SACRAMENTO >> Senator Mike McGuire’s bill that will provide free access to transit for all California veterans was approved Tuesday in its first Senate committee, achieving unanimous, bi-partisan support.
“There are 2 million veterans who call California home, and unfortunately many lack affordable and reliable transportation to access jobs, mental health services and medical care,” McGuire said. “We launched the transit program locally when I was on the Board of Supervisors and it has been incredibly successful — showing a 24 percent increase in veteran ridership in the first year. Our veterans deserve more, and this program will match local and state dollars to have the biggest impact possible.”
The senator expects that SB 951 — The Golden State Patriot Passes — will increase veterans’ access to care and employment, ultimately raising the quality of life for veterans in the state. The program would also provide the co-benefits of increasing utilization rates for veteran services by encouraging them to connect with their Veteran Service Officer, while providing consistent and reliable means for veterans to have affordable transportation to their jobs, homes, services and activities.
According to the Department of Veteran Affairs, nearly 34 percent of all veterans ages 35-54 who are disabled live in poverty. That number jumps dramatically as disabled veterans age — almost half of all disabled veterans 65 or older live in poverty. And in fact, only 19.4 percent of all veterans utilize the benefits they have earned.
The statewide pilot project will build on the success of Sonoma County’s veterans bus pass program, approved in 2014 thanks to the advocacy of Senator McGuire, who was then serving on the Board of Supervisors. The first-in-the-nation program was originally financed by the county as a pilot project and was able to offer all veterans free access to transit. The program was so successful the county has now made it permanent.
SB 951 would create a pilot project that would match state with local dollars to provide free access to transit for all veterans in specified rural, suburban, and urban counties. Veterans would simply need to show a Veterans ID card upon entering the transit system.
“There is a significant need statewide to not only provide better veteran services and affordable housing for California’s veterans, but also to make sure all those who have served in the armed forces can access the programs they deserve,” McGuire said.
SB 951 was passed by a 10-0 vote in the Senate Transportation and Housing Committee Tuesday afternoon.
