Sec. 657.003. VETERAN'S EMPLOYMENT PREFERENCE

(a) An individual who qualifies for a veteran's employment preference is entitled to a preference in employment with or appointment to a public entity or for a public work of this state over other applicants for the same position who do not have a greater qualification.

(b) An individual who has an established service-connected disability and is entitled to a veteran's employment preference is entitled to preference for employment or appointment in a position for which a competitive examination is not held over all other applicants for the same position without a service-connected disability and who do not have a greater qualification.

(c) If a public entity or public work of this state requires a competitive examination under a merit system or civil service plan for selecting or promoting employees, an individual entitled to a veteran's employment preference who otherwise is qualified for that position and who has received at least the minimum required score for the test is entitled to have a service credit of 10 points added to the test score. An individual who has an established service-connected disability is entitled to have a service credit of five additional points added to the individual's test score.

(d) An individual entitled to a veteran's employment preference is not disqualified from holding a position with a public entity or public work of this state because of age or an established service-connected disability if the age or disability does not make the individual incompetent to perform the duties of the position.

(e) This chapter does not apply to:

(1) the position of private secretary or deputy of an official or department; or

(2) a person holding a strictly confidential relation to the appointing or employing officer.

Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 268, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.