Veterans

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details on how local governmental entities should handle situations where multiple veterans have equal qualifications, leaving this as an open question.

Veterans' Employment Preference Act

This bill requires local governmental entities in Tennessee to give preference to honorably discharged veterans and their spouses when hiring or promoting employees.

What This Bill Does

• Requires local government agencies to invite honorably discharged veterans for job interviews if they apply for a position.
• If two candidates have equal qualifications, the veteran must be given preference for the job.
• Local governments must include an option on application forms for applicants to declare their veteran status.
• When a non-veteran is chosen over a qualified veteran, the local government must report this decision to the commissioner of veterans services within 30 days.

Who It Names or Affects

• Veterans who have been honorably discharged from any branch of the U.S. military.
• Spouses and surviving spouses of veterans under certain conditions.
• Local governmental entities in Tennessee, such as cities, counties, and other political subdivisions.

Terms To Know

local governmental entity

A governing body or agency within a city, county, or other political subdivision of Tennessee.

honorably discharged

The process by which a veteran is released from military service under conditions that are considered satisfactory.

Limits and Unknowns

• Does not specify how local governmental entities should handle situations where multiple veterans have equal qualifications.
• It does not provide details on the consequences for non-compliance with these requirements.
• The bill's effectiveness depends on its passage and approval by Tennessee's General Assembly.

Official Summary Text

When a local governmental entity extends invitations to interview candidates, whether for appointment or promotion, and the pool of candidates includes a person who has been honorably discharged from the army, navy, air force, marine corps, space force, o
r coast guard, or a member of the reserve components, who performs active federal service in the armed forces of the United States,
this bill requires
the local governmental entity
to
invite these persons to interview.
I
f a veteran is in the pool of candi
dates and meets the minimum qualifications for the position, and the skills, abilities, competencies, and knowledge of the veteran and another applicant being interviewed for the position are equal, preference must be given to the veteran for the position.
A
n application form used by a local governmental entity must include the option for the applicant to declare veteran status.

When a local governmental entity extends invitations to interview candidates, whether for appointment or promotion,
this bill requires
the local governmental entity
to
invite the spouse or surviving spouse of a veteran to interview, if the spouse or surviving spouse is a qualified voter in this state or has been a resident of this state for two years preceding such person's application, and one of the two following cir
cumstances exists:



As a result of such military service, the veteran suffered a 100% service-connected disability or is permanently and totally disabled
.


T
he veteran died in the line of duty during such military service and
t
he surviving spouse has not remarried since the death of the veteran.

This bill requires a
local governmental entity that passes over an eligible veteran and selects an eligible nonveteran
to
file with the commissioner of veterans services, within 30 days, the reasons for so doing, which reasons will become a part of the veteran's record but will not be made available to anyone other than the veteran.

STATE EMPLOYMENT

Present law places the same requirements as described above concerning employment opportunities with the state. This bill adds that an
application form used by an appointing authority
pursuant to such present law
must include the option for the applicant to declare veteran status.

Current Bill Text

SENATE BILL 2428
By Crowe

HOUSE BILL 2397
By Reneau
HB2397
012147
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 7,
Chapter 51; Title 8, Chapter 30, Part 3 and Title
58, Chapter 2, relative to veterans.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 7, Chapter 51, is amended by adding
the following as a new part:
7-51-2801.
As used in this part, "local governmental entity" means a governing body, board,
commission, committee, department, or law enforcement agency of a municipality,
county, or other political subdivision of this state.
7-51-2802.
(a) When a local governmental entity extends invitations to interview candidates,
whether for appointment or promotion, and the pool of candidates includes a person who
has been honorably discharged from the army, navy, air force, marine corps, space
force, or coast guard, or a member of the reserve components, as defined in 10 U.S.C. §
10101, who performs active federal service in the armed forces of the United States, the
local governmental entity shall invite these persons to interview.
(b) If a veteran is in the pool of candidates and meets the minimum qualifications
for the position, and the skills, abilities, competencies, and knowledge of the veteran and
another applicant being interviewed for the position are equal, preference must be given
to the veteran for the position.
(c) When a local governmental entity extends invitations to interview candidates,
whether for appointment or promotion, the local governmental entity shall invite the

- 2 - 012147

spouse or surviving spouse of a veteran to interview, if the spouse or surviving spouse is
a qualified voter in this state or has been a resident of this state for two (2) years
preceding such person's application, and one (1) of the two (2) following circumstances
exists:
(1) As a result of such military service, the veteran suffered a one
hundred percent (100%) service-connected disability or is permanently and
totally disabled; or
(2)
(A) The veteran died in the line of duty during such military
service; and
(B) The surviving spouse has not remarried since the death of the
veteran.
(d) A local governmental entity that passes over an eligible veteran and selects
an eligible nonveteran shall file with the commissioner of veterans services, within thirty
(30) days, the reasons for so doing, which reasons will become a part of the veteran's
record, but will not be made available to anyone other than the veteran.
(e) An application form used by a local governmental entity must include the
option for the applicant to declare veteran status.
(f) This section is in addition to, and does not supersede, any federal laws or
rules regarding the hiring of veterans.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 8-30-307, is amended by adding the
following as a new subsection:
(e) An application form used by an appointing authority must include the option
for the applicant to declare veteran status.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.