Better Jobs for Veterans Act of 2017

To make certain improvements relating to the hiring and employment of members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and their spouses, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Better Jobs for Veterans Act of 2017 2. Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (a) Permanent program Section 211 of the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011 ( Public Law 112–56 38 U.S.C. 4100 (1) in subsection (a)(2)(B), by striking the period beginning October 1, 2012, and ending March 31, 2014 each subsequent fiscal year that the program is carried out (2) by striking subsection (k). (b) Conforming amendments Such section is further amended— (1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking Not later than July 1, 2012, the The (2) in subsection (b), by striking Except as provided by subsection (k), each Each (3) in subsection (e)(1)(G), by striking by not later than October 1, 2013, (4) by striking subsection (i); and (5) by redesignating subsections (j) and (l) as subsections (i) and (j), respectively. 3. Improved employment assistance for members of the Armed Forces and veterans (a) Improved employment skills verification Section 1143(a) of title 10, United States Code, is amended— (1) by inserting (1) The Secretary of Defense (2) 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. . (b) 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. . (c) Improved responsiveness to certification requests Section 1143(c) of title 10, United States Code, is amended— (1) by inserting (1) For the purpose (2) 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. . (d) 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. . (e) 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 4. Work opportunity credit to small businesses for hiring members of Ready Reserve or National Guard (a) In general Section 51(d)(1) or , or (K) in the case of an eligible employer (as defined in section 408(p)(2)(C)(i)), an individual who is a member of— (i) the Ready Reserve (as described in section 10142 of title 10, United States Code), or (ii) the National Guard (as defined in section 101(c)(1) of such title 10). . (b) Effective date (1) In general The amendment made by this section shall apply to wages paid or incurred after the date of the enactment of this Act in taxable years ending after such date. (2) Current employees covered by credit For purposes of applying section 51 5. Permanent extension of work opportunity credit for employers hiring qualified veterans and members of Ready Reserve and National Guard (a) In general Section 51(c)(4) (other than any individual described in subparagraph (B) or (K) of subsection (d)(1)) individual (b) Effective date The amendment made by this section shall apply to individuals who begin work for the employer after December 31, 2016. 6. Eligibility of spouses of military personnel for the work opportunity credit (a) In general Section 51(d)(1) or , or (L) a qualified military spouse. . (b) Qualified military spouse Section 51(d) of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (16) Qualified military spouse The term qualified military spouse . (c) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply to amounts paid or incurred after the date of the enactment of this Act to individuals who begin work for the employer after such date.

Summary: Better Jobs for Veterans Act of 2017 This bill amends provisions with respect to the hiring of veterans, members of the Armed Forces, and their spouses. The bill extends the veterans retraining assistance program, which provides job training assistance to unemployed veterans between the ages of 35-60. The Department of Defense must establish a database to record training performed by members of the Armed Forces and make such information available to states and other employers to satisfy civilian licensing or certification requirements. The bill extends the work opportunity tax credit to the hiring of members of the Ready Reserve or the National Guard or the hiring of the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces. (The work opportunity tax credit permits employers who hire individuals who are members of a targeted group to claim a tax credit equal to a portion of the wages paid to those individuals.)