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| Date: | April 19, 2012 | | Contact Name: | Sandra Whalen | | Contact Phone: | 651-296-5238 | | Contact Email: | sandra.whalen@senate.mn | | For Immediate Release | |
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| DALEY VETERANS EMPLOYMENT, OTHERS BILLS SIGNED |
DALEY VETERANS EMPLOYMENT, OTHERS BILLS SIGNED
(ST. PAUL) – A bill sponsored by Eagan Senator Ted Daley that will allow Minnesota companies the option to put in place their own veterans hiring programs where previously the federal government had prohibited hiring preferences was signed into law Wednesday. It received unanimous approval in both houses.
SF 1599 gives protections and allows, but does not mandate that private companies have the option to take steps to help solve our state’s veteran employment crisis. Daley, a U.S. Army Reserve officer who was deployed into combat sites in the Middle East three times, said that U.S. veterans are experiencing unemployment at rates more the twice the general population, and this rate is even higher in Minnesota where our Reserve Forces have a very high rates of volunteerism and deployment.
“This bill will simplify the hiring process for veterans so that we can capitalize upon the range of talents and professional values that service members bring to our businesses and communities,” he added.
Daley was a co-author of SF1689, also signed Wednesday, which encourages the state to make a greater effort to hire veterans by adding them to the list of protected groups for jobs in state civil service, and make them more sought out for recruitment by the state. The change puts the state on par with the private sector in veterans’ re-employment contests and removes the state immunity from liability in adherence to federal age discrimination, fair labor standards, family and medical leave, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) laws.
The Governor also signed Senator Daley’s SF 1964, which requires the state building code window cleaning safety measures for multiple-level buildings, and SF 1492, a bill that changes the date of Fallen Firefighters Memorial Day.
More information about Senator Daley’s legislative activities and committee assignments can be found online at www.senate.mn/senatordaley.
