Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

State Government & Tribal Affairs Committee

HB 1050

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Description: Adjusting veterans' scoring criteria.

Sponsors: Representatives Kelley, Hope, Rolfes, Johnson, Angel, Dammeier, Conway, Ross, Hunt, Herrera, Smith, Armstrong, Moeller, Parker, Rodne, Haler, Short and Shea; by request of Joint Committee on Veterans' and Military Affairs.

Brief Summary of Bill

  • Removes the requirement that public employees called to active military service must serve for at least one year in active status to claim a scoring preference on promotional exams.

Hearing Date: 1/13/09

Staff: Marsha Reilly (786-7135)

Background:

State law provides that honorably discharged veterans receive preference in public employment. For some public employment positions, applicants must 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, as follows:

Veterans' scoring criteria may be claimed upon release from active military service.

Summary of Bill:

Public employees called to active military service may receive the five percent scoring preference on promotional examinations, regardless of how long the employee serves in active service.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.