H.67

Introduced by Representatives Obuchowski of Rockingham and Partridge of Windham

Referred to Committee on

Date:

Subject: Labor; state employees; veterans’ preference

Statement of purpose: This bill proposes to provide an absolute preference for state jobs to otherwise qualified veterans, veterans’ surviving spouses, and spouses of totally service-connected disabled veterans.

AN ACT RELATING TO A VETERANS’ PREFERENCE

It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:

Sec. 1. 3 V.S.A. § 310(f) is amended to read:

(f) The classification and compensation plan and the rules and regulations for personnel administration shall be based on merit system principles and shall provide for compliance with the laws relating to preference granted to qualified persons who have served in the armed forces of the United States and received honorable discharge so that veterans, veterans’ widows or widowers, and spouses of totally service-connected disabled veterans who meet the requirements for any open competitive examination and who receive a passing score shall *[have five points added to their competitive examination rating, and service-connected disabled veterans, veterans’ widows or widowers, and spouses of totally service-connected disabled veterans who meet the requirements for any open competitive examination and who receive a passing score shall have ten points added to their competitive examination rating, subject to the provisions contained in section 1543 of Title 20]* receive absolute preference. If more than one person is entitled to an absolute preference under this subsection, the position shall be offered to the most qualified applicant, and the appointing authority shall state in writing his or her reasons for hiring the person chosen. This statement shall be placed in the employee’s personnel file.

Sec. 2. 20 V.S.A. § 1543 is amended to read:

§ 1543. PREFERENCES IN APPOINTMENT TO STATE POSITIONS

In certification for appointment, in appointment, in employing, in retention of employment position, whether in classified or unclassified civil service, whether for temporary or for extended time, wherever state funds furnish the payroll, and to the fullest extent permitted by law, absolute preference shall be given to:

(1) those ex-service personnel who have served on active duty in any branch of the armed forces of the United States and have been separated therefrom under honorable conditions and who have established the present existence of a service-connected disability or who are receiving compensation, or disability retirement benefits by reason of public laws administered by the veterans administration, or the department of defense;

(2) the spouses of such service-connected disabled ex-servicemen or women as have themselves been unable to qualify for any civil service appointment by reason of their disability;

(3) the unmarried widows or widowers of deceased ex-service personnel who served on active duty in any branch of the armed forces of the United States during any war, or in any campaign or expedition (for which a campaign badge has been authorized), or during the period specified in subdivision (5) of this section and who were separated therefrom under honorable conditions; and

(4) those ex-service personnel who have served on active duty in any branch of the armed forces of the United States, during any war, or in any campaign or expedition (for which a campaign badge has been authorized), and have been separated therefrom under honorable conditions; and

(5) those ex-service personnel who have served on active duty in any branch of the armed forces of the United States during the period beginning July 1, 1955, and have been separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions.