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
Expands private employers’ discretion. This bill clarifies that private companies in New York can legally give preference to veterans in employment decisions, potentially encouraging more employers to consider veterans when hiring, promoting, or retaining staff.
Requires written, uniform policy. Employers must establish their veterans’ preference policy in writing and apply it consistently across all relevant employment decisions, ensuring transparency and reducing the risk of arbitrary or discriminatory practices.
Defines “veteran” broadly. The bill covers a wide range of military service backgrounds—including National Guard, reserves, and state militia members—potentially benefiting a larger group of veterans than federal definitions typically allow.
May improve veteran employment rates. By explicitly authorizing veteran preference, the bill could help address unemployment or underemployment among veterans, making it easier for them to compete in the private job market.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Allow Private Vet Hiring Preference
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to veterans' affairs
- Referred to veterans' 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 Employers Favor Veterans
In Senate Committee · Veterans, Homeland Security And Military Affairs · Sponsor Robert Ortt
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2465
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 22, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. CUSICK, ASHBY -- read once and referred to the Committee on Veterans' 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.
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.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00249-01-9
A. 2465 2
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.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.