Section 302.30  Veterans Preference

a)         Appropriate preference in competitive selection shall be granted to qualified veterans who have been members of the armed forces of the United States or to qualified veterans 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 8b.7 of the Personnel Code) and to certain other persons as set forth in this Section. [20 ILCS 415/8b.7]

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

2)         While a U.S. citizen, been a member of the armed forces of an ally of the U.S. in time of hostilities with a foreign country; or

3)         Discharged on the grounds of hardship; or

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

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

c)         Preference will be in the form of points or the equivalent added to the applicable scores of persons who otherwise qualify.  Preference in entrance examinations will be granted as follows:

1)         Ten points or the equivalent shall be added to the applicable scores for veteran eligibles currently holding proof of a service connected disability from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or from an allied country for service connected disabilities or if the veteran is a Purple Heart recipient.

2)         Five points or the equivalent shall be added to the applicable scores for veteran eligibles who have served during a time of hostilities with a foreign country and 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 or the equivalent 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; or

D)        served a minimum of 4 years in the Illinois National Guard or reserve component of the armed forces of the United States, regardless of whether the person was mobilized to active duty.

4)         An active member of the National Guard or a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States is eligible for the preference described in subsection (c)(3) if the member meets the service requirements of subsection (c)(3). [20 ILCS 415/8b.7(e)]

d)         The following shall be entitled to the same preference to which the veteran would have been entitled under this Section:

1)         a surviving unremarried spouse or civil union partner, who has not subsequently married or entered into a civil union, of a veteran who suffered a service connected death; or

2)         the spouse or civil union partner of a veteran who suffered a service connected disability that prevents the veteran from qualifying for civil service employment. [20 ILCS 415/8b.7(h)]

e)         A preference shall also be given to the following individuals: 10 points for one parent of a veteran who is not married or in a civil union partnership 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. [20 ILCS 415/8b.7(h)]

f)         Before a veteran's preference is granted, the Department of Central Management Services must verify the applicant's entitlement to the preference by requiring a certified copy of the applicant's most recent DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) or other evidence of the applicant's most recent honorable discharge from the Armed Forces of the United States. The Department of Central Management Services shall determine whether the documentation submitted by the applicant is acceptable. To be acceptable, the documentation submitted must be an authentic, official record of the United States Armed Forces evidencing the individual's military service. [20 ILCS 415/8b.7(k)]

(Source:  Amended at 48 Ill. Reg. 11318, effective July 16, 2024)