An Act To Increase Employment Opportunities for Veterans
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 1832
Committee: Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development
Sponsors: TUTTLE, LONGSTAFF, ALFOND, GRATWICK, HASKELL, JACKSON, MASON, MAZUREK, PATRICK, VALENTINO, BEAULIEU, FOWLE, GIFFORD, KINNEY, LUCHINI, RUSSELL, SAUCIER, SCHNECK, TURNER
Amends: 5 MRSA §4573

Legislative Document 
No. 1832 
S.P. 735 
In Senate, March 19, 2014 
An Act To Increase Employment Opportunities for Veterans 
(AFTER DEADLINE) 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
205. 
Reference to the Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development 
suggested and ordered printed. 
DAREK M. GRANT 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator TUTTLE of York. 
Cosponsored by Representative LONGSTAFF of Waterville and 
Senators: President ALFOND of Cumberland, GRATWICK of Penobscot, HASKELL of 
Cumberland, JACKSON of Aroostook, MASON of Androscoggin, MAZUREK of Knox, 
PATRICK of Oxford, VALENTINO of York, Representatives: BEAULIEU of Auburn, 
FOWLE of Vassalboro, GIFFORD of Lincoln, KINNEY of Limington, LUCHINI of 
Ellsworth, RUSSELL of Portland, SAUCIER of Presque Isle, SCHNECK of Bangor, 
TURNER of Burlington. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  5 MRSA §4573, sub-§5, as amended by PL 1995, c. 393, §19, is further 
amended to read: 
5.  Federal Indian policy.  Nothing in this Act may be construed to prohibit any 
employment policy or action that is permitted under 42 United States Code, Section 
2000e-2(i) (1982) of the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Act governing 
employment of Indians; and 
Sec. 2.  5 MRSA §4573, sub-§6, ¶B, as enacted by PL 1995, c. 393, §20, is 
amended to read: 
B.  Nothing in this Act may be construed to preempt, modify or amend any state, 
county or local law, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to food handling that is 
designed to protect the public health from individuals who pose a significant risk to 
the health or safety of others, which can not be eliminated by reasonable 
accommodation, pursuant to the list of infectious or communicable diseases and the 
modes of transmissibility published by the United States Secretary of Health and 
Human Services.; and 
Sec. 3.  5 MRSA §4573, sub-§7 is enacted to read: 
7.  Veteran preference.  For a private employer to apply a voluntary veteran 
preference, pursuant to Title 26, chapter 7, subchapter 11, to employment decisions 
regarding hiring, promotion or retention during a reduction in workforce. 
Sec. 4.  26 MRSA c. 7, sub-c. 11 is enacted to read: 
SUBCHAPTER 11 
VETERAN PREFERENCE 
§876.  Short title 
This subchapter may be known and cited as "the Voluntary Veteran Preference 
Employment Policy Act." 
§877.  Definitions 
 As used in this subchapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following 
terms have the following meanings. 
1.  DD Form 214.  "DD Form 214" means an Armed Forces Report of Transfer or 
Discharge or its predecessor or successor forms. 
2.  Private employer.  "Private employer" means a sole proprietor, corporation, 
partnership, limited liability company or other entity with one or more employees.  
"Private employer" does not include the State, a county, a municipality, a township, a 
school district or a public institution of higher education. 
3.  Veteran.  "Veteran" means a person who has served on active duty in the United 
States Armed Forces and was discharged or released with an honorable discharge. 
4.  Veteran preference employment policy.  "Veteran preference employment 
policy" means a private employer's preference for hiring, promoting or retaining a veteran 
over another qualified applicant or employee. 
§878.  Veteran preference employment policy 
A private employer may have a veteran preference employment policy.  The policy 
must be in writing and must be applied uniformly to employment decisions regarding 
hiring, promotion or retention during a reduction in workforce.  A private employer may 
require that a veteran submit a DD Form 214 to be eligible for the preference. 
SUMMARY 
This bill allows a private employer to have a veteran preference employment policy.  
The policy must be in writing and must be applied uniformly to employment decisions 
regarding hiring, promotion or retention during a reduction in workforce.