GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
1997 SESSION

S.L. 1997-171
SENATE BILL 936

AN ACT TO PROVIDE PRIORITY IN EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE FOR UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES VETERANS.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

Section 1.  Chapter 165 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new Article to read:
"ARTICLE 7A.
"Priority in Employment Assistance for United States Armed Forces Veterans.
"§ 165-44.1.  Purpose. 
The General Assembly finds and declares that veterans in North Carolina represent a strong, productive part of the workforce of this State and are disadvantaged in their pursuit of civilian employment through their delayed entry into the civilian labor market and that it is only proper and in the public interest and public welfare that veterans be provided priority in programs of employment and job training assistance.
"§ 165-44.2.  Veteran defined. 
For the purposes of this Article, 'veteran' means a person who served on active duty (other than for training) in any component of the United States Armed Forces for a period of 180 days or more, unless released earlier because of service-connected disability, and who was discharged or released from the armed forces under honorable conditions.
"§ 165-44.3.  Priority defined. 
For the purposes of this Article, 'priority' for veterans means that eligible veterans who register or otherwise apply for services shall be extended the opportunity to participate in or otherwise receive the services of the covered providers before the providers extend the opportunity or services to other registered applicants.
"§165-44.4.  Coverage defined. 
This Article shall apply to any State agency, department and institution, any county, city, or other political subdivision of the State, any board or commission, and any other public or private recipient which:
(1)	Receives federal job training funds provided to the State or job training funds appropriated by the General Assembly; and
(2)	Provides employment and job training assistance programs and services, including but not limited to employability assessments, support services referrals, and vocational and educational counseling.
"§165-44.5.  Priority employment assistance directed. 
All covered service providers, as specified in G.S. 165-44.4, shall establish procedures to provide veterans with priority, not inconsistent with existing federal or State law, to participate in employment and job training assistance programs.
"§ 165-44.6.  Implementation and performance measures. 
The North Carolina Commission on Workforce Preparedness shall:
(1)	Issue implementing directives that shall apply to all covered service providers as specified in G.S. 165-44.4, and revise those directives as necessary to accomplish the purpose of this Article.
(2)	Develop measures of service for veterans that will serve as indicators of compliance with the provisions of this Article by all covered service providers.
(3)	Annually publish and submit to the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations, beginning not later than October 1, 1998, a report detailing covered providers' compliance with the provisions of this Article."
Section 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 3rd day of June, 1997.
s/	Dennis A. Wicker
President of the Senate

s/	Harold J. Brubaker
Speaker of the House of Representatives

s/	James B. Hunt, Jr.
Governor

Approved 3:30 p.m. this 12th day of June, 1997