1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to veterans; requiring an interview for veterans listed as meeting 
1.3 	minimum qualifications and claiming veterans preference for positions of 
1.4 	state government employment; applying to state civil service certain removal 
1.5 	provisions in current local government law; requiring a report of certain state 
1.6 	employment statistics pertaining to veterans;amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, 
1.7 	sections 43A.11, subdivision 7; 197.455, subdivision 1.
1.8 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.9 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 43A.11, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
1.10 		Subd. 7.Ranking of veterans. Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications 
1.11 	for a vacant position and claim disabled veteran's preference shall be listed in the applicant 
1.12 	pool ahead of all other applicants. Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications for a 
1.13 	vacant position and claim nondisabled veteran's preference shall be listed in the applicant 
1.14 	pool after those claiming disabled veteran's preference and ahead of nonveterans. Each 
1.15 	veteran or disabled veteran who meets minimum qualifications for a vacant position and 
1.16 	has claimed a veterans or disabled veterans preference must be granted an interview for 
1.17 	the position by the hiring authority.

1.18 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2009, and applies to all 
1.19 	appointments made on or after that date.

1.20 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 197.455, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
1.21 		Subdivision 1.Application. This section shall govern preference of a veteran under 
1.22 	the civil service laws, charter provisions, ordinances, rules or regulations of a county, 
1.23 	city, town, school district, or other municipality or political subdivision of this state. 
1.24 	Any provision in a law, charter, ordinance, rule or regulation contrary to the applicable 
2.1 	provisions of this section is void to the extent of such inconsistency. Sections 197.46 to 
2.2 	197.48 shall not also apply to state civil service.  

2.3 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2009, and applies to 
2.4 	appointments to state and local government positions of employment made on or after 
2.5 	that date.

2.6 	Sec. 3. REPORTING REQUIRED.
 2.7 	(a) The commissioner of administration must collect the following data from each 
2.8 	cabinet level state agency and must report those data, by agency, by January 15, 2010, 
2.9 	to the chairs and leading minority members of each of the house of representatives and 
2.10 	senate committees having responsibility for veterans policy and finance issues:
2.11 	(1) the total number of persons employed in full-time positions of employment by 
2.12 	the state agency on June 30, the end date of the designated fiscal year;
2.13 	(2) the total number of employees identified in clause (1) who are veterans;
2.14 	(3) the total number of vacant full-time positions in the agency filled by hiring or 
2.15 	appointment during the designated fiscal year;
2.16 	(4) the total number of applications received for the positions identified in clause (3);
2.17 	(5) the total number of applications identified in clause (4) for which veterans 
2.18 	preference was elected by the applicant;
2.19 	(6) the total number of applications identified in clause (5) for which the veteran 
2.20 	applicant was judged by the hiring authority as meeting minimum requirements for the 
2.21 	open positions of employment;
2.22 	(7) the total number of veteran applicants identified in clause (6) who were 
2.23 	interviewed by the hiring authority for the open positions of employment in the agency;
2.24 	(8) the total number of veteran applicants identified in clause (7) who were selected 
2.25 	for and offered employment within the open positions of employment within the agency;
2.26 	(9) the total number of veteran applicants identified in clause (8) who were hired 
2.27 	into the open positions of employment within the agency;
2.28 	(10) the total number of veteran applicants identified in clause (6) who were sent a 
2.29 	rejection letter, in accordance with section 43A.11, subdivision 9; and
2.30 	(11) any other data or information deemed important by the commissioner of 
2.31 	administration and reflecting on the efforts of the subject agency to recruit and hire 
2.32 	veterans.
2.33 	(b) The following terms have the meanings given them:
2.34 	(1) "designated fiscal year" refers separately to state fiscal years 2004, 2005, 2006, 
2.35 	2007, and 2008; and
3.1 	(2) "veteran" has the meaning given in section 197.447.

3.2 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2009.