NOW LAW: DEANGELO, MUKHERJI & BENSON BILL EXTENDING CIVIL SERVICE PREFERENCE TO ADDITIONAL MILITARY

In order to ensure more veterans are eligible for hiring preference when applying to State jobs, a bill sponsored by Assembly Democrats Wayne DeAngelo, Raj Mukherji and Daniel Benson extending civil service preference to additional military service members was signed into law Tuesday.

Sometimes a military operation has not yet been classified as a theater of war, or a military member participated in combat but was not officially assigned to that theater. These technicalities have disqualified those military members from receiving civil service preference for government jobs.

Under the new law (formerly bill A-259), military members who did not officially serve in a theater of operation but received a campaign or expedition medal in recognition of their service will be able to receive the same hiring preference for which many of their fellow veterans are eligible.

Upon the legislation becoming law, Assemblymen DeAngelo (D-Mercer, Middlesex), Mukherji (D-Hudson), and Benson (D-Mercer, Middlesex) issued the following joint statement:

“Veterans who participated in a military campaign for which a medal has been designated or supported combat operations without direct presence in the actual theater of war should not be denied civil service preference for their faithful service to our country. This law will address an unnecessary distinction to assist certain service members in their quest for civilian employment.”