Florida Veterans Preference in Public Employment

Section 295.07 requires the state and its political subdivisions to give preference in appointment and retention. The departments page lists the eligible people: a disabled veteran with an honorable discharge and a present compensable service-connected disability, or who is receiving VA or Defense compensation, disability retirement, or pension; the spouse of a person whose service-connected disability is total and permanent and who cannot qualify for employment because of it, and the spouse of a person missing in action, captured, or forcibly detained; a wartime veteran who served at least one day during a wartime period, not counting active duty for training; the unremarried widow or widower of a veteran who died of a service-connected disability; the unremarried widow or widower, or the parent or legal guardian, of a service member who died in the line of duty under combat-related conditions; a veteran as section 1.01(14) defines that word; and a current member of a reserve component or the Florida National Guard. The discharge for a veteran has to be honorable. When an exam produces the hiring score, section 295.08 adds points after a qualifying score: 20 points for the disabled veteran and the spouse in section 295.07(1)(a) or (b), 15 points for the wartime veteran, the unremarried surviving spouse, and the Gold Star family member in paragraphs (c), (d), and (e), and 10 points for the other veteran and the current reserve or Guard member. Except for positions designated professional or technician, a person eligible for the 20-point preference whose service-connected disability is rated 30% or more is placed at the top of the register. Where the employer does not use a numeric score, preference still applies at each step of hiring for a person who meets the requirements. Preference is not a guarantee of selection over a more qualified applicant outside the special 30% placement rule. The state and a political subdivision may waive a postsecondary education requirement, other than for positions exempt under the statute, for an otherwise qualified veteran with an honorable discharge or a current reserve or Florida National Guard member. Job announcements have to say that preference is available. Complaints go through the department and can reach the Public Employees Relations Commission. Wartime service, a compensable rating, and family categories all qualify. The rating filter does not hide this benefit.