Public hearing for O’Ban sponsored bill

Ben Sclair | February 12, 2013

By Bobbi Cussins, Public Information Officer

House Bill 1537, sponsored by 28th District State Rep. Steve O’Ban, will receive a public hearing in the state House Government Operations and Elections Committee tomorrow, Feb. 13, at 1:30 p.m. in the John L. O’Brien Building, Hearing Room E.

The bill would continue the employment preferences afforded to military men and women leaving the service and applying for public employment, but change when the service member can apply for and receive the preference for a civilian job. Current law requires the service member to be separated from the military before receiving the preferential benefit. Under House Bill 1537, the service member can apply for and be considered for public jobs months before leaving the military and receive the preferential benefit. This change would accelerate the job application process and eliminate potentially months of unemployment for our service members. The bill would also permit combat veterans who have served 20 years or more to receive the highest preference. Currently, they do not because they receive retirement.

This bill is one, practical way we can support the men and women who have sacrificed so much for us.