Senator Nell Soto (D – Pomona) has introduced legislation to defray the costs of travel and uniform expenses for volunteer members of the State Military Reserve and Naval Militia.

“I believe that we should do more to recognize the valuable contributions by the Military Reserve and Naval Militia, especially with regard to the support they provide to the California National Guard,” Soto says. “And when the National Guard is called into active federal service, it is the reservists and militia members who are then expected to defend our state.

“As volunteers, they often incur out-of-pocket expenses that can be hard to meet,” Soto adds, “a burden they should not have to bear as protectors of public safety.”

Under Soto’s bill, SB 1244, volunteer reservists and militia members would receive a combined uniform and travel allowance of $125 after completing a year of satisfactory service.

As defined, “satisfactory service” would consist of full attendance in training exercises along with other standards according to U.S. Military regulations.

If approved by the Legislature and signed into law by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Soto’s bill would go into effect January 1, 2007.