OCSEA VP testifies on Veterans Department bill

March 11, 2008 - OCSEA Vice President Chris Mabe was scheduled this afternoon to deliver testimony before the Senate Finance Committee to express the union's concerns regarding the creation of a new veterans agency.

Gov. Strickland recently announced that he would create a stand-alone department for veterans services to consolidate veterans programs into one cabinet-level agency.

Now, Sen. Spada (R) has introduced SB 289 to do just that.

As currently written, however, the bill contains few details about the new agency’s structure, including whether Ohio Veterans Homes operations would fall under the new department or if Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) “Vet Reps” would be housed under the new structure.

Mabe, who is a military veteran of the Iraq conflict and the chair of the OCSEA Veterans Advisory Committee, says, in general, the union supports the consolidation of various state agencies providing veterans' services.

"We currently represent over 800 veterans who are employed by the state of Ohio," Mabe said. "The interests of these individuals have a commonality with other veterans, but also, as veterans, have issues which affect bargaining unit members that cannot be addressed through the collective bargaining process."

However, the union shared a few concerns with legislators.

"As drafted, SB 289, establishes a new requirement that all employees of the new cabinet level veterans' agency be military veterans or from the families of military veterans," Mabe noted in his prepared remarks. "I admire the sentiment behind this language. We should seek to reward those who have served the United States of America and the family members of those who served.

Mabe added, "Federal law does not recognize 'veteran status' as a bona fide occupational qualification for these positions. Rather than create an absolute ban on non-veterans (or non-veteran family members) serving in the department, we recommend that the language be changed to give a preference for veterans and their family members."

The union wants the law to:

• Allow the transfer or grandfathering of all OVH and Governor's Office of Veterans' Affairs employees to the new Department of Veterans Affairs.

• Include an OCSEA representative seat on the Veterans Advisory Committee set forth in the statute.

Mabe also told the committee that OCSEA would like the opportunity to address any further recommendations submitted by Gov. Strickland.

The union will continue to monitor the situation closely.

See Related

Prepared Remarks of OCSEA VP Chris Mabe for Testimony before the Senate Finance Committee (PDF)

SB 289 - Bill Analysis and Summary (PDF)

Gov. Strickland Executive Order on creation of new veteran affairs agency (PDF)