Veterans Preference in Minnesota Public Employment

The Minnesota Veterans Preference Act (VPA) grants most veterans a limited preference over non-veterans in hiring and promotion for most Minnesota public employment positions, as granted in Minnesota Statutes 197.48, 43A.11, and 197.455. These statues may apply to certain spouses of veterans. The Minnesota VPA Statutes apply to Minnesota public employment, "civil service laws, charter provisions, ordinances, rules or regulations of a county, city , town, school district, or other municipality or political subdivision of this state."

For Minnesota VPA purposes, Minnesota Statute 197.447 provides the definition/eligibility requirements of "veteran." Minnesota Statute 197.46 grants most veterans protection against unfair dismissals and demotions from most Minnesota public positions, without first providing the veteran a VPA hearing. Spouses of veterans are not included. Minnesota Statute 197.46 exempts the following public positions, "Nothing in section 197.455 or this section (197.46) shall be construed to apply to the position of private secretary, superintendent of schools, or one chief deputy of any elected official or head of a department, or to any person holding a strictly confidential relation to the appointing officer."

General overview of 2010 Session changes that impact MN Veteran Preference Rights

Disclaimer: The following is intended for general information purposes only and should not be considered legal advice.

• 2010 Minnesota Legislative Update

Statutes

For copies of the most current published VPA Statutes, please visit www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us

The Minnesota VPA Statutes do NOT have authority regarding veterans’ preference rights for U.S. Federal employment positions, including, but not limited to U.S. Postal positions.  Questions regarding Veterans Preference rights relative to U.S. Federal positions should be directed to Mr. Kevin Nagel, the local U.S. Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Representative at (651) 259-7511 or e-mail Nagel.kevin@dol.gov.

Reference material

• Definition of Minnesota Veteran for state benefits (PDF)
• Veterans Status Bulletin (MDVA Bulletin #1 - 1 September 2009)
• Best Practice VPA Application Form - A very “Best Practices Examples” that a MN pubic employer uses to obtain, score,  and award Veteran Preference points during the employment process.
• VPA Resource Briefing for Employers
• Veterans Preference Brochure

You may contact MDVA's Veterans Preference Representative at: (651) 757-1568.