Provides that a veteran must provide evidence of eligibility for veterans' preference in public employment at the time of application for a civil service position.

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83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
House Bill 2832
Sponsored by Representative EVANS (Presession filed.)
SUMMARY
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject
to consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor’s brief statement of the essential features of the
measure as introduced. The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability
standards.
Digest: The Act says that veterans have to show proof that they can get special preference
when they apply for government jobs. They can use any documents that show they qualify. If a
public employer decides not to talk with a veteran about being hired for a job, they must write down
why they made that choice. (Flesch Readability Score: 60.4).
Provides that a veteran must provide evidence of eligibility for veterans’ preference in public
employment at the time of application for a civil service position. Provides that evidence may in-
clude any documentation demonstrating preference eligibility.
Modifies the law relating to interviews of veterans for vacant civil service positions. Provides
that a public employer that does not interview a veteran must provide a written explanation of
reasons for the decision.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to preferences for veterans in public employment; amending ORS 408.235 and 408.237.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1.
ORS 408.235 is amended to read:
408.235. (1) A veteran is eligible to use the preference provided for in ORS 408.230 for a civil
service position for which application is made at any time after discharge or release from service
in the Armed Forces.
(2) An individual is treated as a veteran for purposes of the preference provided for in ORS
408.230 if the individual:
(a) Meets the definition of “veteran” under ORS 408.225 except for the requirement that the
individual was discharged or released under honorable conditions; and
(b) Submits a certification to the public employer that the individual is expected to be dis-
charged or released from active duty under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the
submission of the certification.
(3) An individual is treated as a disabled veteran for purposes of the preference provided for in
ORS 408.230 if the individual:
(a) Meets the definition of “veteran” under ORS 408.225 except for the requirement that the
individual was discharged or released under honorable conditions; and
(b) Submits a certification to the public employer that the individual is expected to be medically
separated from active duty under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the submission
of the certification.
(4) A veteran must provide evidence of eligibility for the preference at the time the vet-
eran makes application for the position. Evidence may include federal DD Form 214 or 215
or any other documentation demonstrating preference eligibility. Failure to provide evidence
at the time of application will disqualify the veteran from requesting use of the preference
in the public employer’s consideration of the veteran’s application for the position.
NOTE:Matter in boldfaced type in an amended section is new; matter [ italic and bracketed] is existing law to be omitted.
New sections are in boldfaced type.
LC 2232
HB 2832
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SECTION 2.
ORS 408.237 is amended to read:
408.237. (1) As used in this section:
(a) “Eligibility list” means a list of ranked eligible candidates for a civil service position who
have become eligible for the position through a test or series of tests and who will be considered
for the civil service position in ranked order.
(b) “Transferable skill” means a skill that a veteran has obtained through military education or
experience that substantially relates, directly or indirectly, to the civil service position for which
the veteran is applying.
(2) When an interview is a component of the selection process for a civil service position or for
an eligibility list for a civil service position, a public employer shall interview each veteran:
(a) Whom the public employer determines meets the minimum qualifications and special quali-
fications for the civil service position or eligibility list; and
(b) Who submits application materials that the public employer determines show sufficient evi-
dence that the veteran has the transferable skills required and requested by the public employer for
the civil service position or eligibility list.
[(3) A public employer is not required to comply with subsection (2) of this section if the employer
conducts interviews only as part of the process of selecting a candidate for a civil service position from
an eligibility list. ]
(3) If a public employer does not interview a veteran who applies for a civil service posi-
tion, the public employer shall, within 14 days of the decision not to interview the veteran,
provide to the veteran a written explanation of the employer’s reasons for the decision not
to interview the veteran.
(4) A public employer may consult with the Oregon Military Department and the Department
of Veterans’ Affairs to determine whether certain military education or experience produces a
transferable skill.
(5) The Department of Veterans’ Affairs shall provide training to veterans on how to show evi-
dence of transferable skills in an application for a civil service position or eligibility list.
(6) Violation of subsection (2) of this section is an unlawful employment practice under ORS
chapter 659A.
(7) A veteran claiming to be aggrieved by a violation of subsection (2) of this section may file
a complaint under ORS 659A.820.
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