Los Altos Hills resident Dr. Jerome Blum is on the brink of realizing a long-held dream as legislation he authored to benefit veterans awaits final approval in the state assembly.

Blum said he was thrilled that the California State Senate passed SB 1401, his “Helping California Veterans Get the Help They Need” bill, with a vote of 38-0 April 17.

“All Republicans, all Democrats, all independents voted,” said Blum, who hopes it will become a model “because the states have what I call ‘health-care inertia.”

The bill is now in the California State Assembly, which is expected to vote on it in approximately three weeks. He said it would probably pass because of the Senate’s unanimous vote and the public’s concern for veterans’ needs.

After reviewing 429 suggestions for legislation from within and outside his district, state Sen. Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) announced Blum as one of three winners in his “There Oughta Be a Law” contest.

Blum penned the law to ensure that California veterans returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are properly screened for traumatic brain injury, a condition estimated to affect as many as one in five returning veterans.