Brief Description: Revising veterans' scoring criteria in examinations.

Sponsors: By Representatives Kelley, Morrell, Haigh, Miloscia, Hunt, Seaquist, Conway, P. Sullivan, McDonald, Haler, Moeller, B. Sullivan, Campbell and Hurst.

House Committee on State Government & Tribal Affairs
Senate Committee on Government Operations & Elections

Background:

State law provides that honorably discharged veterans receive preference in public employment. Some public employment positions require applicants to take a competitive examination. In those cases, preference is given to veterans by adding a certain percentage to the passing mark, grade, or rating of an examination. When scoring competitive exams, the state, including all of its political subdivisions and municipal corporations, must give the scoring criteria status (preference), as provided for in statute, to qualified veterans. Among various preferences is a 5 percent addition for certain veterans returning to public employment, which is added to the first promotional exam.

Summary:

Agencies or private companies who are contracted to administer competitive examinations for public employment are included in the list of entities that must give veterans who take a competitive examination the statutory scoring preference.

For veterans returning to public employment after more than one year of active service, 5 percentage points will be added to the score of any promotional examination until the veterans first promotion.

Votes on Final Passage:

House   96   0
Senate   45   0   (Senate amended)
House   95   0   (House concurred)

Effective: July 22, 2007