California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 930

Introduced by Assembly Members Irwin and Atkins

February 26, 2015

An act to add Section 980.7 to the Military and Veterans Code, relating to veterans.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 930, as introduced, Irwin. Work for Warriors program.

Existing law establishes the office of Adjutant General in the California Military Department, as the commander of all state military forces. Existing law provides for educational and housing assistance for veterans.

This bill would authorize the Adjutant General to establish a Work for Warriors program, to provide direct placement job services to service members, veterans, and military families. The bill would authorize the Adjutant General to accept federal funding to supplement this program and to enter into a memorandum of agreement with other state agencies. The bill would authorize the Employment Development Department to enter into an interagency partnership with the Adjutant General for purposes of the Work for Warriors program.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.  

(a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:

(1) Established in 2012 with a grant from the Speaker of the
Assembly, the California Military Department’s Work for Warriors
program provides direct-placement employment services to
California’s veterans, military spouses, and dependents.

(2) The most successful program of its kind in the nation, the
Work for Warriors program has placed more than 3,600 veterans
in new careers.

(3) Due to the downsizing of the United States Armed Forces,
the number of veterans entering the workforce is increasing. The
Work for Warriors program is a key resource for veterans leaving
active duty and transitioning to private sector employment in
California.

(4) Based on its high success rate and low cost per placement,
the Work for Warriors program is the most effective veterans’ job
placement program in the country. At present, there are nearly
120,000 service members eligible for assistance from the Work
for Warriors program residing within the state. This number nearly
doubles when estimating spouses’ job placement services and
triples when considering dependent job placement. Already the
lowest cost program in the country, with a per-placement cost of
$400 (compared to other veteran employment programs that cost
$10,000 per placement), the Work for Warriors program is the
most efficient and cost-effective program available.

(5) Over 200 leading businesses in the state are partnered with
the Work for Warriors program. These companies understand the
benefit of hiring a veteran, as they receive employees that are
disciplined, selfless leaders.

(6) Subject to the availability of funding, the Employment
Development Department may resource and partner with the Work
for Warriors program to supplement the state’s existing veteran
employment programs.

(b) It is the intent of the Legislature to codify the California
Military Department’s Work for Warriors program and establish
an interagency relationship between the program and the
Employment Development Department to better serve California’s
veterans as they transition from military to civilian life.

SEC. 2.  

Section 980.7 is added to the Military and Veterans
Code, to read:

980.7.  

(a) (1) The Adjutant General may establish a Work for
Warriors program to serve unemployed and underemployed service
members, veterans, and military families in California.

(2) The program shall provide direct-placement job services to
all of the following:

(A) The California Military Department.

(B) The Army.

(C) The Navy.

(D) The Air Force.

(E) The Marine Corps.

(F) The Coast Guard Reserve.

(G) Veterans recently separated from active duty.

(H) Military spouses.

(I) Graduates of California National Guard Youth Programs.

(J) Dependents of veterans.

(3) The Adjutant General may accept federal funding to
supplement the Work for Warriors program. The Adjutant General
may appoint a director and other service members and employees,
permanent or temporary, to operate the program.

(b) (1) The Adjutant General may enter into a memorandum
of agreement with other state agencies, including, but not limited
to, the Employment Development Department, to operate the Work
for Warriors Program.

(2) The Employment Development Department may enter into
an interagency partnership with the Adjutant General for purposes
of the Work for Warriors program.