BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    






                      SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS
                             JEFF DENHAM, CHAIRMAN
                                             


          Bill No:        AB 1729
          Author:         Yamada
          Version:        As amended March 18, 2010
          Hearing Date:   June 22, 2010
          Fiscal:         Yes




                                 SUBJECT OF BILL  
          
          Veterans' points on state service entrance examinations.  

           
                                   PROPOSED LAW  
           
              1.   Extend by six months (to one full year) the  
               deadline veterans have to turn in their DD-214  
               (military discharge form) to the state personnel board  
               after the establishment of a state job list.

           
                          EXISTING LAW AND BACKGROUND  
          
             1.   The government code allows a certain number of  
               points to be given to veterans so that, all other  
               things being equal, the government does its best to  
               employ those who have already put everything on the  
               line for society and our country.

             2.   Veterans may take the state civil service  
               examination ahead of time in anticipation of  
               discharge.

             3.   Veterans must provide documentation to prove they  
               were not dishonorably discharged before veterans'  
               points can be credited.

             4.   SB  644 of 2009 (Denham) increased veterans service  
               points to award 10 points on a state civil service  
               exam to a veteran and 15 points if the veteran is  









               disabled.

               This committee made a commitment to monitor the  
               situation with returning veterans through two  
               oversight hearings last year.  SB 644 was a part of  
               the effort to follow up on those hearings.

                                         


                                    COMMENT 
          
             1.   This bill furthers the intent of last year's SB 644  
               and, according to the author's office, is intended to  
               "assist veterans with their re-entry into the job  
               market."

             2.   This bill will make it more convenient to take a  
               state civil service examination.  Right now a veteran  
               would have to take the test within six months of  
               discharge; so, the veteran must rely on lucky timing  
               or be lucky enough to be stationed within the state in  
               order to be able to take the test before discharge.

               By extending the time period to 12 months the chances  
               are increased that a veteran would visit home in that  
               12-month period and have a chance to take the test  
               without the time period expiring before he or she was  
               actually discharged and was in possession of a DD-214.  
                


                                  PRIOR ACTIONS

           Assembly PERS                 5-0
          Assembly Veterans             9-0
          Assembly Appropriations       15-0
          Assembly Floor                74-0 (Consent)
          Senate PERS                   5-0

          SB 644 (Denham)          5/18/2009
          Denham                        Aye
          Correa                        Aye
          Cedillo                       No Vote Recorded

                                      Page 2









          Negrete McLeod                Aye
          Wyland                        Aye


                                     SUPPORT  
          
          American Legion, Department of California
          AMVETS, Department of California
          California Correctional Supervisors Organization
          California Peace Officers' Association
          California Police Chiefs Association
          California State Commanders Veterans Council
          Vietnam Veterans of America, California State Council
           

                                      OPPOSE  
          
          None received


























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