SB658: Relating to employment preference for veterans.

Legislative Summary

The Act says that if a veteran applies for a job and has the right skills, the employer must interview them. If a veteran doesn't get the job, the employer has to send them a notice telling them why. The law also allows veterans to take legal action. The DVA will look into any complaints about unfair treatment of veterans in hiring. Lastly, public employers must have yearly training about how to support veterans, and completing this training can help protect them from claims of unfairness. (Flesch Readability Score: 61.4). Provides that, when an interview is an element of the process of selecting a candidate for a civil service position from an eligibility list, the public employer must interview each veteran applicant who meets the qualifications for the position and shows transferable skills if the duties of the position are performed by only one person within the public employer's organization. Requires a public employer to provide written notice to a veteran who is eliminated from consideration for a vacant civil service position. Provides the right to a jury trial and permits awards of noneconomic damages in civil suits for a violation of veterans' employment preference statutes. Modifies the period for notice of a tort claim against a public body for violation of veterans' employment preference statutes. Directs the Department of Veterans' Affairs to establish a program for investigation and nonbinding arbitration of alleged violations of veterans' employment preference statutes. Requires public employers to conduct an annual training related to veterans' employment preferences. Provides that conducting an approved annual training is an affirmative defense to a claim for violation of veterans' employment preference statutes.