California County Veterans Service Offices

Military and Veterans Code section 970 lets the board of supervisors of each county appoint a county veterans service officer, who must be a veteran. Two or more counties may share one office. Under section 971 the officer must help every veteran and qualified former member, and the dependents of a deceased one, present and pursue any claim against the United States and establish any right to a privilege, preference, care or compensation under federal or state law. The officer also verifies veteran status for the DMV designation and takes College Fee Waiver applications. Under section 972 the office is a county charge, but CalVet pays each county part of the cost out of state money, on condition that the office follows CalVet's standards. That is why the office is free to the veteran. Assembly Bill 2219 (Chapter 728 of 2026), the Faster Services for Veterans Act, signed September 28, 2026 and in force from January 1, 2027, amends section 970: a vacancy in the officer's position must be filled within 12 months, and the appointee must be accredited by CalVet within nine months of appointment. By January 1, 2029 CalVet must run a statewide electronic work queue that can send a veteran's disability claim or appeal to any county office, wherever the veteran lives. Section 970 still says a county "may, but is not required to" appoint an officer; the county pages in this catalog say how each county has done it.