Veterans Preference
Pursuant to Texas Government Code, Chapter 657, Veteran’s Employment Preferences, the following individuals qualify for a veteran’s employment preference:
- a veteran, including a veteran with a disability;
- a veteran’s surviving spouse who has not remarried; and
- an orphan of a veteran if the veteran was killed while on active duty.
An individual who qualifies for a veteran’s employment preference is entitled to a preference in employment over other applicants for the same position who do not have a greater qualification.
“Veteran” means a person who has served in:
- the army, navy, air force, coast guard, or marine corps of the United States or the United States Health Service un 42 U.S.C. Section 201 et seq., as amended;
- the Texas military forces as defined by Section 437.001; or
- an auxiliary service of one of those branches of the armed forces; and
has an honorable discharge from the branch of the service in which the person served.
Interviewing/Recruiting
- If six or fewer applicants are chosen for an interview, one (1) qualified veteran’s preference applicant from the pool must be interviewed.
- If more than six are interviewed, 20% of the number interviewed that are qualified veteran’s preference applicants must be interviewed.
- If there are no self-identified veteran’s preference applicants in the qualified applicant pool, this guideline does not apply.
Hiring
Veteran's preference means if two applicants are finalists for a position, and equal in all respects, the veteran would be offered the job. If veterans' preference is granted, the veteran or surviving unmarried spouse/orphan would be required to produce form DD214 or similar document at the point of hire to verify eligibility.
The Veteran’s Preference priority is in the following order:
1. A veteran with a disability;
2. A veteran;
3. A veteran’s surviving spouse who has not remarried; and
4. An orphan of a veteran if the veteran was killed while on active duty.
