HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                      Olympia, Washington

Bill Analysis      Bill No. SB 6173

Veterans= preference/eight years                 Hrg Date: 2/24/98 

Brief Title

Senators McCaslin/Fairley/Bauer                      Staff Contact: S. Lundin

Sponsor                                    Comm. on Govt. Admin.

                                           Phone: 786-7127

BACKGROUND:

The only preference given persons in various systems of civil service employment for the state and local governments is provided to veterans.  Veterans who pass competitive civil service examinations are provided a preference by adding the following percentages to their scores, where a perfect test score is 100 percentage points:

oTen percent is added to the passing score for the first appointment of a veteran but not a promotional appointment, if the veteran is not receiving veterans= retirement payments.  A veteran must claim this preference within eight years of being released from active service.

oFive percent is added to the passing score for the first appointment of a veteran but not a promotional appointment, if the veteran is receiving veterans= retirement payments.  A veteran must claim this preference within eight years of being released from active service.

oFive percent is added to the passing score for the first promotional examination of a veteran who, after previously having been employed by the state or a local government, is called or recalled to active military service for at least one year during any period of a war.  A veteran must claim this preference within 90 days of separation or within 90 days of being released from a hospital, if the hospitalization does not continue for more than one year.

SUMMARY:

A veteran may use the preference for initial appointment to a civil service position at any time after release from active service, rather than only within eight years of release from active service.

FISCAL NOTE:   Not requested.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.