HF 453 (LSB 1442HV (1) 85)

HOUSE FILE 453

BY  COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS

(SUCCESSOR TO HSB 123)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to veterans preferences in certain appointments made by counties and cities and making penalties applicable.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 35C.1, subsection 1, Code 2013, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  In every public department and upon all public works in the state, and of the counties, cities, and school corporations of the state, veterans who are citizens and residents of the United States are entitled to preference in appointment and employment over other applicants of no greater qualifications.

The preference in appointment and employment for deputy county sheriffs is the same as provided in section 341A.8A. The preference in appointment and employment for employees of cities under a municipal civil service is the same as provided in section 400.10. For purposes of this section, “veteran” means as defined in section 35.1 except that the requirement that the person be a resident of this state shall not apply.
    Sec. 2.  NEW SECTION.  341A.6A  Veteran eligibility.
   If a veteran entitled to preference pursuant to section 341A.8A has been honorably discharged between forty-five days before and sixty days after an examination or test is administered under section 341A.6, the commission may allow the veteran to be subject to such examination or testing up to ninety days following the date that the original examination or testing was conducted and if appropriate shall add the veteran’s name and address to the eligibility list for a vacant position pursuant to section 341A.13.
    Sec. 3.  NEW SECTION.  341A.8A  Preferences.
   In all examinations and appointments under this chapter, veterans who are citizens and residents of the United States, shall have five percentage points added to the veteran’s grade or score attained in qualifying examinations or tests for appointment to positions and five additional percentage points added to the grade or score if the veteran has a service-connected disability or is receiving compensation, disability benefits, or pension under laws administered by the United States department of veterans affairs. An honorably discharged veteran who has been awarded the Purple Heart incurred in action shall be considered to have a service-connected disability. However, the percentage points shall be given only upon passing the exam and shall not be the determining factor in passing. Veteran’s preference percentage points shall be applied once to the final scores used to rank applicants for selection for an interview. For purposes of this section, “veteran” means as defined in section 35.1 except that the requirement that the person be a resident of this state shall not apply.
    Sec. 4.  Section 400.10, Code 2013, is amended to read as follows:
   400.10  Preferences.
   1.  In all examinations and appointments under this chapter, other than promotions and appointments of chief of the police department and chief of the fire department, veterans who are citizens and residents of the United States, shall have five percentage points added to the veteran’s grade or score attained in qualifying examinations for appointment to positions and five additional percentage points added to the grade or score if the veteran has a service-connected disability or is receiving compensation, disability benefits, or pension under laws administered by the United States department of veterans affairs. An honorably discharged veteran who has been awarded the Purple Heart incurred in action shall be considered to have a service-connected disability. However, the percentage points shall be given only upon passing the exam and shall not be the determining factor in passing. Veteran’s preference percentage points shall be applied once to the final scores used to rank applicants for selection for an interview. For purposes of this section, “veteran” means as defined in section 35.1 except that the requirement that the person be a resident of this state shall not apply.
   2.  If a veteran entitled to preference pursuant to this section has been honorably discharged between forty-five days before and sixty days after an examination is administered pursuant to section 400.8, the commission may allow the veteran to be subject to examination up to ninety days following the date the original examination was administered and if appropriate shall add the veteran’s name to the list for original appointment pursuant to section 400.11, subsection 1.
EXPLANATION
   This bill relates to military veterans preferences in certain appointments made by counties and cities.
   The bill provides a preference of five percentage points for veterans in the appointment of deputy sheriffs under Code chapter 341A. The bill further provides an additional preference of five percentage points for veterans with service-connected disabilities and for veterans who have been awarded the Purple Heart incurred in action. The bill also provides that if a veteran is entitled to preference and has been honorably discharged between 45 days before and 60 days after an examination or a test is administered, the commission may allow the veteran to be subject to such examination or testing within 90 days following the original testing, and if appropriate shall add the veteran’s name and address to the eligibility list for vacant positions.
   The bill also provides that if a veteran is entitled to preference in city civil service employment and has been honorably discharged between 45 days before and 60 days after an examination is administered, the city civil service commission may allow the veteran to be subject to such examination within 90 days following the original examination, and if appropriate shall add the veteran’s name to the list for original appointment.