California National Guard: improper payments.

Existing law establishes the Military Department, which includes, among others, the California National Guard. Existing law provides certain protections for members of the California National Guard called to active duty, including eviction or distress protections and tax deferments. This bill would require the department, upon an appropriation of funds by the Legislature, to assume sole financial liability for any required payment to the federal government of an enlistment bonus, student loan repayment, or any other incentive payments improperly authorized by the California National Guard between January 1, 2006, and December 31, 2010, including any interest charges or other associated fees. The bill would also require the department upon an appropriation of funds by the Legislature, to repay to any member of the California National Guard who has repaid to the federal government any of these improperly authorized payments the amount the member has repaid, including any interest charges or other associated fees. The bill would specify that these provision become operative only if the federal government does not enact specified legislation on or before August 1, 2017, and the department posts a notice to that effect on its Internet Web site.