CA AB331

County recorders must record military discharge documents, including DD214 forms, upon request by veterans or authorized persons and maintain them in a nonpublic index.

Copies of recorded military discharge documents may only be issued to the veteran or person authorized under existing law to receive certified copies, not to the general public.

Veterans or authorized persons may request that DD214 records recorded on or after January 1, 1980 be moved from public to nonpublic indexes to protect privacy.

County recorders have discretion in designing and implementing nonpublic indexes as long as they meet minimum standards for protecting confidentiality of veterans' records.

The Legislature finds this limitation on public access appropriately balances transparency with protection of personal information for former military members and does not require state reimbursement to local agencies.