BILL ANALYSIS �
SB 1563
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Date of Hearing: June 26, 2012
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS
Paul J. Cook, Chair
SB 1563 (Cannella) - As Amended: February 24, 2012
SENATE VOTE: 38-0
SUBJECT : Civil service examinations: veterans' preference
SUMMARY : Requires that a veteran who has completed acceptable
training in the United States Armed Forces as a peace officer
shall receive 15 preference points in an examination for an open
peace officer position in state employment and states
legislative intent with regard to veterans' abilities to become
state peace officers.
Specifically, this bill allows a veteran who has completed
acceptable training in the United States Armed Forces as a peace
officer to receive an additional 15 points upon obtaining a
passing score on an open entrance examination for a peace
officer position in state civil service.
EXISTING LAW :
1) Establishes the state civil service system, which requires a
hiring process that is to be based on merit ascertained by
competitive examination.
2) Allows state employing agencies to hold open exams for
nonpromotional positions in civil service, in which applicants
receive points, and based on their scores are placed on ranked
hiring lists and are then eligible to be hired into state
civil service.
3) Identifies certain groups of individuals who shall receive
additional points based on their status or prior experience,
after becoming eligible for a hiring list by obtaining a
passing score on an open, nonpromotional exam.
4) Establishes a number of provisions that provide additional
exam points for veterans, disabled veterans, spouses of 100
percent disabled veterans, and widows and widowers of veterans
who obtain passing scores on state civil service exams.
SB 1563
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5)Allows a veteran to have 10 points added, and allows a
disabled veteran to have 15 points added, to a passing score
on an open, nonpromotional exam
FISCAL EFFECT : Senate Appropriations Committee determined that
there was either no cost to the state or minimal costs, pursuant
to Rule 28.8.
COMMENTS :
According to the author,
While unemployment levels in California are high, the
unemployment levels for veterans are even higher. Returning
veterans are at a disadvantage in finding employment upon
return from their military service since much of the
training they receive while in military service does not
correlate with civilian career fields. Military police
training does correlate to the peace officer field, and
this bill seeks to assist returning veterans with this
training in pursuing peace officer positions.
There are some military occupational specialties, for example,
Military Police and Military Corrections Officer, which have
training requirements similar in varying degrees to those which
some California Peace Officers must complete. Recognizing such
training and experience in the state examination process both
makes sense and advances the goal of reducing veteran
unemployment.
Suggestions for clarification:
1. Consider clarifying what entity (for example, the
Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training) will
determine what training will support the award of the
additional preference points.
2. Consider specifying what training will support the
award.
3. Consider clarifying or deleting "as peace officers" as
used in 18978(a)(2) to avoid confusion, as this term is
defined in California statute in California Penal Code
section 803, et. seq.
SB 1563
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REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
American Legion Department of California, Co-sponsor
Vietnam Veterans of America, California State Council,
Co-sponsor
AMVETS Department of California, Co-sponsor
California Association of County Veterans Service Officers
California State Commanders Veterans Council
Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office
Opposition
None on File.
Analysis Prepared by : John Spangler / V. A. / (916) 319-3550