Senate Bill S5762

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S5762

SPONSOR: JACKSON
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

This bill gives honorably discharged veterans who have received specific
decorations for service in active combat additional bonus points on a
competitive examination for civil service employment.  Additional points
are already granted to honorably discharged members of the military on
such exams, with bonus points given to disabled veterans. This bill
gives veterans who have received decorations for service in active
combat the same amount of bonus points given to disabled veterans.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section One amends paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 of section 85 of the
civil service law.

Section Two amends subparagraph 1 of paragraph (a) of subdivision 2 of
section 85 of the civil service law.

Section Three amends paragraph (b) of subdivision 1 of section 85 of the
civil service law.
              

The act entitles non-disabled veterans who were honorably discharged and
awarded either a: (1) combat action ribbon, (ii) Combat Infantryman
Badge, (iii) Combat Medical Badge, (iv) Combat Action Badge, (v). Combat
Recognition Ribbon, or (vi) Air Force Combat Action Medal to receive ten
additional points on a competitive examination for original appointment
in a civil service position and five points additional credit in a
competitive examination for promotion.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

The Combat Action Ribbon, Combat infantryman Badge, Combat Medical
Badge, Combat Action Badge, Combat Recognition Ribbon and Air Force
Combat Action Medals are personal decoration awarded to members of the
military who have participated in active combat any time since 1941.
Which of these six awards is bestowed on the member of the military
depends upon which branch or department the individual served under.
These awards are bestowed upon members of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps,
and Coast Guard in the grade of captain (or colonel in the Marine Corps)
and below. It is a longstanding tradition to give veterans priority for
employment, both as a reward for their invaluable service and to help
them reenter the workforce when their civilian life has been disrupted
by their service. Under current law, veterans enjoy the benefit of addi-
tional points on civil service examinations for employment. Currently
non-disabled veterans receive five points when the examination is for
initial appointment and two and one half points when the examination is
for a promotion while disabled veterans receive ten points on an exam-
ination for initial appointment and five points when the examination is
for a promotion. This legislation would give non- disabled veterans who
have received a decoration for service in active combat the same point
benefit that disabled veterans enjoy. By serving in active duty, these
members of the military are exposed to great risk and danger. Their
bravery is recognized by the issuance of these awards yet they do not
currently receive a heightened priority when entering civil service
employment.This bill remedies this discrepancyby raising their bene- fit
on civil service examinations.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2023-24: S7405-Referred to Veterans,Homeland Security and Military
Affairs.

2021-22: S5903- Referred to Veterans,Homeland Security and Military
Affairs

2019-20: S8104-Referred to Veterans,Homeland Security and Military
Affairs.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately, provided that if the provisions
of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022 shall not yet have taken
effect on or before such effective date then this act shall take effect
on the same date and in the same manner as such