BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 556 Page 1 Date of Hearing: May 8, 2013 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Mike Gatto, Chair AB 556 (Salas) - As Amended: April 11, 2013 Policy Committee: JudiciaryVote:10-0 Labor 7-0 Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: SUMMARY This bill prohibits employment discrimination against all active duty service people and veterans of the armed forces, pursuant to the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Specifically, this bill adds "military and veteran status," to the list of categories protected from discrimination under the act by employers, labor organizations and employment agencies with respect to all aspects of employment and membership in a labor union. FISCAL EFFECT The Department of Fair Employment and Housing anticipates that costs related to investigation of additional complaints filed under the FEHA will be minor and absorbable. COMMENTS Purpose . This measure expands existing legal prohibitions regarding job discrimination against active and former members of the military by adding "military and veteran status" to the classes protected by the FEHA. Because active members of the military are covered by existing state law, the primary expansion of coverage appears to be the inclusion of veterans, who although protected against job discrimination under federal law, are not similarly protected under state law. Supporters (several veterans' organizations) maintain that existing protections are inadequate, and note that veterans on average suffer much higher rates of unemployment than many other groups, despite the existing state and federal veterans hiring AB 556 Page 2 preferences. In addition to bringing veterans within the classes protected against employment discrimination, the primary effect of adding military and veteran status to the FEHA would be to cover not only employers but also labor organizations and employment agencies and to broaden the types of prohibited discrimination. Analysis Prepared by : Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081