(330 ILCS 56/1) Sec. 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Veterans Preference in Private Employment Act. (Source: P.A. 99-152, eff. 1-1-16.)

(330 ILCS 56/5) Sec. 5. Purpose. The General Assembly intends to establish a permissive preference in private employment for certain veterans. (Source: P.A. 99-152, eff. 1-1-16.)

(330 ILCS 56/10) Sec. 10. Definitions. As used in this Act:"Armed forces of the United States" means the United States Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard, or the reserve component of any of those, and includes the Illinois National Guard. "Private employer" means any non-public sole proprietor, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or other private, non-public entity employing one or more employees within Illinois."Veteran" means an individual who meets one or more of the following:(1) has served on active duty with the armed forces

of the United States for a period of more than 180 days and was discharged or released from active duty under conditions other than dishonorable;

(2) was discharged or released from active duty with

the armed forces of the United States because of a service-connected disability; or

(3) is a member of the Illinois National Guard who

has never been deployed but separated under conditions other than dishonorable as noted on the individual's NGB-22 discharge form.

"Veterans' preference employment policy" means a private employer's voluntary preference for hiring, promoting, or retaining a veteran over another equally qualified applicant or employee. (Source: P.A. 99-152, eff. 1-1-16.)

(330 ILCS 56/15) Sec. 15. Veterans' preference employment policy. A private employer may adopt and apply a voluntary veterans' preference employment policy if:(1) the veterans' preference employment policy is in

writing;

(2) the veterans' preference employment policy is

publicly posted by the private employer at the place of employment or on any website maintained by the private employer;

(3) the private employer's job application informs

all applicants of the veterans' preference employment policy and where the policy may be obtained; and

(4) the private employer applies the veterans'

preference employment policy uniformly for all employment decisions regarding the hiring or promotion of veterans or the retention of veterans during a reduction in force.

(Source: P.A. 99-152, eff. 1-1-16.)

(330 ILCS 56/20) Sec. 20. Verification of eligibility. A private employer who maintains a veterans' preference employment policy pursuant to Section 15 of this Act may require and rely on an applicant's or employee's Department of Defense DD214/DD215 forms or their predecessor or successor forms, an applicant's or employee's NGB-22 discharge form or its predecessor or successor forms (if a member of the National Guard), and a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs award letter (if the applicant or employee is claiming a service-connected disability) to establish eligibility for such policy. (Source: P.A. 99-152, eff. 1-1-16.)

(330 ILCS 56/25) Sec. 25. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted). (Source: P.A. 99-152, eff. 1-1-16; text omitted.)