(1)  Each government entity shall grant a veterans preference upon initial application to each preference eligible individual according to the procedures and requirements of this chapter.

Terms Used In Utah Code 71A-2-102

  • Government entity: means the state, any county, municipality, special district, special service district, or any other political subdivision or administrative unit of the state, including state institutions of education. See Utah Code 71A-2-101
  • Preference eligible: means :
(i) any individual who is a veteran or service member;
(ii) an individual with a disability, regardless of the percentage of disability;
(iii) the spouse or surviving spouse of a veteran;
(iv) a purple heart recipient; or
(v) a retired member of the armed forces. See Utah Code 71A-2-101
  • Process: means a writ or summons issued in the course of a judicial proceeding. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5
  • Service member: means a currently serving member of the armed forces. See Utah Code 71A-1-101
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes a state, district, or territory of the United States. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5
  • Veteran: means the same as that term is defined in Section 68-3-12. See Utah Code 71A-1-101
    • (2)  The personnel or human resource officer of any government entity shall add to the score of a preference eligible who receives a passing score on an examination, or any rating or ranking mechanism used in selecting an individual for any career service position with the government entity:

    (a)  5% of the total possible score, if the preference eligible is a veteran or service member;

    (b)  10% of the total possible score, if the preference eligible is a veteran or service member with a disability or a purple heart recipient; or

    (c)  in the case of a preference eligible spouse or surviving spouse, the same percentage the qualifying veteran or service member is, or would have been, entitled to.

    (3)  A preference eligible who applies for a position that does not require an examination, or where examination results are other than a numeric score, shall be given preference in interviewing for the position.

    (4)  Preference eligibility shall be added to a minimum of one step in the process.

    (5)  The granting of a veterans preference by a government entity in accordance with this chapter is not a violation of:

    (a)  Title 34A, Chapter 5, Utah Antidiscrimination Act; or

    (b)  any other state or local equal employment opportunity law.

    Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 44, 2023 General Session

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