SACRAMENTO – Assemblywoman Nicole M. Parra (D-Hanford) announced the passage of AB 2586 off the Assembly Floor by a vote of 79-0.

“Our veterans make so many sacrifices on this nation’s behalf and many of them end up suffering from the long-term effects of combat,” said Assemblywoman Parra. “Given this reality, it is important for us to tailor our laws in a way that helps these veterans overcome their problems and deals with their unique situations in a compassionate and equitable way.”

AB 2586 allows a court, at the judges’ discretion, to divert veterans into alternative sentencing programs as opposed to incarceration. Under existing law that same individual could be committed to the custody of federal correctional officials for incarceration for a term equivalent to that which the defendant would have served in state prison.

AB 2586 is sponsored by the Armed Forces Retirees Association of America and co-sponsored by Vietnam Veterans of America. This bill is also supported by the National Guard Association of California, the California Association of Veterans Service Officers, the California State Commanders Veterans Council, the California Society of Addiction Medicine, the Air Force Sergeant’s Association, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America, the Marine Corps League, and the Legion of Valor.

AB 2586 is now awaiting Governor Schwarzenegger’s signature. If signed by the September 30 deadline the provisions of AB 2586 would go into effect January 1, 2007.