Veterans preference

(1) Each government entity shall grant a veterans preference upon initial application to each preference eligible individual according to the procedures and requirements of this chapter. (2) The personnel or human resource officer of any government entity shall add to the score of a preference eligible who receives a passing score on an examination, or any rating or ranking mechanism used in selecting an individual for any career service position with the government entity: (a) 5% of the total possible score, if the preference eligible is a veteran or service member; (b) 10% of the total possible score, if the preference eligible is a veteran or service member with a disability or a purple heart recipient; or (c) in the case of a preference eligible spouse or surviving spouse, the same percentage the qualifying veteran or service member is, or would have been, entitled to. (3) A preference eligible who applies for a position that does not require an examination, or where examination results are other than a numeric score, shall be given preference in interviewing for the position. (4) Preference eligibility shall be added to a minimum of one step in the process. (5) The granting of a veterans preference by a government entity in accordance with this chapter is not a violation of: (a) Title 34A, Chapter 5, Utah Antidiscrimination Act; or (b) any other state or local equal employment opportunity law.