LePage introduces bill giving edge to veterans in job market
Gov. Paul LePage introduced a new bill to the Maine State Legislature on Thursday that adds leverage to veterans looking for employment, particularly for jobs in state departments and agencies.
LD 1658, "An Act To Reform the Veteran Preference in State Hiring and Retention," would give military veterans an edge when applying for government jobs by guaranteeing the applicant an interview for the position if they meet the minimum qualifications for the job and if they weren’t dishonorably discharged.
“Veterans have made sacrifices to protect the freedoms that we too often take for granted,” said LePage in a statement. “The least we can do for them when they return to civilian life is ease their transition by helping them on the path to a good-paying career. I am proud the state of Maine is a leading employer of men and women who have served this country in uniform, and I believe we can do even more to hire qualified veterans and help them obtain licensure based on their military experience to put those skills to work...”
In coordination with LD 1658, LePage also introduced an executive order that tasks the Bureau of Human Resources in Maine with developing a new policy under which any veteran who applies for a job with the state, but is ultimately not hired for that job, receives guidance on other state openings for which the veteran may be qualified.
“The executive order will bring all of the agencies involved in job training and professional certification and licensure together with veterans’ agencies,” added LePage. “This group will review those legal requirements and relevant procedures to ensure that all of the transferrable skills of veterans are given appropriate credit in the licensure process and that licensure can occur as quickly as possible."
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