03/26/2015 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE

        SB   2-EMPLOYMENT PREFERENCE: VETERAN & SPOUSES                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
1:58:40 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  COSTELLO   reconvened  the   meeting  and   announced  the                                                               
consideration  of  SB   2.  "An  Act  relating   to  a  voluntary                                                               
preference for veterans and for  spouses and domestic partners of                                                               
veterans  by private  employers."  She noted  that  this was  the                                                               
second hearing.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
1:59:31 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  GIESSEL  moved to  adopt  the  proposed  CS for  SB  14,                                                               
labeled 29-LS0041\P, as the working document.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR COSTELLO objected for discussion purposes.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:59:57 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR BILL WIELECHOWSKI, sponsor of  SB 2, said his staff would                                                               
explain the changes in the CS.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
2:00:10 PM                                                                                                                    
KALYSSA  MAILE, Staff,  Senator Bill  Wielechowski, reviewed  the                                                               
changes  in the  CS  for SB  2:  1)  the scope  of  the bill  was                                                               
narrowed to  extend the voluntary  employment preference  to just                                                               
veterans,  not spouses  and partners;  and 2)  the definition  of                                                               
"veteran"  was enhanced  to include  National  Guard members  and                                                               
members of  reserve units.  In response  to an  earlier question,                                                               
she confirmed  that Coast  Guard members  are included  under the                                                               
definition of the Armed Forces of the United States.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR STEVENS expressed satisfaction with the answer.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR COSTELLO  thanked the sponsor for  bringing the legislation                                                               
forward.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
2:01:16 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR GIESSEL moved to report CS for SB 2, labeled 29-                                                                        
LS0041\P, from committee with individual recommendations and                                                                    
attached zero fiscal note.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR COSTELLO announced that without objection CSSB 2(L&C) is                                                                  
reported from the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.