BILL ANALYSIS
AB 1729
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Date of Hearing: April 13, 2010
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS
Paul J. Cook, Chair
AB 1729 (Yamada) - As Amended: March 18, 2010
SUBJECT : Civil service examinations: veterans' preference.
SUMMARY : This bill would extend the time in which a member of
the Armed Forces
may receive the additional points up to 12 months after the
establishment of the employment list.
EXISTING LAW :
1. Provides that veteran's preference points are provided
in open civil service examinations and open nonpromotional
entrance examinations for classifications, as specified.
In order to be eligible for veterans preference points, the
person's discharge from the military must have been
classified as other than dishonorable.
2. States that if a member of the Armed Forces successfully
passes a state civil service examination and becomes
qualified for the veterans' preference within 6 months
after the establishment of the employment list, he or she
is entitled to receive the additional points at that time.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown.
COMMENTS : An open examination is one in which any applicant
inside or outside state service, who meets the minimum
qualifications, may apply and participate. According to the
SPB, the best use of an open examination plan is when the
examination is for entry-level, specialized, or technical
classifications, and the qualified candidate group is found
outside of state service. For open examinations, current law
allows veteran's preference points for disabled veterans of 15
points and 10 points for all other veterans, widows or widowers
of veterans, and spouses of disabled veterans. Additionally,
current law provides the veteran's preference points to an
active duty member of the Armed Forces who successfully passes a
state civil service examination and becomes qualified for the
veterans' preference within 6 months after the establishment of
the employment list.
AB 1729
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An open, nonpromotional examination is one in which state
employees and other applicants who are successful in the
examination are placed on one eligible list. According to the
SPB, an open, nonpromotional exam plan is best used when there
is an identified promotional candidate group within state
service; however, expanded competition including outside
candidates is likely to produce a more highly qualified group,
and is consistent with the needs of the state. Open,
nonpromotional examinations are not administered for
classifications that are designated as managerial by the
Department of Personnel Administration. For open,
nonpromotional entrance examinations, current law allows
veteran's preference points for disabled veterans of 10 points
and 5 points for all other veterans.
A veteran must apply for this credit and meet eligibility
guidelines that require documentation that the military
discharged or released the service member under conditions other
than dishonorable (DD 214 form) before the State Personnel Board
reflects the credits on the employment eligibility list the next
time a list is published.
According to the author it can take veterans, for various
reasons, longer than the six-month period to learn about the
preference. In addition, the military can take longer than six
months to replace a lost DD 214 form. The bill will assist
veterans with their re-entry into the job market and veterans
who must replace their DD 214. This will be done by extending
the period veterans have to submit their DD 214 to the State
Personnel Board from 6 months to 12 months to qualify for
veterans' preference credits.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
American Legion, Department of California
AMVETS, Department of California
California Association of County Veterans Service Officers
Vietnam Veterans of America, CA State Council
Opposition
None on file.
AB 1729
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Analysis Prepared by : Eric Worthen / V. A. / (916) 319-3550