2000 Minnesota Statutes

     43A.11 Veteran's preference. 

    Subdivision 1.    Creation.  Recognizing that training 
 and experience in the military services of the government and 
 loyalty and sacrifice for the government are qualifications of 
 merit which cannot be readily assessed by examination, a 
 veteran's preference shall be available pursuant to this section 
 to a veteran as defined in section 197.447.  

    Subd. 2.    Restrictions.  Veteran's preference credit 
 under this section may not be used by any veteran who is 
 currently receiving or is eligible to receive a monthly 
 veteran's pension based exclusively on length of military 
 service.  

    Subd. 3.    Nondisabled veteran's credit.  There shall 
 be added to the competitive open examination rating of a 
 nondisabled veteran, who so elects, a credit of five points 
 provided that the veteran obtained a passing rating on the 
 examination without the addition of the credit points. 

    Subd. 4.    Disabled veteran's credit.  There shall be 
 added to the competitive open examination rating of a disabled 
 veteran, who so elects, a credit of ten points provided that the 
 veteran obtained a passing rating on the examination without the 
 addition of the credit points.  There shall be added to the 
 competitive promotional examination rating of a disabled 
 veteran, who so elects, a credit of five points provided that 
 (a) the veteran obtained a passing rating on the examination 
 without the addition of the credit points and (b) the veteran is 
 applying for a first promotion after securing public employment. 

    Subd. 5.    Disabled veteran; definitions.  For the 
 purpose of the preference to be used in securing appointment 
 from a competitive open examination, "disabled veteran" means a 
 person who has a compensable service connected disability as 
 adjudicated by the United States Veterans Administration, or by 
 the retirement board of one of the several branches of the armed 
 forces, which disability is existing at the time preference is 
 claimed.  For purposes of the preference to be used in securing 
 appointment from a competitive promotional examination, 
 "disabled veteran" means a person who, at the time of election 
 to use a promotional preference, is entitled to disability 
 compensation under laws administered by the veterans 
 administration for a permanent service connected disability 
 rated at 50 percent or more.  

    Subd. 6.    Preference for spouses.  A preference 
 available pursuant to this section may be used by the surviving 
 spouse of a deceased veteran and by the spouse of a disabled 
 veteran who because of the disability is unable to qualify.  

    Subd. 7.    Ranking of veterans.  An eligible with a 
 rating augmented by veteran's preference shall be entered on an 
 eligible list ahead of a nonveteran with the same rating. 

    Subd. 8.    Notification.  A governmental agency when 
 notifying eligibles that they have passed examinations shall 
 show the final examination ratings preference credits and shall 
 notify eligibles that they may elect to use veteran's preference 
 to augment passing ratings. 

    Subd. 9.    Rejection; explanation.  If the appointing 
 authority rejects a certified eligible who has received 
 veteran's preference, the appointing authority shall notify the 
 eligible in writing of the reasons for the rejection.  

    HIST: 1981 c 210 s 11; 1982 c 560 s 17-20; 1984 c 468 s 1; 
 1984 c 609 s 1; 1985 c 248 s 85; 1Sp1985 c 16 art 2 s 8; 1986 c 
 444