1. (a) Subject to subsection (c), the board shall give a preference for employment according to the following priority:

   1. (1) A war veteran who has been discharged from the armed forces of the United States under conditions other than conditions set forth in IC 10-17-12-8.1 (2).

   2. (2) A person whose mother or father was a:

      1. (A) firefighter of a unit;
      2. (B) municipal police officer; or

      3. (C) county police officer;

         who died in the line of duty (as defined in IC 5-10-10-2 ).

2. (b) Subject to subsection (c), the board may give a preference for employment to any of the following:

   1. (1) A member of another department laid off under section 11.1 of this chapter.
   2. (2) A police officer laid off by a city under IC 36-8-4-11 .

3. (c) A person described in subsection (a) or (b) may not receive a preference for employment unless the person:

   1. (1) applies; and

   2. (2) meets all employment requirements prescribed:

      1. (A) by law, including physical and age requirements; and
      2. (B) by the department.

As added by P.L.95-2003, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.110-2010, SEC.36; P.L.238-2025, SEC.96; P.L.94-2026, SEC.90.