What's happening
This bill allows private employers in New York to voluntarily give preference to veterans in hiring, promotion, or retention decisions.
Why it matters
Gives private employers explicit legal permission to create a written veterans’ preference policy. , reducing uncertainty or fear of discrimination lawsuits for favoring veterans in hiring or promotion.
Sets clear definitions for “veteran” and what counts as a preference policy. , ensuring only those with meaningful service receive the benefit and that policies are consistent and transparent.
Requires that any preference policy be applied uniformly and in writing. , which helps prevent arbitrary or inconsistent treatment and supports fairness in workplace decisions.
May increase job opportunities for veterans, especially during layoffs or promotions. , potentially improving their economic stability and rewarding their service, while still allowing non-veteran applicants to compete on equal qualifications.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Let Businesses Favor Veterans
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 62
History
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.506
- Referred to veterans, homeland security and military affairs
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.510
- Referred to veterans, homeland security and military affairs
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Let Companies Favor Veterans
In Assembly Committee · Veterans' Affairs · Sponsor Michael Cusick
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
721
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 4, 2017
Introduced by Sens. ORTT, CROCI, LARKIN, MARCHIONE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to permitting private employers to adopt a veterans' preference employment policy
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 369-f to read as follows:
§ 369-f. Private employers veterans' preference policy. 1. As used in this section:
a. "Private employer" shall mean a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, not-for-profit corporation or other private entity with one or more employees and excludes the state, a municipality, county or school district.
b. "Veteran" shall mean an individual who served on active duty in the United States army, navy, marine corps, air force, coast guard or the reserves component, or who served in active military service of the United States as a member of the army, national guard, air national guard, New York guard or New York naval militia, and meets one or more of the following:
(i) Served on active duty for a period of more than one hundred eighty days and was discharged or released from active duty with other than a dishonorable discharge.
(ii) Was discharged or released because of a service connected disability.
(iii) Was discharged or released from duty with other than a dishonorable discharge from service under an order to active duty, excluding active duty for training.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04603-01-7
S. 721 2
c. "Veterans' preference employment policy" shall mean a private employer's voluntary preference for hiring, promoting, or retaining a veteran over another equally qualified applicant or employee.
2. A private employer may adopt and apply a voluntary veterans' preference employment policy.
3. A veterans' preference employment policy shall be in writing and shall be applied uniformly to employment decisions regarding the hiring or promotion of veterans or the retention of veterans during a reduction in the workforce.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the executive law, in relation to permitting private employers to adopt a veterans' preference employment policy
Purpose
To allow private companies to adopt a veterans' preference for hiring, promoting, or retaining a veteran.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 Allows a private employer to adopt a veterans' preference for hiring, promoting, or retaining a veteran. Further requires this preference in writing and shall be applied uniformly to employment decisions.
Section 2 is the effective date.
Justification
Currently, fifteen states offer a veterans hiring preference for private employers, while forty states including New York offer a veterans hiring preference for public employers. Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 private employers are not allowed to offer a hiring preference for a veteran unless expressly allowed to by State law. A 2012 survey of post-9/11 veterans found that 69's identified "finding a job" as their greatest challenge. As State's look for ways to actively employ returning veterans allowing private companies the option to have a preference is a no cost way to have more veterans employed.
Legislative history
S. 4326/A. 6947- Advanced to Third Reading
Fiscal impact on the state
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the 180th day.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.