Veterans

Veterans discharged solely under Executive Order 14183 gain access to expedited professional licensing. The law also broadens and makes free discharge-upgrade assistance and creates a housing-support grant program, subject to legislative funding.

What the law does ​

• Requires Department of Consumer Affairs boards to expedite, and allows them to assist with, initial individual licenses for veterans discharged solely under Executive Order 14183.
• Delays this licensing requirement until June 1, 2027, for the Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensers Board.
• Requires the Department of Consumer Affairs to report licensing application and outcome data for these veterans.
• Requires free education and application assistance through the Veteran’s Military Discharge Upgrade Grant Program.
• Expands priority for discharge-upgrade and housing-support services to veterans regardless of discharge status whose service characterization was connected to specified behavioral health conditions, traumatic brain injury, sexual assault or harassment, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
• Establishes the Veteran’s Housing and Supportive Services Grant Program to fund free housing supports, subject to legislative appropriation.

Who it affects ​

• Veterans discharged solely under Executive Order 14183 who seek an individual professional license.
• Veterans seeking discharge upgrades or housing supports, including those with less-than-honorable discharges connected to specified conditions or experiences.
• Service providers receiving state grants to provide discharge-upgrade or housing-support services.

Context ​

The grant programs depend on money appropriated by the Legislature.