1     
VETERANS PREFERENCE IN PRIVATE EMPLOYMENT

2     
2020 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Todd Weiler

5     
House Sponsor: Craig Hall

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7     LONG TITLE
8     Committee Note:
9          The Veterans and Military Affairs Commission recommended this bill.
10               Membership:     5 legislators     18 non-legislators
11               Legislative Vote:     4 voting for     0 voting against     1 absent
12     General Description:
13          This bill provides that private employers who provide a veterans preference may extend
14     that preference to the spouses of veterans.
15     Highlighted Provisions:
16          This bill:
17          ▸     allows private employers to extend veterans preference to spouses of veterans.
18     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
19          None
20     Other Special Clauses:
21          None
22     Utah Code Sections Affected:
23     AMENDS:
24          34-50-103, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2019, Chapter 489
25          34-50-105, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2015, Chapter 263
26     

27     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:

28          Section 1. Section 34-50-103 is amended to read:
29          34-50-103. Voluntary veterans preference employment policy -- Private
30     employment -- Antidiscrimination requirements.
31          (1) A private sector employer may create a veterans employment preference policy that
32     may also apply to a veteran's spouse.
33          (2) The veterans employment preference policy shall be:
34          (a) in writing; and
35          (b) applied uniformly to employment decisions regarding hiring, promotion, or
36     retention including during a reduction in force.
37          (3) A private employer may require a veteran to submit a discharge document form or
38     proof of current service in the armed forces to be eligible for the preference. If the applicant is
39     the spouse of a veteran, the employer may require that the spouse submit the veteran's
40     discharge document or proof of current service in the armed forces.
41          (4) A private employer's veterans employment preference policy shall be publicly
42     posted by the employer at the place of employment or on the Internet if the employer has a
43     website or uses the Internet to advertise employment opportunities.
44          Section 2. Section 34-50-105 is amended to read:
45          34-50-105. Verification of eligibility.
46          The department and the Department of Workforce Services may assist, as permitted
47     under state and federal laws governing privacy, a private employer in verifying if an applicant
48     is [a veteran.]:
49          (1) a veteran or currently serving member of the armed forces; or
50          (2) a spouse of a veteran or currently serving member of the armed forces.