S. F. No. 1599 permits private employers to grant preference to veterans in hiring and promotion.  This bill adds a section to Chapter 197 (Veterans:  Rewards, Privileges).

Subdivision 1 [Preference permitted] permits, but does not require, a private employer to grant preference to a veteran in hiring and promotion.  “Veteran” is defined in 197.447. 

Subdivision 2 [Preference for spouse of disabled or deceased veteran; definition] permits, but does not require, a private employer to grant preference, in hiring and promotion, to a spouse of a disable veteran who has a service-connected permanent and total disability.  This subdivision also permits, but does not require a private employer to grant preference, in hiring and promotion, to a surviving spouse of a deceased veteran.

“Disabled veteran” is defined for this section as a person who has had 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.”

Subdivision 3 [Equal employment opportunity law] declares that granting a preference to a veteran, or to the spouse of a disabled veteran, or to the surviving spouse of a deceased veteran does not violate any local or state equal employment opportunity law.  This provision assures that employers cannot be sued for discrimination under state law, even though it is possible that men may benefit disproportionally from the preference granted under this section. 

Federal law allows a private employer to give preference to veterans, without violating the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, even though such preferences may have a disparate impact on men, if the preference is permitted under state or local law.

SJJ/syl