BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS
Senator Jim Nielsen, Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular
Bill No: AB 930 Hearing Date: 6/23/15
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|Author: |Irwin |
|-----------+-----------------------------------------------------|
|Version: |4/16/15 Amended |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|Urgency: |No |Fiscal: |Yes |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|Consultant:|Wade Cooper Teasdale |
| | |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: Work for Warriors program.
DESCRIPTION
Summary:
Authorizes the Adjutant General (TAG) of California to establish
a Work for Warriors (WFW) program, to provide direct placement
job services to unemployed and underemployed service members,
veterans, graduates of state military youth programs, military
families and other related populations in California.
Existing law:
1)Establishes the California Military Department (CMD), which
shall include the Office of the Adjutant General (OTAG), the
California National Guard (CNG), State Military Reserve (SMR),
California Cadet Corps, and Naval Militia, and authorizes a
full-time state active duty (SAD) force.
2)Provides that the TAG shall serve as head of the CMD and shall
be responsible for the department's affairs, functions,
duties, funds, and property.
This bill:
1)Authorizes the TAG to establish a Work for Warriors (WFW)
program, to provide direct placement job services to
unemployed and underemployed military members, veterans, CMD
Youth program graduates, military families and related
populations.
AB 930 (Irwin) Page 2
of ?
a) Permits the CMD may accept federal funding to supplement
the WFW program.
b) Requires the CMD, if it establishes a WFW program, to
adopt regulations, rules, and guidelines as necessary to
implement the program.
1)Makes various findings and declarations regarding the WFW
program, to include:
a) Due to the downsizing of the Armed Forces, the number of
veterans entering the workforce is increasing
b) The WFW program provides direct-placement employment
services to California's veterans, military spouses and
dependents
c) Over 250 businesses in the state have partnered with the
WFW program
BACKGROUND
The program was established in 2012 with a grant from the
Speaker of the Assembly with the goal of increasing the
operational readiness of the CNG by reducing unemployment and
underemployment in the ranks. The Assembly has funded the state
portion at approximately $600,000 for three years. Federal
grant funds have provided $1 million for two years. The funding
allowed WFW to include California's military reservists and
recently separated veterans. AB 930 authorizes the department to
accept federal funds; if federal funds are no longer available,
the CMD will scale-down the program. The funds pay primarily for
uniformed SAD positions to run the WFW program.
According to the CMD:
1)The most successful program of its kind in the nation, the WFW
program has placed more than 3,900 veterans in new careers.
2)Due to the downsizing of the United States Armed Forces, the
number of veterans entering the workforce is increasing. The
WFW program is a key resource for veterans leaving active duty
and transitioning to private sector employment in California.
AB 930 (Irwin) Page 3
of ?
3)Based on its high success rate and low cost per placement, the
WFW 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 WFW 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 $750
(compared to other veteran employment programs that cost
$10,000 per placement), the WFW program is the most efficient
and cost-effective program available.
4)Over 250 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.
Work for Warriors uses the CNG chain of command as well as
social media and web services to communicate with service
members and veterans who qualify for the program. Social media
has allowed the WFW team to push information quickly to mobile
devices and computers so that members can be placed into jobs as
quickly as 24 hours.
From the CMD's WFW website :
Work for Warriors (WFW) is a State and Federally funded Free
Direct Placement Program within California. The intent of the
employment initiative branded "Work for Warriors" is aimed at
reducing the unemployment rate among California Service
Members (SMs) in the Guard and Reserve by directly placing
them into gainful fulltime employment. WFW is open to all
currently serving National Guard and DoD Reserve personnel,
Post 9/11Veterans, as well as Spouses and Gold Star Families.
In February 2012, The Adjutant General (TAG) of the California
National Guard, Major General David S. Baldwin, worked with
his Staff and the Speaker of the Assembly, John A. Perez, to
tackle the California National Guard unemployment rate and the
goal of reducing it by 25% in a year, which we accomplished
and exceeded. WFW has helped place just under 4000 Service
Members, Veterans and Spouses into gainful employment by our
three year anniversary. Additionally, WFW has over 250
business partners throughout the State of California.
AB 930 (Irwin) Page 4
of ?
A team of 18 Service Members and Veterans operate Work for
Warriors and are matching the skill sets of our highly
qualified Service Members, Veterans, and Spouses with the
needs of civilian employers. Businesses who want to hire
experienced Service Members will only have to contact our
Resource Managers who serve as the single point of contact for
employment needs.
The process followed by program applicants/candidates is as
follows:
1) Contact Work for Warriors (WFW).
2) WFW will match candidates with the skills and requirements
of the desired open positions.
3) WFW will critique and develop candidates' resumes.
4) WFW will help with interview prep.
5) WFW will continue to assist and conduct follow up
throughout the process.
COMMENT
Committee Staff Comments :
This legislation is permissive. The CMD indicates that if the
Administration and Legislature choose to continue the WFW
program beyond FY 2014-15, an annual appropriation of
approximately $670,000 & five SAD positions (PYs) would be
required. Without funding, the WFW program will be eliminated
and this state benefit will no longer be available to
California's service members and veterans.
POSITIONS
Sponsor: Author
Support:
American Legion - Department of California
AMVETS - Department of California
Jewish War Veterans
Military Officers Association of America - California Council of
Chapters
Military Order of the Purple Heart
Pacific Advisory Group
AB 930 (Irwin) Page 5
of ?
Reserve Officers Association of the United States
Veterans of Foreign Wars - Department of California
Vietnam Veterans of American - California State Council
Oppose: None received
-- END --