CA AJR44

Urges the Department of Defense, Congress, and the President to create a more efficient process for upgrading dishonorable or other-than-honorable discharges for service members separated solely based on sexual orientation.

Calls for providing federal and state veterans benefits, including spousal benefits, to veterans discharged under Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT) and predecessor policies that prohibited homosexuality in the Armed Forces.

Notes that over 32,000 service personnel were separated from the Armed Forces between 1980 and 2011 under DADT and related policies, with more than 13,000 separated after DADT's 1993 adoption.

References California Military and Veterans Code Section 711.1, which requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide resources on discharge upgrades and mandates state benefits for veterans denied benefits solely due to sexual orientation policies.

Directs the Chief Clerk of the Assembly to transmit the resolution to the President, Vice President, Congress members, and the Department of Defense.