AI-assisted research summary: State agencies must give qualifying individuals a military employment preference, and some qualified veterans get added test-score credits.
Sec. 657.003. MILITARY EMPLOYMENT PREFERENCE. (a) An individual who qualifies for a military employment preference is entitled to a preference in employment with or appointment to a state agency over other applicants for the same position who do not have a greater qualification. (b) A state agency shall provide to an individual entitled to a military employment preference for employment or appointment over other applicants for the same position who do not have a greater qualification a military employment preference, in the following order of priority: (1) a veteran with a disability; (2) a veteran; (3) a spouse described by Section 657.002(4) or (5); (4) a veteran's surviving spouse who has not remarried; and (5) an orphan of a veteran if the veteran was killed while on active duty. (c) If a state agency requires a competitive examination under a merit system or civil service plan for selecting or promoting employees, an individual entitled to a military 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. A veteran with a 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 military employment preference is not disqualified from holding a position with a state agency 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. Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 268, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993. Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 195 (S.B. 805), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2015. Amended by: Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1100 (S.B. 1376), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2023.