California Code, Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 255.2

Notwithstanding Section 255 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, any veteran who is filing for the veteran's exemption on his or her principal place of residence for the first time or who was found eligible for that exemption on his or her principal place of residence in the immediately preceding year and whose claim is timely filed but disallowed for the current year may, if otherwise qualified for the homeowner's exemption, file for the homeowner's exemption as provided herein.

The assessor shall notify those applicants he or she finds ineligible for the veteran's exemption of his or her finding and shall inform them that they have 15 days from the date of the notice to file for the homeowner's exemption. The failure of the assessor to provide the notice required by this section shall extend the filing period for those not notified to the next lien date.