1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to veterans; changing veteran's preference provisions;amending 
1.3 	Minnesota Statutes 2006, sections 43A.11, subdivisions 1, 7; 197.455, 
1.4 	subdivision 8.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 43A.11, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
1.7 		Subdivision 1.Creation. Recognizing that training and experience in the military 
1.8 	services of the government and loyalty and sacrifice for the government are qualifications 
1.9 	of merit which cannot be readily assessed by examination, a veteran's preference shall be 
1.10 	available pursuant to this section and section 197.455 to a veteran as defined in section 
1.11 	197.447.

1.12 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 43A.11, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
1.13 		Subd. 7.Ranking of veterans. Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications 
1.14 	for a vacant position and claim disabled veteran's preference shall be listed in the applicant 
1.15 	pool ahead of all other applicants. Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications for a 
1.16 	vacant position and claim nondisabled veteran's preference shall be listed in the applicant 
1.17 	pool after those claiming disabled veteran's preference and ahead of nonveterans. The 
1.18 	disabled veteran or nondisabled veteran who claims a preference under this section and 
1.19 	who heads the list of applicants must be hired to fill the vacant position if the applicant 
1.20 	meets the minimum qualifications and the vacant position is being filled. In case there 
1.21 	is more than one disabled veteran or veteran at the top of the list and they are equally 
1.22 	qualified, one of them must be hired.

2.1 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 197.455, subdivision 8, is amended to read:
2.2 		Subd. 8.Ranking of veterans. An eligible with a rating augmented by veteran's 
2.3 	preference shall be entered on an eligible list ahead of a nonveteran with the same rating.
2.4 	If an eligible with a rating augmented by veteran's preference is among the top half 
2.5 	of qualifying persons on an eligible list for a vacant position and the vacant position is 
2.6 	being filled, that person must be hired. If two or more eligibles with ratings augmented by 
2.7 	veterans's preference are equally rated at the top of the list, one of them must be hired.

2.8 	Sec. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE.
 2.9 	Sections 1 to 3 are effective the day following final enactment.