California Assembly Bill 372 improves opportunities for military veterans seeking jobs with the state by eliminating a Vietnam-era policy that prevented them from earning preference for civil service positions requiring a bachelor's degree and two years of experience. It also ensures that every veteran who earns a qualifying score on an open, nonpromotional state civil service exam gets placed on the hiring list.
The bill passed both houses of the state Legislature with bipartisan support and no organized opposition.
"In general, it's good policy. As our world has changed, our laws should change too," assemblywoman Susan Talamantes Eggman said.
"During the Vietnam War, the state excluded veterans on the justification that granting them preference for service undermined the principle of merit. Service is merit," she said.