Times-Standard

The Times-Standard

Article Launched: 04/04/2008 02:13:45 AM PDT

Two bills authored by state Assembly member Patty Berg of Eureka are making their way through committees and, if passed, could affect veterans and the health professionals and social workers who serve seniors.

Assembly Bill 1952, which aims to streamline the process between cities and counties of waiving business license fees for veterans, was recently approved by the Assembly Business and Professions Committee.

Under current law, cities only waive business license fees for honorably discharged disabled veterans, and counties waive business license fees for all honorably discharged veterans.

”One small change will help end confusion with the business license fee waivers for veterans,” Berg said in a press release. “Veterans don't deserve the run-around when it comes to their benefits.”

The bill now goes to the Assembly Veteran Affairs Committee.

Another Berg bill, AB 2543, was approved by the Assembly Business and Professions Committee earlier this week and aims to provide assistance to physicians, registered nurses, social workers and therapists who commit to a minimum of three years of service to geriatric patients and clients. The assistance would come in the form of help paying of student loans.

”We have a shortage of professionals working in geriatric settings,” Berg said. “As Baby Boomers move into old age, that shortage will reach crisis proportions unless we start making changes now.”

California only has 890 board-certified geriatricians, which accounts for one geriatrician for every 4,000 Californians over the age of 65, according to the press release.

”The goal here is to entice our college students to go into these fields,” Berg said. “A program that covers their incurred educational debt is a big step in the right direction.”

AB 2543 will now head to the Assembly Health Committee for review.