of Veterans’ Welfare, the Veterans’ Welfare Board, the California Veterans’ C…

(a) The members of the board shall select one of their members to serve as chairperson, who shall hold office as chairperson at the pleasure of the board. (b) The chairperson of the board, with the concurrence of a majority of the members of the board, shall appoint an executive …

The California Veterans Board shall advise the department and secretary on policies for operations of the department. The department shall respond to all proposed policy changes offered by the California Veterans Board prior to the next scheduled meeting of the board. (Amended by…

Every state and local public agency shall render the service or provide the benefits or assistance it provides to the public to every veteran on the same basis as to any other eligible person. (Added by Stats. 1987, Ch. 1424, Sec. 1.)

If any public agency which has rendered a service, provided benefits, or furnished assistance to a veteran determines that the costs of rendering the service or providing the benefits or assistance are recoverable from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, it shall re…

The California Veterans Board may create advisory committees consisting of veterans to advise the board in specific fields under or relating to the jurisdiction of the board. The board shall appoint the members thereof and they shall serve at its pleasure. The board shall also de…

The secretary and the board shall each seek to confer with the California State Commanders Veterans Council at least twice per calendar year on issues affecting California veterans. (Added by Stats. 2013, Ch. 692, Sec. 5. (AB 717) Effective January 1, 2014.)

(a) Any state officer or employee who intentionally engages in acts of reprisal, retaliation, threats, coercion, or similar acts against an employee of any state department, board, or authority for having disclosed what the employee, in good faith, believed to be improper activit…

The board shall have access to all documents and employees of the department. (Amended by Stats. 2004, Ch. 218, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2005.)

(a) The chief administrative officer of the Department of Veterans Affairs shall be the Secretary of Veterans Affairs who shall be a civil executive officer. (b) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall be a veteran as “veteran” is defined in Section 18540.4 of the Government Code…

The secretary shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Governor. (Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 465, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2003.)

The annual salary of the secretary is provided for by Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 11550) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. (Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 465, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2003.)

(a) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs is head of the department and, as head of the department and subject to the policies adopted by the board, shall perform all duties, exercise all powers and jurisdiction, assume and discharge all responsibilities and carry out and effect all …

The secretary shall conduct audits as required by Section 13402 of the Government Code, on internal controls of the department, that shall be provided to the inspector general. (Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 977, Sec. 3. Effective September 27, 2002.)

There shall be an Undersecretary of Veterans Affairs, who shall be a civil executive officer. The holder of this position shall be appointed and their salary shall be established by the secretary pursuant to law. (Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 129, Sec. 5. (SB 1097) Effective Janua…

In addition to the Undersecretary of Veterans Affairs, there shall be within the department, and the secretary shall appoint, both of the following: (a) A Deputy Secretary of Women Veterans Affairs, who shall have responsibility over the administration of women veterans affairs. …

(a) In addition to the secretary, the Governor shall appoint a Deputy Secretary of Veterans Homes, to serve at the pleasure of the secretary, who shall be responsible for the administration of all sites of the California veterans homes. (b) It is preferable that the deputy secret…

(a) Notwithstanding any other law, the department may adopt, amend, or repeal regulations concerning the administration and operation of the Veterans’ Home of California. Except as otherwise provided, these regulations shall be adopted pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act…

(a) The department shall do all of the following concerning the operation and administration of the veterans’ homes: (1) Take the necessary steps to ensure that all medical or other facilities under its jurisdiction satisfy all applicable federal and state and local licensing, ce…

The director may employ subject to law such expert, technical, legal, clerical, and other employees as may be necessary to carry out his powers and duties and except as expressly otherwise provided in Section 71 of this chapter, the director shall be the sole appointing authority…

Except to the extent inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter, the provisions of Chapter 2 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code shall be applicable to the Department of Veterans Affairs as if the provisions of said Chapter 2 were set out fully herein.…