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