HF 453 – Veterans’ preference for certain appointments made by counties, cities
HF 545 – Add ‘initial screening for brain injury’ as eligible VTF category
COMMITTEE ACTION:
HF 453 establishes a veterans’ preference for deputy county sheriff positions under Code 341.A. Veterans will be given an extra 5 percentage points to the grade or score attained in qualifying exams or tests for appointment as a deputy county sheriff. An additional 5 percentage points will be added if the veteran has a service-connected disability or has been awarded a Purple Heart incurred in action. The points will only be given if the veteran passes the exam, and the points cannot be the determining points in passing. If a veteran eligible for preference was honorably discharged between 45 days before and 60 days after a civil service exam was administered, the veteran may be allowed to take the exam up to 90 days after the exam was first held. If appropriate, the veteran’s name will be added to the list of potential candidates to fill a vacant deputy county sheriff position. For this section, “veteran” is defined by Code 35.1, except the individual does not need to be an Iowa resident. The bill also allows a city civil service commission to extend the employment examination deadline by 90 days for a veteran eligible for preference if the individual was honorably discharged between 45 days before and 60 days after a civil service exam was administered. If appropriate, the veteran’s name will be added to the list of potential candidates to fill a vacant city position other than appointment as chief of a police or a fire department. [4/2: short form]
HF 545 creates a new allowable expenditure category in the Veterans Trust Fund (VTF) for initial screening for a military service-connected traumatic brain injury for an individual who cannot receive payment or reimbursement through any other federal or state program or through a veteran’s private health insurance or managed care organization. As with other VTF categories (e.g., vision, hearing, dental care, durable medical equipment, emergency home or vehicle repairs), the applicant must be below 200 percent of the federal poverty level to be eligible for financial assistance. The Iowa Commission of Veterans Affairs reviews and decides on all applications. [4/2: short form]