BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SB 1563
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Date of Hearing: July 3, 2012
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC EMPLOYEES, RETIREMENT AND SOCIAL
SECURITY
Warren T. Furutani, Chair
SB 1563 (Cannella) - As Introduced: February 24, 2012
SENATE VOTE : 38-0
SUBJECT : Civil service examinations: veterans' preference.
SUMMARY : Allows a veteran who has completed acceptable
training in the United States Armed Forces as a peace officer to
receive an additional 15 points upon obtaining a passing score
on an open, entrance examination for a peace officer position in
state civil service.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Identifies certain groups of individuals who receive
additional points based on their status or prior experience,
after becoming eligible for a hiring list by obtaining a
passing score on an open, nonpromotional exam.
2)Establishes a number of provisions that provide additional
exam points for veterans, disabled veterans, spouses of 100
percent disabled veterans, and widows and widowers of veterans
who obtain passing scores on state civil service exams.
3)Allows a veteran to have 10 points added, and allows a
disabled veteran to have 15 points added, to a passing score
on an open, nonpromotional exam.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee, pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8, negligible state costs.
COMMENTS : According to the author, "Returning veterans are at
a disadvantage in finding employment upon return from their
military service, due to the fact that many have not been able
to receive training and experience in any civilian career fields
while they were away. Historically, much of the training that
service members receive while in military service does not
correlate with many civilian career fields. Veterans often have
years of work experience, but have no way of putting it to use
for themselves. The intent of this legislation is to do just
SB 1563
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that. Military police training does correlate to a civilian
career field and this is an excellent opportunity for veterans
to utilize training that they already received in order to gain
employment. It is the duty of California's Legislature to take
care of veterans and their families."
Supporters state, "We support this effort to help some of our
returning veterans to utilize their military training to help
get civilian jobs, turning boots into badges and giving our
veterans credit for their training."
This bill was also heard in the Assembly Committee on Veterans
Affairs. That Committee was asking that the author consider
clarifying the following issues:
1)Consider clarifying what entity (for example, the Commission
on Peace Officer Standards and Training) will determine what
training will support the award of the additional preference
points.
2)Consider specifying what training will support the award.
3)Consider clarifying or deleting "as peace officers" as used in
18978(a)(2) to avoid confusion, as this term is defined in
California statute in California Penal Code section 803, et.
seq.
SB 644 (Denham), Chapter 357, Statutes of 2009, increased the
veterans' preference points provided on open, nonpromotional
state civil service entrance examinations from 10 to 15 points
for disabled veterans and from 5 to 10 points for all other
veterans.
AB 2550 (Blakeslee), Chapter 494, Statutes of 2006, provided
preference points for National Guardsmen on state civil service
exams.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
American Legion Department of California (Co-sponsor)
Vietnam Veterans of America, California State Council
(Co-sponsor)
AMVETS Department of California (Co-sponsor)
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California Association of County Veterans Service Officers
California State Commanders Veterans Council
Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by : Karon Green / P.E., R. & S.S. / (916)
319-3957