Or. Admin. Code § 105-040-0015 - Veteran's Preference in Employment

Applicability: Recruitment and selection processes for all State of Oregon positions in agencies subject to ORS 240, State Personnel Relations Law, including but not limited to promotional opportunities.

(1) Definitions: (See also HRSD Rule 105-010-0000 Definitions Applicable Generally to Personnel Rules and Policies.)

(a) Initial Application Screening: An agency's process of determining whether an applicant meets the minimum and special qualifications for a position. An Initial Application Screening may also include an evaluation of skills or grading of supplemental test questions if required on the recruiting announcement.

(b) Application Examination: The selection process utilized by an agency after Initial Application Screening. This selection process includes, but is not limited to, formal testing or other assessments resulting in a score as well as un-scored examinations such as interviews and reference checks.

(c) Veteran and Disabled Veteran: As defined by ORS 408.225 and 408.235.

(2) Application of preference points upon Initial Application Screening: Qualifying Veterans and Disabled Veterans receive preference points as follows;

(a) Five Veteran's Preference points are added upon Initial Application Screening when an applicant submits as verification of eligibility a copy of the Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214 or 215), or a letter from the US Department of Veteran's Affairs indicating the applicant receives a non-service connected pension with the State of Oregon Application; or

(b) Ten Disabled Veteran's points are added upon Initial Application Screening when an applicant submits as verification of eligibility a copy of the Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214 or 215) with the State of Oregon Application. Disabled Veterans must also submit a copy of their Veteran's disability preference letter from the US Department of Veteran Affairs, unless the information is included in the DD Form 214 or 215.

(c) Veteran's and Disabled Veteran's preference points are not added when a Veteran or Disabled Veteran fails to meet the minimum or the special qualifications for a position.

(3) Following an Initial Application Screening the agency generates a list of qualified applicants to consider for Appointment. An Appointing Authority or designee may then:

(a) Determine whether or not to interview all applicants who meet the minimum and special qualifications of the position (including all Veterans and Disabled Veterans); or

(b) Select a group of Veteran and Disabled Veteran applicants who most closely match the agency's purposes in filling the position. This group of applicants may be considered along with non-veteran applicants who closely match the purposes of the agency in filling the position as determined by:

(A) Scored Application Examinations (including scored interviews): If an agency utilizes, after an Initial Application Screening, a scored Application Examination to determine whom to consider further for Appointment, the agency will add (based on a 100-point scale) five points to a Veteran's score or 10 points to a Disabled Veteran's score or;

(B) Un-scored Application Examinations: Un-scored Application Examinations done by sorting into levels (such as "unsatisfactory," "satisfactory," "excellent") based on desired attributes or other criteria for further consideration will be accomplished by:

(i) Advancing the application of a Veteran one level;

(ii) Advancing an application of a Disabled Veteran two levels.

(4) Preference in un-scored interviews: A Veteran or Disabled Veteran who, in the judgment of the Appointing Authority or designee, meets all or substantially all of the agency's purposes in filling the position will continue to be considered for Appointment.

(5) If a Veteran or Disabled Veteran has been determined to be equal to the top applicant or applicants for a position by the Appointing Authority or designee then the Veteran or Disabled Veteran is ranked more highly than non-veteran applicants and, a Disabled Veteran is ranked more highly than non-veteran and Veteran applicants.

(6) Preference described in Sections 2 through 5 of this rule is not a requirement to appoint a Veteran or Disabled Veteran to a position. An agency may base a decision not to appoint the Veteran or Disabled Veteran solely on the Veteran's or Disabled Veteran's merits or qualifications.

(7) A Veteran or a Disabled Veteran applicant not appointed to a position may request an explanation from the agency. The request must be in writing and be sent within 30 calendar days of the date the Veteran or Disabled Veteran was notified that they were not selected. The agency will respond in writing with the reasons for not appointing the Veteran or Disabled Veteran.

Notes

Or. Admin. Code § 105-040-0015

HRSD 3-2007(Temp), f. & cert ef. 9-5-07 thru 3-3-08; HRSD 1-2008, f. 2-27-08, cert. ef. 3-1-08; HRSD 3-2009, f. 12-30-09, cert. ef. 1-1-10; CHRO 1-2018, repeal filed 05/23/2018, effective 6/18/2018

Forms referenced are available from the agency.

Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 240.145(3) & 240.250

Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 408.225, 408.230 & 408.235