This year a minor change in the Illinois Veterans Preference Act could mean more job opportunities for those who have served their country. Rep. Norine Hammond introduced HB4288 earlier this year that would add qualifying members of the National Guard from any state, who now live in Illinois, to the Veterans Preference Act.
Currently, the act allows US Armed Forces veterans (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps or Coast Guard), Merchant Marines or members of the Illinois National Guard to qualify for preference in certain state jobs. However, if a current Illinois resident served in the Guard of another state they would not qualify, an oversight Hammond hopes to rectify with her legislation.
This is good legislation that will ensure everyone who serves our county has an opportunity to qualify for jobs covered by the Illinois Veterans Preference Act.