1 minute
Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R-Yucaipa) has announced that Senate Bill 943 that would require the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) to waive appropriate civil service bachelor’s degree requirements for U.S. veterans who served at the classification of E-6 or higher for more than two years, unanimously passed the Senate Military and Veterans Affairs Committee.
“Our veterans are experienced public servants, and we can only benefit from recognizing their unique potential,” said Senator Ochoa Bogh. “I am pleased my colleagues agreed that SB 943 would unleash this untapped potential and help fill critical vacancies and attract top talent into California’s civil service.”
California is home to 8% of U.S. veterans and 30,000 new veterans will be discharged each year, more than any other state. However, the number of veterans per capita has decreased by 48% between 2000 and 2016.
The California Civil Service is losing a significant share of its veteran workforce due to the aging veteran population and veterans leaving California. In 2021, the number of veterans who retired from state civil service was more than three times higher than those hired.
SB 943 will incentivize more veterans to remain in California and fill vacant civil service positions by requiring CalHR to identify which classifications are appropriate for waiving bachelor’s degree requirements for veterans who served at a level of E-6 or higher for more than two years. SB 943 will also require CalHR to create and implement the waiver by July 1, 2026.
By removing educational barriers to entry into the civil service sector, SB 943 will help address both the exodus of veterans out of California and the civil service workforce shortage.