Title: An act relating to veterans' scoring criteria in examinations.

Brief Description: Revising veterans' scoring criteria in examinations.

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

Brief History: Passed House: 1/26/07, 96-0.

Committee Activity: Government Operations & Elections: 3/15/07, 3/22/07 [DPA].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ELECTIONS

Majority Report: Do pass as amended.Signed by Senators Fairley, Chair; Oemig, Vice Chair; Roach, Ranking Minority Member; Benton, Kline, Pridemore and Swecker.

Staff: Amy Van Horn (786-7784)

Background: Honorably discharged veterans receive a score adjustment on examinations taken to apply for state jobs, known as civil service exams. The Department of Personnel makes the score adjustment, adding five or ten percentage points to a veteran's test score depending on the veteran's status. The score adjustments apply only to initial hiring exams, and not exams taken to earn a promotion.

Summary of Bill: The score adjustment for eligible veterans must be applied to civil service exams whether the state hires a private company to administer the exams, or administers the exams itself.

EFFECT OF CHANGES MADE BY RECOMMENDED AMENDMENT(S) AS PASSED COMMITTEE (Government Operations & Elections): For veterans returning to employment with the state after active military service for one or more years, five percentage points will be added to the score of every promotional examination until the veteran's first promotion, instead of to the score of one promotional examination only.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: This is a technical fix and a good bill.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Representative Kelley, prime sponsor; Mike Partridge, Veterans Legislative Coalition.