SECTION 1.
(a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(1) Established in 2012 with a grant from the Speaker of the Assembly, the California Military Department’s Work for Warriors program provides direct-placement employment services to California’s veterans, military spouses, and dependents.
(2) The most successful program of its kind in the nation, the Work for Warriors program has placed more than 3,900 veterans in new careers.
(3) Due to the downsizing of the United States Armed Forces, the number of veterans entering the workforce is increasing. The Work for Warriors program is a key resource for veterans leaving active duty and transitioning to private sector employment in California.
(4) Based on its high success rate and low cost per placement, the Work for Warriors program is the most effective veterans’ job placement program in the country. At present, there are nearly 120,000 service members eligible for assistance from the Work for Warriors program residing within the state. This number nearly doubles when estimating spouses’ job placement services and triples when considering dependent job placement. Already the lowest cost program in the country, with a per-placement cost of $750 (compared to other veteran employment programs that cost $10,000 per placement), the Work for Warriors program is the most efficient and cost-effective program available.
(5) Over 250 leading businesses in the state are partnered with the Work for Warriors program. These companies understand the benefit of hiring a veteran, as they receive employees that are disciplined, selfless leaders.
(6) Subject to the availability of funding, the Employment Development Department may resource and partner with the Work for Warriors program to supplement the state’s existing veteran employment programs.
(b) It is the intent of the Legislature to codify the California Military Department’s Work for Warriors program and establish an interagency relationship between the program and the Employment Development Department to better serve California’s veterans as they transition from military to civilian life.