Oklahoma § 40-801 - Voluntary Veterans' Preference Employment Policy Act

§ 40-801. Voluntary Veterans' Preference Employment Policy Act

A. This section shall be known and may be cited as the

"Voluntary Veterans' Preference Employment Policy Act".

B. As used in this section:

1. "DD 214" means United States Department of Defense Form 214

or a similarly effective form issued by the Department relating to

separation from military service;

2. "Private employer" means a business entity in the private

sector of this state with one or more employees;

3. "Veteran" means a person who served on active duty in the

Armed Forces of the United States who was discharged or released

with an honorable discharge and registered with the veterans

registry created by the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs; and

4. "Veterans' preference employment policy" means a private

employer's voluntary preference for hiring, promoting or retaining a

veteran over another qualified applicant or employee.

C. A private employer may have a voluntary veterans' preference

employment policy. The policy:

1. Shall be in writing; and

2. Shall be applied uniformly to employment decisions regarding

hiring, promotion or retention during a reduction in force.

D. An employer may require that a veteran submit a DD 214 to a

private employer with a veterans' preference employment policy to be

eligible for the preference.

E. The granting of a veterans' preference pursuant to the

provisions of this section shall not be deemed to violate any local

or state equal employment opportunity law or regulation.

F. The Department of Veterans Affairs shall assist any private

employer in determining if an applicant is a veteran to the extent

permitted by law.

Added by Laws 2015, c. 45, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2015. Amended by Laws

2017, c. 229, § 7, eff. Nov. 1, 2020.