65-506. FAILING OR REFUSING TO GIVE PREFERENCE — CIVIL LIABILITY. (1) Applicants who believe they have been denied a right or benefit under this chapter may file an appeal with the governing body of the jurisdiction or unit of government within thirty-five (35) days of the alleged denial of preference. If an applicant has notified the public employer of the applicant’s eligibility for preference pursuant to section 65-503A, Idaho Code, the public employer shall provide notice of the appeal process at the conclusion of the selection process. If the public employer does not initiate the appeal process within thirty-five (35) days of a written request by the applicant, the applicant may file an appeal directly in district court pursuant to subsection (3) of this section. The thirty-five (35) day period for appeal shall commence upon the issuance of notice of the appeal process by the public employer. If the public employer fails to issue such notice, the thirty-five (35) day period for appeal shall commence when the applicant becomes aware that he was not selected for the position.

(2) The division of veterans services is authorized and directed to issue rules for the enforcement of this chapter. Such rules shall include, but are not limited to, procedures public employers may implement for an internal process which must be exhausted prior to gaining access to the courts.

(3) Any public employer who deliberately or willfully refuses or fails to give preference to qualified veterans required by the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to writs of mandate pursuant to sections 7-301 through 7-314, Idaho Code, and if found in violation of any such provisions shall be required to pay the costs of suit and reasonable attorney’s fees incurred in such action, and may further be required to employ or reemploy the veteran, and shall be required to pay as damages such amount as the court may award, but in no event shall the amount of such damages and costs of suit exceed the sum of five thousand dollars ($5,000) or ten percent (10%) of the annual salary of the position, whichever is higher. Such action must be commenced not more than one hundred eighty (180) days from the alleged denial of preference, provided however, applicants for classified state employment remain subject to the procedures set forth in section 67-5316, Idaho Code. If an appeal process is in place pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, the one hundred eighty (180) days will not begin until that process has been exhausted.

History:

[(65-506) 65-505, added 1949, ch. 279, sec. 5, p. 571; am. 1972, ch. 51, sec. 4, p. 90; am. and redesig. 2006, ch. 51, sec. 7, p. 150; am. 2011, ch. 284, sec. 5, p. 776.]