Federal employee hiring pref

AN ACT Relating to providing hiring preferences for state 1
employment to certain federal employees; amending RCW 41.04.010; and 2
adding a new section to chapter 41.04 RCW. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
Sec. 1. RCW 41.04.010 and 2024 c 146 s 14 are each amended to 5
read as follows: 6
(1) In all competitive examinations, unless otherwise provided in 7
this section, to determine the qualifications of applicants for 8
public offices, positions, or employment, either the state, and all 9
of its political subdivisions and all municipal corporations, or 10
private companies or agencies contracted with by the state to give 11
the competitive examinations shall give a scoring criteria status to 12
all veterans as defined in RCW 41.04.007 and federal employees as 13
defined in subsection (3) of this section , by adding to the passing 14
mark, grade or rating only, based upon a possible rating of one 15
hundred points as perfect a percentage in accordance with the 16
following: 17
(((1))) (a) Ten percent to a veteran who served during a period 18
of war or in an armed conflict as defined in RCW 41.04.005 and does 19
not receive military retirement. The percentage shall be added to the 20
passing mark, grade, or rating of competitive examinations until the 21
H-1638.1
HOUSE BILL 2042
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Reed, Ramel, and Parshley
Read first time 03/21/25. Referred to Committee on State Government
& Tribal Relations.
p. 1 HB 2042
veteran's first appointment. The percentage shall not be utilized in 1
promotional examinations; 2
(((2))) (b) Five percent to a veteran who did not serve during a 3
period of war or in an armed conflict as defined in RCW 41.04.005 or 4
is receiving military retirement. The percentage shall be added to 5
the passing mark, grade, or rating of competitive examinations until 6
the veteran's first appointment. The percentage shall not be utilized 7
in promotional examinations; 8
(((3))) (c) Five percent to a veteran who was called to active 9
military service from employment with the state or any of its 10
political subdivisions or municipal corporations. The percentage 11
shall be added to promotional examinations until the first promotion 12
only; 13
(((4))) (d) Five percent to a federal employee. The percentage 14
shall be added to promotional examinations until the first promotion 15
only.16
(2) All veterans' scoring criteria may be claimed:17
(a) Upon release from active military service with a qualifying 18
discharge as defined in RCW 73.04.005; or 19
(b) Upon receipt of a United States department of defense 20
discharge document DD form 214, NGB form 22, or their equivalent or 21
successor discharge paperwork, that characterizes his or her 22
discharge as a qualifying discharge as defined in RCW 73.04.005.23
(3) As used in this section, "federal employee" means an employee 24
of the federal government who was separated from federal service 25
under Executive Order 14210, 90 Fed. Reg. 9669 (February 11, 2025), 26
or voluntarily separated from federal service because of the 27
termination of remote work arrangements under Presidential Memorandum 28
90 Fed. Reg. 8251 (January 20, 2025).29
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 41.04 30
RCW to read as follows: 31
(1) In every state agency, federal employees shall be preferred 32
for appointment and employment. 33
(2) As used in this section: 34
(a) "Federal employee" has the meaning defined in RCW 35
41.04.010(3). 36
p. 2 HB 2042
(b) "State agency" means any office, department, division, 1
bureau, board, commission, or other agency of the state of 2
Washington. 3
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p. 3 HB 2042