Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Securing Experienced Returning Veterans Employment Act of 2017” or the “SERVE Act”.
Securing Experienced Returning Veterans Employment Act of 2017
A BILL
To amend title 10, United States Code, to improve recordkeeping and information sharing with States regarding military training performed by members of the Armed Forces and other skills developed through military service that translate to civilian occupations to expedite the transition of veterans to post-military employment.
Sec. 2 Improved employment assistance for members of the Armed Forces and veterans
Improved Employment Skills Verification— Section 1143(a) of title 10, United States Code, is amended—
by inserting “(1)” before “The Secretary of Defense”; and
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
“(2) In order to improve the accuracy and completeness of a certification or verification of job skills and experience required by paragraph (1), the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy shall—
“(A) establish a database to record all training performed by members of the armed forces that may have application to employment in the civilian sector; and
“(B) make unclassified information regarding such information available to States and other potential employers referred to in subsection (c) so that State and other entities may allow military training to satisfy licensing or certification requirements to engage in a civilian profession.”
Improved accuracy of certificates of training and skills— Section 1143(a) of title 10, United States Code, is further amended by inserting after paragraph (2), as added by subsection (a), the following new paragraph:
“(3) The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy shall ensure that a certification or verification of job skills and experience required by paragraph (1) is rendered in such a way that States and other potential employers can confirm the accuracy and authenticity of the certification or verification.”
Improved responsiveness to certification requests— Section 1143(c) of title 10, United States Code, is amended—
by inserting “(1)” before “For the purpose”; and
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
“(2) A State may use a certification or verification of job skills and experience provided to a member of the armed forces under subsection (a) and request the Department of Defense or the Coast Guard, as the case may be, to confirm the accuracy and authenticity of the certification or verification. A response confirming or denying the information shall be provided within five business days.”
Improved portability of certificates of training and skills— Section 1143 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
“(e) Portability—A certification or verification of job skills and experience provided to a member of the armed forces under subsection (a) and accepted by a State to satisfy licensing or certification requirements to engage in a civilian profession shall be valid in all States once used in the accepting States.”
Improved notice to members— Section 1142(b)(4)(A) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting before the semicolon the following: “, including State-submitted and approved lists of military training and skills that satisfy occupational certifications and licenses”.