H. B. 3122
(By Delegates Longstreth, Fragale, Iaquinta,
Martin and Stemple)
[Introduced February 19, 2007; referred to the
Committee on Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security then the
Judiciary.]
A BILL to amend and reenact §9A-4-2 of the Code of West Virginia,
1931, as amended, relating to the definition of "eligible
veteran" for certain state training and employment preference
benefits; and including persons who served honorably in the
National Guard and reserves as eligible veterans.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That §9A-4-2 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended,
be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 4. VETERANS EMPLOYMENT TRAINING PRIORITY.
§9A-4-2. Definitions.
(a) "Eligible veteran" means a person who:
(1) Served on active duty and was discharged or released
from active duty with an honorable discharge or because of a
service connected disability; or
(2) As a member of a reserve component under an order to active duty, served on active duty during a period of war or in a
campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge or ribbon is
authorized and was discharged or released from
such duty with an
honorable discharge;
or
(3) Served as a member of a National Guard or reserve
component and completed his or her military obligation and received
an honorable discharge from the National Guard or reserve component
or was discharged from the National Guard or reserve component
because of a service connected disability.
(b) "Priority of service" means the right to priority in any
employment or training program offered citizens of West Virginia
which is funded, in whole or in part, through federal or state
moneys.
(c) "Reserve component" means any branch of the military,
which is called up to active duty including any military defense
forces.
(d) "Training program" means a program that provides training
leading to qualification for employment, or improved skills, or
both, funded, in whole or in part, through the workforce investment
act or another federal or state act administered through the state
and having as its primary purpose workforce development.
(e) "Training provider" means any private or public entity
which has been certified by competent authority to provide training
funded by federal or state funds appropriated in the budget under the jobs training partnership act or another federal or state act
having as its primary purpose workforce development.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to include persons who
served honorably in the National Guard and reserves as eligible
veterans for preference in employment training and employment.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from
the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would
be added.