BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  AB 1729
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   April 28, 2010

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                Felipe Fuentes, Chair

                   AB 1729 (Yamada) - As Amended:  March 18, 2010 

          Policy Committee:                              P.E.R. &  
          S.S.Vote:    7-0
                        Veterans Affairs                      9-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          No     Reimbursable:              

           SUMMARY  

          This bill extends, from six months to 12 months, the time that a  
          veteran is eligible to receive preference points on civil  
          service exams following the establishment of an employment list.

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Minor and absorbable costs to the State Personnel Board (SPB) to  
          modify examination scoring procedures for open nonpromotional  
          examinations.

           COMMENTS  

           1)Background  . Under the State Civil Service, Act, veterans of  
            the Armed Forces who take an entrance examination for state  
            employment are allowed extra points by virtue of their status  
            as veterans. The veterans' preferences are 15 points for  
            disabled veterans and 10 points for all other veterans. A  
            veteran that successfully passes an examination within six  
            months after the establishment of the employment list is  
            entitled to receive the additional points at that time.   
            According to the State Personnel Board, "The purpose of  
            Veterans' Preference Points is to assist returning veterans in  
            their quest to obtain employment with the State of  
            California."

            A veteran must apply for this credit and meet various  
            eligibility guidelines. These guidelines require documentation  
            that the military discharged or released the service member  
            under conditions other than dishonorable (DD 214 form) before  








                                                                  AB 1729
                                                                  Page  2

            the State Personnel Board reflects the credits on the  
            employment eligibility list. 

           2)Purpose  . This bill is intended to ensure that veterans receive  
            the hiring preferences points they are entitled to under  
            existing law. The author indicates that the current six month  
            period can be inadequate, such as when replacement DD 214  
            forms have to be ordered from the military.  

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Brad Williams / APPR. / (916) 319-2081