BILL NUMBER:  AB 704
  VETOED	DATE: 10/10/2013




To the Members of the California State Assembly:

Assembly Bill 704 would require the Emergency Medical Services
Authority to adopt regulations to accept U.S. military experience and
training toward the qualifications and prerequisites for emergency
medical technician and paramedic certifications.

Current regulations already allow most military experience and
training to count; and where there may be a discrepancy, the
regulations allow an individual to petition they be accepted, or
complete additional courses or training prior to testing for
certification.

I strongly support efforts to adapt the skills and training veterans
have acquired in the military to a civilian environment. Rather than
signing this bill, however, I will direct the Emergency Medical
Services Authority to act within its administrative authority to
clarify the process for making prior experience count, without the
cumbersome or overlong process that regulations would entail.

This will ensure that all veterans have the information they need ?
sooner rather than later ? to apply proper credit for their military
experience toward their desired certifications.


Sincerely,



Edmund G. Brown Jr.