Rep. Parish’s House Bill 165 Allows Military Work Experience to be Considered When Reviewing Candidates for State Jobs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 8, 2017
JUNEAU – Earlier today, Rep. Justin Parish (D-Juneau) introduced House Bill 165 to help more veterans qualify for state jobs. The bill allows military work experience and training to be considered when veterans may not meet the published minimum qualifications for a state job.
“Alaska has more veterans per capita than any other state in the nation and this simple bill will help many of those veterans use their skills to the benefit of the state of Alaska,” said Rep. Parish. “Many veterans have the experience and training to work for the state but they are often excluded from consideration because their military experience does not directly translate into meeting the published minimum qualifications. This bill helps veterans while simultaneously allowing veterans to help the state of Alaska.”
The Alaska Department of Administration works to ensure that the minimum qualifications for a job meet the needs for the state. However, experience in the armed forces can be so diverse that veterans often don’t meet the minimum qualifications despite the fact that their military experience or training obviously qualifies them for the job.
“If a veteran can show that their experience substantially meets the qualifications for a job, then the hiring manager should be able to consider that veteran,” said Rep. Parish. “The United States has already paid for the skills veterans developed while serving. I don’t see any reason why the state of Alaska shouldn’t benefit as well.”
HB 165 was formally introduced this morning and was referred to the Special Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs and the State Affairs Committee.
For more information, please contact Alaska House Majority Coalition Press Secretary Mike Mason at (907) 444-0889.
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