Relates to certain veterans and competitive civil service exam points

9 Co-sponsors

• Tony Avella
• John A. DeFrancisco
• Martin J. Golden
• William J. Larkin Jr.
• George D. Maziarz
• Roy J. McDonald
• Michael F. Nozzolio
• Thomas F. O'Mara
• Michael H. Ranzenhofer

BILL NUMBER:S4262A

Title of bill

An act to amend the civil service law, in relation to veterans and competitive civil service exam points

Purpose or general idea of bill

This bill gives honorably discharged veterans who have received a purple heart or other specific decorations for service in active combat additional bonus points on a competitive examination for civil service employment. Additional points are already granted to honorably discharged members of the military on such exams, with bonus points given to disabled veterans. This bill gives veterans who have received purple heart or decorations for service in active combat the same amount of bonus points given to disabled veterans.

Summary of provisions

Section One amends subparagraph 1 of paragraph (a) of subdivision 2 of section 85 of the civil service law to entitle non-disabled veterans who were honorably discharged and awarded either a: (1) combat action ribbon, (ii) Combat Infantryman Badge, (iii) Combat Medical Badge, (iv) Combat Action Badge, (v) Combat Recognition Ribbon, (vi) Air Force Combat Action Medal, or (viii) purple heart to receive ten additional points on a competitive examination for original appointment in a civil service position and five points additional credit in a competitive examination for promotion.

Justification

The Combat Action Ribbon, Combat Infantryman Badge, Combat Medical Badge, Combat Action Badge, Combat Recognition Ribbon and Air Force Combat Action Medals are personal decoration awarded to members of the military who have participated in active combat any time since 1941. Which of these six awards is bestowed on the member of the military depends upon which branch or department the individual served under. These awards are bestowed upon members of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard in the grade of captain (or colonel in the Marine Corps) and below. The purple heart is a decoration awarded to those who have been wounded and killed. It is a longstanding tradition to give veterans priority for employment, both as a reward for their invaluable service and to help them reenter the workforce when their civilian life has been disrupted by their service. Under current law, veterans enjoy the benefit of additional points on civil service examinations for employment. Currently non-disabled veterans receive five points when the examination is for initial appointment and two and one half points when the examination is for a promotion while disabled veterans receive ten points on an examination for initial appointment and five points when the examination is for a promotion. This legislation would give nondisabled veterans who have received a purple heart or a decoration for service in active combat the same point benefit that disabled veterans enjoy. By being wounded or killed or by serving in active duty, these members of the military are exposed to great risk and

danger. Their bravery is recognized by the issuance of these awards yet they do not currently receive a heightened priority when entering civil service employment. This bill remedies this discrepancy by raising their benefit on civil service examinations.

Legislative history

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: None noted.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.