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natural fit in city government. Across the <br />state, cities are partners in working with and <br />ensuring veterans have a variety of <br />opportunities afforded to them given their <br />sacrifice and service. The purpose of the <br />Minnesota Veteran's Preference Act (VPA) <br />is to facilitate the transition of veterans from <br />the military to civilian life and to help <br />compensate veterans for their sacrifices of <br />health and time to the community, state and <br />nation. The VPA grants veterans limited <br />preference over nonveterans in hiring and <br />promotion for most state and local <br />government employment to recognize the <br />training and experience they received as a <br />result of serving in the military. It also <br />provides local government employees who <br />are veterans some protection against unfair <br />demotions and dismissals. These preferences <br />and protections are commonly referred to as <br />"veteran's preference" and are codified in <br />Minn. Stat. §§ 43A.11, 197.455, 197.46, <br />197.48, and 197.481. <br />Once a veteran has completed an initial <br />probationary period upon hire, they cannot <br />be removed from their position or <br />employment, except for incompetency or <br />misconduct shown after a properly noticed <br />hearing. Currently, a veteran can only be <br />placed on probation upon hire but not <br />following a promotion. It is common <br />practice to place employees on probation <br />following employee promotion making this <br />restriction inconsistent with current practice <br />and procedure. <br />Termination hearings are held before the <br />local civil service commission or before an <br />arbitrator and Minn. Stat. § 197.46 allows a <br />veteran to choose a hearing before the local <br />civil service commission, or an arbitrator. <br />Members of civil service commissions are <br />chosen for their expertise and experience <br />with employment law. Hiring an arbitrator <br />for a hearing instead of utilizing an <br />116 <br />established civil service commission is <br />inefficient. <br />Response: The League of Minnesota <br />Cities recognizes the important <br />contributions veterans have made and <br />supports giving veterans limited <br />preference in employment. To strengthen <br />and improve the VPA, the legislature <br />should: <br />a) Allow cities to place veterans on <br />probationary periods upon promotion <br />as they do with other employees; and <br />b) Restore the language in Minn. Stat. § <br />197.46 requiring a hearing to be held <br />before a local civil service commission <br />where one exists. <br />HR-16. Military Leave <br />Reimbursement <br />Issue: Minn. Stat. § 192.26 subd. 1, requires <br />local units of government to provide 15 days <br />of compensation per year to employees who <br />are members of the military for military <br />leave. State laws give preference to hiring <br />veterans for public sector jobs, and, citizen <br />soldiers are a natural fit to also serve as <br />public safety personnel. As such, many <br />public safety personnel are often also <br />members of the military and are required to <br />conduct training and military duties <br />throughout the year. <br />In addition to providing compensation for <br />mandatory military leave, cities must also <br />ensure that these temporary vacancies are <br />adequately filled by public safety personnel <br />whose training and qualifications are unique <br />to providing public safety. This can result in <br />added overtime costs and may impact public <br />safety service levels. <br />Government employers honor and recognize <br />the importance of ensuring members of the <br />military are able to fulfill their duties and <br />