ASSEMBLY PASSES CONNERS/CONAWAY BILL EXPANDING HIRING PREFERENCE FOR VETERANS IN CIVIL SERVICE

ASSEMBLY PASSES CONNERS/CONAWAY BILL EXPANDING HIRING PREFERENCE FOR VETERANS IN CIVIL SERVICE

Bill Would Give Vets Eligible For Federal Civil Service, But Ineligible For State Civil Service, Additional Points Above Earned Score On State Exam

(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by Assembly Military and Veterans Committee Chairman Jack Conners and Assemblyman Herb Conaway M.D. that would expand civil service preference to veterans who currently ineligible was passed by the Assembly today.

“Veterans should qualify for civil service hiring preference regardless of when they served in the military,” said Conners (D-Camden). “As long as they are honorable discharged, all veterans should receive the same benefit.”

Under the Conners/Conaway bill, individuals who qualify for state civil service preference would receive five additional points to their passing exam score if they served from December 7, 1941, through July 1, 1955; for more than 180 consecutive days, any part of which occurred after January 31, 1955, and before October 15, 1976; or during the Gulf War from August 2, 1990 through January 2, 1992; or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign medal has been authorized.

“Regardless of the time they served, all veterans entered military service knowing they could be called into combat at a moment’s notice,” said Conaway (D-Burlington). “Therefore, all veterans should be entitled to the advantages offered by the state’s civil service hiring practices.”

The measure is also sponsored by Assembly Members Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D-Camden), Linda R. Greenstein (D-Mercer, Middlesex), Cleopatra G. Tucker (D-Essex) and Anthony Chiappone (D-Hudson).

The legislation also provides that 10 points would be added to a passing score for veterans who served at any time and have service-connected disabilities or are receiving compensation, disability retirement benefits or pensions from the military or federal Department of Military Affairs.

To receive additional points for state civil service, veterans would have to be honorable discharged from the military. However, National Guard and Reserve personnel on duty for training purposes would not qualify under the bill.

The measure passed the Assembly 76-1 with one abstention and now heads to the Senate for further consideration.

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