Veterans’ preferences: voluntary policy.
Should AB 1477 be enacted, it would revise existing provisions regarding employment discrimination based on veteran status. Specifically, the bill removes certain references from FEHA that currently complicate the legal landscape for veterans' hiring practices. By providing that a veterans preference policy does not violate local or state equal employment opportunity laws, the bill aims to facilitate employers' ability to prioritize the hiring of veterans. This is significant for veterans who might otherwise face challenges transitioning to civilian employment.
Assembly Bill 1477, introduced by Assembly Member Brough, seeks to amend the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) by enacting the Voluntary Veterans Preference Employment Policy Act. The main objective of this bill is to allow private employers to implement a veterans preference policy in hiring. This means that employers could give voluntary preference to veterans when selecting candidates for employment or retaining employees, thus promoting veteran employment opportunities. The bill proposes uniform application across hiring decisions and establishes guidelines for the implementation of such a policy.
Despite its positive intentions, AB 1477 raises concerns regarding potential discrimination against non-veteran applicants. Critics argue that while the promotion of veteran hiring is important, granting preference could inadvertently lead to reduced opportunities for equally qualified candidates who are not veterans. The bill includes provisions that prohibit using veterans preference as a means of discrimination against applicants from protected classes; however, opponents are wary that the specifics of implementing these safeguards may not be sufficiently robust to prevent discriminatory practices in hiring.