Fees: military service records.

Existing law prohibits a public entity from demanding a fee or compensation for, among other things, a certified copy of specified military records, and of public records to be used in a claim related to veterans' benefits, as specified, provided to the person who is the subject of the record, a family member or legal representative of that person, a county office that provides veterans' benefits services, or a federal official upon written request. This bill would permit a county recorder to furnish a certified copy of these specified military records in response to a written, faxed, or digitized image of a request accompanied by a legible notarized statement that the requester is the person who is the subject of the record, a family member or legal representative of that person, a county office that provides veterans' benefits services, or a federal official, as specified. The bill would also permit an official to furnish a certified copy of these records to a requester in person upon taking a sworn statement, as provided. By placing new duties on local officials and by expanding the scope of the crime of perjury, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.