SSB 1242 (LSB 2406XC (2) 86)

SENATE FILE _____

BY  (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS BILL BY CHAIRPERSON HORN)

A BILL FOR

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

    Section 1.  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. 2.  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 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 benefits 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. 3.  NEW SECTION.  35C.9  Administration —— enforcement.

   The department of workforce development shall administer and enforce the provisions of this chapter.
    Sec. 4.  Section 84A.5, Code 2015, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  12.  The department of workforce development shall administer and enforce the laws of this state under chapter 35C.
    Sec. 5.  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 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 under Code chapter 35C and repeals the veterans preferences in city employment that are contained in Code section 400.10.
   The bill also provides a preference of five percentage points for veterans in all examinations and appointments by the state and its political subdivisions except for in promotions or in the appointment of a chief of police or a chief of fire department. 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 requires that the department of workforce development administer and enforce the provisions of Code chapter 35C.