Chapter 99-F: Veterans, Disabled Veterans', and Military Spouses' Preference in Public Employment

The state of New Hampshire shall grant a preference in hiring to veterans, disabled veterans, and military spouses.

In this chapter:

I. "Active duty" means full-time duty under Title 10 of the United States Code as an enlisted member, or as a commissioned or warrant officer, in any branch of the armed forces of the United States. Active duty shall not include attendance at a school under military orders, except schooling incident to an active enlistment or a regular tour of duty, or normal military training as a reserve officer or member of an organized reserve or a national guard unit.

II. "Armed forces" means the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard, including:

(a) The Army Reserve.

(b) The Navy Reserve.

(c) The Marine Corps Reserve.

(d) The Air Force Reserve.

(e) The Coast Guard Reserve.

(f) The Army National Guard of the United States.

(g) The Air National Guard of the United States.

III. "Combat zone" means an area designated by the President of the United States by executive order in which, on the dates designated by executive order, the armed forces of the United States are or have engaged in combat.

III-a. "Eligible service member" means a service member on active duty.

III-b. "Veteran or disabled veteran" shall include an eligible service member's military spouse.

IV. "Disabled veteran" means:

(a) A person entitled to disability compensation under the laws administered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs;

(b) A person whose discharge or release from active duty was for a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty; or

(c) A person who was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in combat.

V. "Public employer" means the state or any department of the state and any person authorized to act on behalf of the state or any department of the state with respect to control, management, or supervision of any employee.

VI. "Veteran" means a person who:

[Paragraph VI(a) effective until Aug. 31, 2026; see also paragraph VI(a) set out below.]

(a) Served on active duty with the armed forces of the United States:

(1) For more than 178 consecutive days and was honorably discharged or released from active duty;

(2) For 178 days or less and was honorably discharged or released from active duty; or

(3) For at least one day in a combat zone and was honorably discharged or released from active duty; or

[Paragraph VI(a) effective Aug. 31, 2026; see also paragraph VI(a) set out above.]

(a) Served on active duty with the armed forces of the United States:

(1) For more than 178 consecutive days and was discharged of a character outlined in RSA 21:50 or released from active duty;

(2) For 178 days or less and was honorably discharged or released from active duty; or

(3) For at least one day in a combat zone and was discharged of a character outlined in RSA 21:50 or released from active duty; or

(b) Received a combat or campaign ribbon for service in the armed forces of the United States.

I. A veteran or disabled veteran may use the preference for a position for state employment at any time after discharge or release from service in the armed forces of the United States.

II. A veteran or disabled veteran may claim the preference an unlimited number of times.

I. At each stage of the application process, a public employer shall grant a preference to an otherwise qualified veteran or disabled veteran who successfully completes an initial application screening and an application examination, or a state employment test administered by the public employer to establish eligibility for a vacant position for state employment.

II. For an initial application screening used to develop a list of persons for interviews, the public employer shall add 5 preference points to a veteran's score and 10 preference points to a disabled veteran's score.

III. For an application examination, administered after the initial application screening that results in a score, the public employer shall add 5 preference points to a veteran's and 10 preference points to a disabled veteran's total combined examination score without allocating the points to any single feature or part of the examination. The veteran or disabled veteran shall pass the examination with a qualifying score to be eligible to receive the veterans' preference.

IV. If a public employer uses an application examination that does not result in a score, the public employer shall devise and apply methods by which it gives special consideration in the hiring decision to veterans and disabled veterans.

I. A public employer shall appoint an otherwise qualified veteran or disabled veteran to a vacant position for state employment if the results of a veteran's or disabled veteran's application examination, when combined with the veteran's or disabled veteran's preference, are equal to or higher than the results of an application examination for an applicant who is not a veteran or disabled veteran.

II. A public employer may base a decision not to appoint the veteran or disabled veteran solely on the veteran's or disabled veteran's merits or qualifications with respect to the vacant position for state employment.

III. A public employer that does not appoint a veteran or disabled veteran to a vacant position for state employment, shall upon written request of the veteran or disabled veteran, provide an explanation of its decision.

I. A public employer shall require an applicant, at the time of application, to provide proof that the applicant is an eligible veteran or disabled veteran in order to be eligible for the veterans' or disabled veterans' preference.

II. An applicant for a position with a public employer who claims a veteran's or disabled veteran's preference shall submit as proof of eligibility:

(a) A copy of a qualifying document as outlined in RSA 21:50, I(b) with the application for employment; and

(b) Disabled veterans shall submit a copy of their veteran's summary of benefits letter from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, unless the information is included in the appropriate federal discharge documents.

III. If an applicant's record appears to show service qualifying for the preference, the public employer may provisionally designate an applicant as an eligible veteran or disabled veteran. However, before the applicant can be appointed, he or she shall submit proof of entitlement to the preference.

The department of administrative services shall adopt rules pursuant to RSA 541-A to implement the provisions of this chapter.