1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to veterans; establishing a veterans preference in hiring in the legislature 
1.3 	and state courts;proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 3; 
1.4 	480.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. [3.071] VETERANS PREFERENCE IN HIRING.
1.7 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following terms have the 
1.8 	meaning given:
1.9 	(1) "disabled veteran" means a veteran, as defined in section 197.447, who has served 
1.10 	in active military service and has a compensable service-connected disability as adjudicated 
1.11 	by the United States Veterans Administration, or by the retirement board of one of the 
1.12 	several branches of the armed forces, which exists at the time preference is claimed; and
1.13 	(2) "recently separated veteran" means a veteran, as defined in section 197.447, who 
1.14 	has served in active military service, at any time on or after September 11, 2001, and who 
1.15 	has been honorably discharged from active service, as shown by the person's form DD-214.
1.16 		Subd. 2.Ranking of veterans. Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications for a 
1.17 	vacant position in the legislature and claim disabled veterans preference shall be listed in 
1.18 	the applicant pool ahead of all other applicants. Applicants who meet the minimum 
1.19 	qualifications for a vacant position and claim nondisabled veterans preference shall be listed 
1.20 	in the applicant pool after those claiming disabled veterans preference and ahead of 
1.21 	nonveterans. Each recently separated veteran who meets minimum qualifications for a 
1.22 	vacant position and has claimed a veterans or disabled veterans preference must be considered 
2.1 	for the position. The top three recently separated veterans must be granted an interview for 
2.2 	the position by the hiring legislative body.
2.3 		Subd. 3.Notification. The hiring legislative body, when posting or advertising a vacant 
2.4 	position, must specify that an applicant may elect to claim a veterans preference or a disabled 
2.5 	veterans preference.
2.6 		Subd. 4.Rejection; explanation. If the legislature rejects an applicant who has claimed 
2.7 	veterans preference and who was in the finalist pool or who was interviewed, the hiring 
2.8 	legislative body shall notify the finalist in writing of the reasons for the rejection.
2.9 		Subd. 5.Preference for spouses. A preference available pursuant to this section may 
2.10 	be used by the surviving spouse of a deceased veteran and by the spouse of a disabled 
2.11 	veteran who, because of the disability, is unable to qualify.

2.12 	Sec. 2. [480.052] VETERANS PREFERENCE IN HIRING.
2.13 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following terms have the 
2.14 	meanings given:
2.15 	(1) "disabled veteran" means a veteran, as defined in section 197.447, who has served 
2.16 	in active military service and has a compensable service-connected disability as adjudicated 
2.17 	by the United States Veterans Administration, or by the retirement board of one of the 
2.18 	several branches of the armed forces, which exists at the time preference is claimed; and
2.19 	(2) "recently separated veteran" means a veteran, as defined in section 197.447, who 
2.20 	has served in active military service, at any time on or after September 11, 2001, and who 
2.21 	has been honorably discharged from active service, as shown by the person's form DD-214.
2.22 		Subd. 2.Ranking of veterans. Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications for a 
2.23 	vacant position in a state court and claim disabled veterans preference shall be listed in the 
2.24 	applicant pool ahead of all other applicants. Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications 
2.25 	for a vacant position and claim nondisabled veterans preference shall be listed in the applicant 
2.26 	pool after those claiming disabled veterans preference and ahead of nonveterans. Each 
2.27 	recently separated veteran who meets minimum qualifications for a vacant position and has 
2.28 	claimed a veterans or disabled veterans preference must be considered for the position. The 
2.29 	top five recently separated veterans must be granted an interview for the position.
2.30 		Subd. 3.Notification. The court administrator or hiring authority, when notifying 
2.31 	applicants that they have been accepted into the selection process, shall notify applicants 
2.32 	that they may elect to use veterans preference.
3.1 		Subd. 4.Rejection; explanation. If the court administrator or hiring authority rejects a 
3.2 	member of the finalist pool who has claimed veterans preference, the court administrator 
3.3 	or hiring authority shall notify the finalist in writing of the reasons for the rejection.
3.4 		Subd. 5.Preference for spouses. A preference available pursuant to this section may 
3.5 	be used by the surviving spouse of a deceased veteran and by the spouse of a disabled 
3.6 	veteran who, because of the disability, is unable to qualify.