1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to veterans; expanding coverage of veterans 
  1.3             preference termination rights to state employees; 
  1.4             amending Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 197.46. 
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 197.46, is 
  1.7   amended to read: 
  1.8      197.46 [VETERANS PREFERENCE ACT; REMOVAL FORBIDDEN; RIGHT 
  1.9   OF MANDAMUS.] 
  1.10     Any person whose rights may be in any way prejudiced 
  1.11  contrary to any of the provisions of this section, shall be 
  1.12  entitled to a writ of mandamus to remedy the wrong.  No person 
  1.13  holding a position by appointment or employment with the state 
  1.14  or in the several counties, cities, towns, school districts and 
  1.15  all other political subdivisions in the state, who is a veteran 
  1.16  separated from the military service under honorable conditions, 
  1.17  shall be removed from such position or employment except for 
  1.18  incompetency or misconduct shown after a hearing, upon due 
  1.19  notice, upon stated charges, in writing.  
  1.20     Any veteran who has been notified of the intent to 
  1.21  discharge the veteran from an appointed position or employment 
  1.22  pursuant to this section shall be notified in writing of such 
  1.23  intent to discharge and of the veteran's right to request a 
  1.24  hearing within 60 days of receipt of the notice of intent to 
  1.25  discharge.  The failure of a veteran to request a hearing within 
  2.1   the provided 60-day period shall constitute a waiver of the 
  2.2   right to a hearing.  Such failure shall also waive all other 
  2.3   available legal remedies for reinstatement.  
  2.4      Request for a hearing concerning such a discharge shall be 
  2.5   made in writing and submitted by mail or personal service to the 
  2.6   employment office of the concerned employer or other appropriate 
  2.7   office or person.  
  2.8      In all governmental subdivisions entities having an 
  2.9   established civil service board or commission, or merit system 
  2.10  authority, such hearing for removal or discharge shall be held 
  2.11  before such civil service board or commission or merit system 
  2.12  authority.  Where no such civil service board or commission or 
  2.13  merit system authority exists, such hearing shall be held by a 
  2.14  board of three persons appointed as follows:  one by the 
  2.15  governmental subdivision entity, one by the veteran, and the 
  2.16  third by the two so selected.  In the event the two persons so 
  2.17  selected do not appoint the third person within ten days after 
  2.18  the appointment of the last of the two, then the judge of the 
  2.19  district court of the county wherein the proceeding is pending, 
  2.20  or if there be more than one judge in said county then any judge 
  2.21  in chambers, shall have jurisdiction to appoint, and upon 
  2.22  application of either or both of the two so selected shall 
  2.23  appoint, the third person to the board and the person so 
  2.24  appointed by the judge with the two first selected shall 
  2.25  constitute the board.  The veteran may appeal from the decision 
  2.26  of the board upon the charges to the district court by causing 
  2.27  written notice of appeal, stating the grounds thereof, to be 
  2.28  served upon the governmental subdivision entity or officer 
  2.29  making the charges within 15 days after notice of the decision 
  2.30  and by filing the original notice of appeal with proof of 
  2.31  service thereof in the office of the court administrator of the 
  2.32  district court within ten days after service thereof.  Nothing 
  2.33  in section 197.455 or this section shall be construed to apply 
  2.34  to the position of private secretary, teacher, superintendent of 
  2.35  schools, or one chief deputy of any elected official or head of 
  2.36  a department, or to any person holding a strictly confidential 
  3.1   relation to the appointing officer.  The burden of establishing 
  3.2   such relationship shall be upon the appointing officer in all 
  3.3   proceedings and actions relating thereto. 
  3.4      All officers, boards, commissions, and employees shall 
  3.5   conform to, comply with, and aid in all proper ways in carrying 
  3.6   into effect the provisions of section 197.455 and this section 
  3.7   notwithstanding any laws, charter provisions, ordinances or 
  3.8   rules to the contrary.  Any willful violation of such sections 
  3.9   by officers, officials, or employees is a misdemeanor.