HB 2-PRIV EMPLOYER VOLUNTARY VET PREFERENCE                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:16:48 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR KITO  announced that the  first order of business  would be                                                               
HOUSE BILL NO. 2, "An Act  relating to a voluntary preference for                                                               
veterans by private  employers."  [Before the  committee was CSHB                                                               
2(MLV).]                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:17:21 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
VERDIE BOWEN, Director, Office of  Veteran Affairs, Department of                                                               
Military & Veterans Affairs, offered support  for HB 2 due to the                                                               
effects  it  will  have on  communities  when  private  employers                                                               
provide [voluntary  preference for members of  the National Guard                                                               
and  veterans], and  because it  also provides  legal cover  that                                                               
employers may  need in providing  this preference.  This  law, if                                                               
passed, would  fall in line  with 37 other states  also providing                                                               
this coverage, he offered.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:18:40 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ROBERT  DOEHL,  Deputy  Commissioner, Department  of  Military  &                                                               
Veterans  Affairs (DMVA),  said he  would like  to reiterate  Mr.                                                               
Bowen's comments, and that the  Department of Military & Veterans                                                               
Affairs (DMVA)  strongly supports this legislation  in removing a                                                               
legal impediment  to private employers that  public employers are                                                               
currently allowed to provide.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR KITO closed public testimony on HB 2.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:19:20 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE WOOL  moved to report CSHB  2, labeled 30-LS0071\D                                                               
out  of   committee  with  individual  recommendations   and  the                                                               
accompanying  fiscal  notes.   There  being  no  objection,  CSHB                                                               
2(MLV)  passed  from  the  House   Labor  and  Commerce  Standing                                                               
Committee.