NASHVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – House Bill 165/Senate Bill 209 (Sen. Mark Green, R-Clarksville) passed the House of Representatives Thursday by a unanimous vote, according to an update from Rep. Joe Pitts.
The Senate Commerce and Labor Committee also passed the legislation by a unanimous vote on March 7. It should be heard in the full State Senate next week.
“Thank you to my colleagues in the House for their support of this legislation to help the business community hire veterans and family members of veterans. This was indeed a group effort beginning with the Montgomery County Veterans Coalition and the hundreds of veterans who descended on Nashville last month to push for passage. That support made the difference,” Pitts said.
This legislation was brought to Pitts and Green the U.S. Department of Defense.
Pitts said many companies would like to give special consideration for hiring veterans because of their unique skill sets, proven work ethic, and reliability, but may be hesitant to do so out of concern of violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Title VII, Section 11 of the Civil Rights Act, however, contains a carve-out that exempts veterans’ preference processes that are authorized by state statue.