SACRAMENTO– Assemblyman James Gallagher (R-Yuba City) has co-authored bi-partisan legislation that will expand employment opportunities for military families and veterans. Assembly Bill 225 will require regulatory board to grant licenses to honorably discharged veterans and spouses of active duty military members so long as they hold a current, active, and unrestricted license in another state.

“Military members and their spouses should not have to start all over in their professions just because they move to a new state,” said Gallagher. “If someone is licensed, has experience in the field, and has a clean record, they should be able to work in California” Active duty military spouses face exceptionally high unemployment and underemployment rates at 24% and 31% respectively. California’s burdensome licensing requirements only further add to the challenges faced by military spouses serving in professions with occupational license requirements. Even with valid licenses from other states, they must still clear costly and time-consuming regulatory hurdles.

“The passage of California AB 225 will make an impact to thousands military spouses seeking to be part of California’s workforce in their licensed profession”, according to Janice Soohoo Nall, Chair of the Beale Military Liaison Council and Co-Chair of the California Defense Communities Alliance. “With this important legislation we have the ability to improve the quality of life of the more than 162,000 active duty personnel who serve our nation selflessly.”