1. A. This section shall be known and may be cited as the "Voluntary Veterans' Preference Employment Policy Act".

2. B. As used in this section:

   1. 1. "DD 214" means United States Department of Defense Form 214 or a similarly effective form issued by the Department relating to separation from military service;
   2. 2. "Private employer" means a business entity in the private sector of this state with one or more employees;
   3. 3. "Veteran" means a person who served on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States who was discharged or released with an honorable discharge; and
   4. 4. "Veterans' preference employment policy" means a private employer's voluntary preference for hiring, promoting or retaining a veteran over another qualified applicant or employee.

3. C. A private employer may have a voluntary veterans' preference employment policy. The policy:

   1. 1. Shall be in writing; and
   2. 2. Shall be applied uniformly to employment decisions regarding hiring, promotion or retention during a reduction in force.
4. D. An employer may require that a veteran submit a DD 214 to a private employer with a veterans' preference employment policy to be eligible for the preference.
5. E. The granting of a veterans' preference pursuant to the provisions of this section shall not be deemed to violate any local or state equal employment opportunity law or regulation.
6. F. The Department of Veterans Affairs shall assist any private employer in determining if an applicant is a veteran to the extent permitted by law.

Laws 2015, SB 195, c. 45, § 1, eff. November 1, 2015.