SENATE BILL

55th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2022

INTRODUCED BY

Harold Pope

AN ACT

RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT; ALLOWING PRIVATE EMPLOYERS TO PROVIDE A HIRING PREFERENCE FOR CERTAIN VETERANS AND VETERANS' SPOUSES, WIDOWS AND WIDOWERS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. [NEW MATERIAL] HIRING PREFERENCE FOR CERTAIN VETERANS AND VETERANS' SPOUSES, WIDOWS AND WIDOWERS.--

          A. A private employer may adopt an employment policy that gives preference in hiring to a veteran, the spouse of a veteran or the widow or widower of a veteran. The policy shall be applied uniformly to employment decisions regarding hiring and promotion.

          B. The hiring preference provided in Subsection A of this section shall not be considered a violation of any state or local equal employment opportunity law.

          C. As used in this section, "veteran" means a person who has received an honorable discharge from military service or whose separation from military service was under honorable conditions.

     SECTION 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2022.

- 2 -