(20 ILCS 415/8b.7) (from Ch. 127, par. 63b108b.7)

Sec. 8b.7. Veteran preference. For the granting of appropriate preference to qualified veterans, 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, and to certain other persons as set forth in this Section.

(a) As used in this Section:

(1) "Time of hostilities with a foreign country" means any period of time in the past, present, or future during which a declaration of war by the United States Congress has been or is in effect or during which an emergency condition has been or is in effect that is recognized by the issuance of a Presidential proclamation or a Presidential executive order and in which the armed forces expeditionary medal or other campaign service medals are awarded according to Presidential executive order.

(2) "Armed forces of the United States" means the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. Service in the Merchant Marine that constitutes active duty under Section 401 of federal Public Law 95-202 shall also be considered service in the Armed Forces of the United States for purposes of this Section.

(3) "Veteran" means a member of the armed forces of the United States, the Illinois National Guard, or a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States.

(b) The preference granted under this Section shall be in the form of points, or the equivalent, added to the applicable scores of the persons if they otherwise qualify and are entitled to be considered for appointment.

(c) A veteran is qualified for a preference of 10 points if the veteran currently holds proof of a service connected disability from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or an allied country or if the veteran is a recipient of the Purple Heart.

(d) A veteran who has served during a time of hostilities with a foreign country is qualified for a preference of 5 points if the veteran served under one or more of the following conditions:

(1) The veteran served a total of at least 6 months, or

(2) The veteran served for the duration of hostilities regardless of the length of engagement, or

(3) The veteran was discharged on the basis of hardship, or

(4) The veteran was released from active duty because of a service connected disability and was discharged under honorable conditions.

(e) A person not eligible for a preference under subsection (c) or (d) 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 if the person: (1) served for at least 6 months and has been discharged under honorable conditions; (2) has been discharged on the ground of hardship; (3) was released from active duty because of a service connected disability; or (4) 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 or not the person was mobilized to active duty. 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 (e).

(f) The augmented ratings shall be used when determining the rank order of persons to be appointed.

(g) Employees in positions covered by jurisdiction B who, while in good standing, leave to engage in military service during a period of hostility, shall be given credit for seniority purposes for time served in the armed forces.

(h) 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.

(i) 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.

(j) The Department of Central Management Services shall adopt rules and implement procedures to verify that any person seeking a preference under this Section is entitled to the preference. A person seeking a preference under this Section shall provide documentation or execute any consents or other documents required by the Department of Central Management Services or any other State department or agency to enable the department or agency to verify that the person is entitled to the preference.

(k) If an applicant claims to be a veteran, the Department of Central Management Services must verify that status before granting a veteran preference by requiring a certified copy of the applicant's most recent DD214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), NGB-22 (Proof of National Guard Service), or other evidence of the applicant's most recent honorable discharge from the Armed Forces of the United States that is determined to be acceptable by the Department of Central Management Services.

(Source: P.A. 103-108, eff. 6-27-23.)