SF 446 (LSB 2252SV (2) 86)

SENATE FILE 446

BY  COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS

(SUCCESSOR TO SF 288)

A BILL FOR

An Act related to public sector preferences for veterans in appointment and employment.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  8A.403  Veterans preferences.

   The department shall administer and enforce the laws of this state under chapter 35C.
    Sec. 2.  Section 35C.1, subsections 1, 3, and 4, Code 2015, are 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 all jobs of the state and its political subdivisions filled by appointment or examination, 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 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.
   3.  In all jobs of the state and its political subdivisions of the state which that are to be filled by competitive examination or by appointment, public notice of the application deadline to fill a job shall be posted at least ten days before the deadline in the same manner as notices of meetings are posted under section 21.4.
   4.  For jobs in of the state and its political subdivisions of the state that are filled through a point-rated qualifying examination, the preference afforded to veterans shall be equivalent to that provided for municipal civil service systems in section 400.10 35C.3A.
    Sec. 3.  Section 35C.1, subsection 2, paragraph a, Code 2015, is amended to read as follows:
   a.  In all jobs of the state and its political subdivisions, an application form shall be completed. The application form shall contain an inquiry into the applicant’s military service during the wars or armed conflicts as specified in subsection 1.  The state and each of its political subdivisions shall provide each applicant who indicates the applicant’s status as a veteran under this section with the written statement developed pursuant to subsection 5.
    Sec. 4.  Section 35C.1, Code 2015, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  5.  The department of administrative services, in consultation with the office of the attorney general, shall develop a written statement which sets forth in simple and nontechnical terms the rights and duties contained in this chapter. The written statement shall be posted and remain posted on the attorney general’s internet site and the internet sites of the department of veterans affairs and the department of administrative services.
    Sec. 5.  NEW SECTION.  35C.3A  Preferences.

   In all examinations and appointments under this chapter, other than promotions or the appointment of a chief of police or chief of a fire department, veterans who are citizens and residents of the United States, shall have five preference points added to the veteran’s grade or score attained in qualifying examinations or tests for appointment to positions and five additional preference points added to the grade or score if the veteran has a service-connected disability or is receiving compensation, disability benefits, or pension benefits under laws administered by the United States department of veterans affairs. However, the preference points shall be given only upon passing the exam and shall not be the determining factor in passing. Veteran’s preference 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. 6.  NEW SECTION.  35C.9  Administration —— enforcement.

   The department of administrative services shall administer and enforce the provisions of this chapter.
    Sec. 7.  REPEAL.  Section 400.10, Code 2015, is repealed.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with

the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to appointment and employment preferences for veterans in the public sector.
   The bill amends Code chapter 35C (veterans preference) to provide that for all jobs of the state and its political subdivisions filled by appointment or examination, 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 and repeals the veterans preferences in city employment that are contained in Code section 400.10.
   The bill provides a preference of five preference points for veterans in all examinations and appointments by the state and its political subdivisions except for promotions or appointment of a chief of police or a chief of a fire department. The bill further provides an additional preference of five points for veterans with service-connected disabilities. 
   The bill requires that the department of administrative services, in consultation with the attorney general, develop a written statement that sets forth the rights and duties contained in Code chapter 35C, and requires that the statement be provided to certain applicants for all state and political subdivision jobs.
   The bill requires that the department of administrative services administer and enforce the provisions of Code chapter 35C.