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Legislature expands state job openings for veterans
The Associated Press

    With a goal of a job for all returning disabled veterans, New York’s Legislature on Wednesday made it easier for veterans returning from overseas to start careers in state government.
    The bill, passed in the Senate Wednesday and in the Assembly May 5, allows the state to reclassify 200 more entry-level competitive class positions to noncompetitive. The move is expected to promote appointment of veterans with disabilities and serve as an example to the private sector of how disabled veterans diversify and strengthen a work force.
    That will increase the number of these jobs to 500, from 300, a level that hadn’t changed since 1987. Those 500 jobs will include duties that can be done by disabled veterans and may be filled only by veterans of the armed services who served in a time of war, according to the law. Purple Heart medal recipients are given preference.
    The law states that veterans must be medically certified for the jobs, but won’t have to take written or spoken examinations. They must still meet educational or experience requirements.
    “It’s important because we’re at war and we sustained many casualties,” said Senate Veterans Committee Chairman Vincent Leibell, whose district includes Dutchess, Putnam and Westchester counties. “The goal is make sure every disabled veteran and every veteran, when they return, have a job and we get a disciplined worker and probably a greater career worker.”