Assembly Bill 556 amends the FEHA to add "military and veteran status" to the list of categories protected from employment discrimination. "Military and veteran status" is defined by the Act as "a member or veteran of the United States Armed Forces, United States Armed Forces Reserve, the United States National Guard, and the California National Guard." The new law provides an exemption for any inquiry by an employer regarding military or veteran status for the purpose of awarding a veteran's preference as permitted by law.