<p> 1 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.67 2 2001 Page 1 3 4 1 H.67</p><p>2 Introduced by Representatives Obuchowski of Rockingham and Partridge of </p><p>3 Windham</p><p>4 Referred to Committee on </p><p>5 Date: </p><p>6 Subject: Labor; state employees; veterans’ preference </p><p>7 Statement of purpose: This bill proposes to provide an absolute preference for </p><p>8 state jobs to otherwise qualified veterans, veterans’ surviving spouses, and </p><p>9 spouses of totally service-connected disabled veterans.</p><p>10 AN ACT RELATING TO A VETERANS’ PREFERENCE</p><p>11 It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: </p><p>12 Sec. 1. 3 V.S.A. § 310(f) is amended to read:</p><p>13 (f) The classification and compensation plan and the rules and regulations </p><p>14 for personnel administration shall be based on merit system principles and </p><p>15 shall provide for compliance with the laws relating to preference granted to </p><p>16 qualified persons who have served in the armed forces of the United States and</p><p>17 received honorable discharge so that veterans, veterans’ widows or widowers, </p><p>18 and spouses of totally service-connected disabled veterans who meet the </p><p>19 requirements for any open competitive examination and who receive a passing </p><p>20 score shall have five points added to their competitive examination rating, and </p><p>5 www.leg.state.vt.us 1 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.67 2 2001 Page 2 3 4 1 service-connected disabled veterans, veterans’ widows or widowers, and </p><p>2 spouses of totally service-connected disabled veterans who meet the </p><p>3 requirements for any open competitive examination and who receive a passing </p><p>4 score shall have ten points added to their competitive examination rating, </p><p>5 subject to the provisions contained in section 1543 of Title 20 receive absolute </p><p>6 preference. If more than one person is entitled to an absolute preference under </p><p>7 this subsection, the position shall be offered to the most qualified applicant, </p><p>8 and the appointing authority shall state in writing his or her reasons for hiring </p><p>9 the person chosen. This statement shall be placed in the employee’s personnel </p><p>10 file. </p><p>11 Sec. 2. 20 V.S.A. § 1543 is amended to read:</p><p>12 § 1543. PREFERENCES IN APPOINTMENT TO STATE POSITIONS </p><p>13 In certification for appointment, in appointment, in employing, in retention </p><p>14 of employment position, whether in classified or unclassified civil service, </p><p>15 whether for temporary or for extended time, wherever state funds furnish the </p><p>16 payroll, and to the fullest extent permitted by law, absolute preference shall be </p><p>17 given to: </p><p>18 (1) those ex-service personnel who have served on active duty in any </p><p>19 branch of the armed forces of the United States and have been separated </p><p>20 therefrom under honorable conditions and who have established the present </p><p>21 existence of a service-connected disability or who are receiving compensation, </p><p>5 www.leg.state.vt.us 1 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.67 2 2001 Page 3 3 4 1 or disability retirement benefits by reason of public laws administered by the </p><p>2 veterans administration, or the department of defense;</p><p>3 (2) the spouses of such service-connected disabled ex-servicemen or </p><p>4 women as have themselves been unable to qualify for any civil service </p><p>5 appointment by reason of their disability; </p><p>6 (3) the unmarried widows or widowers of deceased ex-service personnel</p><p>7 who served on active duty in any branch of the armed forces of the United </p><p>8 States during any war, or in any campaign or expedition (for which a campaign</p><p>9 badge has been authorized), or during the period specified in subdivision (5) of</p><p>10 this section and who were separated therefrom under honorable conditions; and</p><p>11 (4) those ex-service personnel who have served on active duty in any </p><p>12 branch of the armed forces of the United States, during any war, or in any </p><p>13 campaign or expedition (for which a campaign badge has been authorized), </p><p>14 and have been separated therefrom under honorable conditions; and </p><p>15 (5) those ex-service personnel who have served on active duty in any </p><p>16 branch of the armed forces of the United States during the period beginning </p><p>17 July 1, 1955, and have been separated from the armed forces under honorable </p><p>18 conditions.</p><p>5 www.leg.state.vt.us</p>