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Andrzejczak, Benson Bill Encourage Veteran Hiring in School Districts Clears First Legislative Hurdle

(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by Assemblymen Bob Andrzejczak and Daniel Benson to promote the hiring of New Jersey military veterans in school districts was advanced by an Assembly panel on Thursday.

“The more we can do to get military veterans back to work and in stable employment the better it will be for New Jersey’s military families,” said Andrzejczak (Cape May, Atlantic and Cumberland). “Veterans returning home are looking for opportunities to use their skills and hard work ethic to contribute to today’s society. This legislation will give veterans an additional path to pursue for employment.”

The bill (A-987) would provide a school district with the ability to give hiring preference to veterans. In order to be eligible for the preference under the bill when applying for employment with a school district, a veteran must be equally qualified in all measurable criteria with all other candidates for the position.
“Finding viable job opportunities after deployment has proven difficult for our military veterans,” said Benson (Mercer and Middlesex). “The more doors we can open for them the easier it becomes for veterans to return to work quickly and, also, to a sense of normalcy in their civilian life.”

The legislation also specifies that in the case of a school district that has adopted Title 11A, Civil Service, of the New Jersey Statutes – approximately ten school districts – the veteran preference provisions of the chapter for those in the classified service of the civil service will supersede the bill’s provision.

The bill was approved by the Assembly Military and Veterans Affairs Committee.