PIERRE-Veterans of the armed services would be allowed to check a box alerting potential employers when they apply for state, county, municipal and school jobs in South Dakota under a proposal that cleared its first committee Monday in the Legislature.
The plan also would require those units of government to conduct interviews with any veteran who possesses the minimum qualifications for the job.
Rep. Fred Deutsch, R-Florence, proposed the changes. He has dozens of House and Senate members as co-sponsors.
"This simply puts into law what the practice has been," Deutsch said.
The Daugaard administration, South Dakota American Legion, South Dakota VFW and South Dakota Municipal League supported the measure during a hearing Monday by the House State Affairs Committee.
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No one testified against it.
Rep. Roger Solum, R-Watertown, offered some technical amendments and then urged passage of the reworked version.
"Good bill. Let's get it on its way," Solum said.
The committee voted 13-0 to endorse it. The full House of Representatives could consider it as early as Wednesday afternoon.
Witnesses said South Dakota has about 70,000 living veterans.
