Space Force.

Existing law defines "Armed Forces" as including the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and other entities, and defines "veteran" as including members or veterans of those entities, as specified, for various purposes, including the allocation of merit points for civil service hiring practices and for state aid and protections for veterans. Existing law makes a violation of various protections for veterans punishable as a crime. This bill would amend those provisions to also include the United States Space Force among the lists of Armed Forces entities, the lists of those entities for the purposes of the definitions of veteran, and among other lists of military entities, as specified. By expanding the scope of a crime, this bill would create a state-mandated local program. The bill would additionally amend other provisions to include the Air Force among the lists of entities. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.