Section 302.30  Veterans Preference

a)         Appropriate preference in entrance examinations shall be granted to qualified persons who have been members of the armed forces of the United States or to qualified persons who, while citizens of the United States, were members of the armed forces of allies of the United States in time of hostilities with a foreign country (as set forth in Section 8b7 of the Personnel Code) and to certain other persons as set forth in this Section.

b)         To be eligible, applicant must have received discharge under honorable conditions and served under one or more of the following conditions:

1)         Served, for at least six months, in the armed forces of the United States, the Illinois National Guard, or any reserve component of the armed forces of the United States, or, while a U.S. citizen, must have been a member of the armed forces of an ally of the U.S. in time of hostilities with a foreign country; or

2)         Discharged on the grounds of hardship; or

3)         Released from active duty because of a service connected disability; or

4)         Served for the duration of hostilities regardless of the length of engagement.

c)         Preference will be in the form of points added to the final grades of persons who otherwise qualify and are entitled to appear on the list of those eligible for appointments.  Preference in entrance examinations will be granted as follows:

1)         Ten points shall be added to the entrance examination grade for such veteran eligibles currently holding proof of a service connected disability from the United States Veterans Administration or from such allied country for service connected disabilities or if the veteran is a purple heart recipient.

2)         Five points shall be added to the entrance examination grade for such veteran eligibles who have served during a time of hostilities with a foreign country; who meet the qualifications set forth in subsection (b); but who do not qualify for 10 points under subsection (c)(1).

3)         A person not eligible for a preference under subsection (c)(1) or (c)(2) is qualified for a preference of 3 points if the person has served in the armed forces of the United States, the Illinois National Guard, or any reserve component of the armed forces of the United States and the person:

A)        served for at least 6 months and has been discharged under honorable conditions; or

B)        has been discharged on the grounds of hardship; or

C)        was released from active duty because of a service connected disability.

            An active member of the National Guard or a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States is eligible for the preference if the member meets the service requirements of this subsection (c)(3).

d)         If category ratings are used, the veteran eligibles in each category shall be preferred for appointment before the non-veteran eligibles in the same category.

e)         A surviving unremarried spouse of a veteran who suffered a service connected death or the spouse of a veteran who suffered a service connected disability that prevents the veteran from qualifying for civil service employment shall be entitled to the same preference to which the veteran would have been entitled under this Section.

f)          A preference shall also be given to the following individuals: 10 points for one parent of an unmarried veteran who suffered a service connected death or a service connected disability that prevents the veteran from qualifying for civil service employment.  The first parent to receive a civil service appointment shall be the parent entitled to the preference.

g)         It is the responsibility of each agency head to obtain documentary verification that persons seeking preference under this Section are entitled to such preference.  Copies of verifying documents (discharge information such as a DD-214) shall be submitted to the Department of Central Management Services.

(Source:  Amended at 20 Ill. Reg. 3507, effective February 13, 1996)