(1) The Department of Veterans’ Affairs or its designee shall, upon the written request of any person specified in s. 295.07, investigate any complaint filed with the department by such person when the person has applied to any state agency or any agency of a political subdivision in the state for a position of employment which was awarded to a nonveteran and the person feels aggrieved under this chapter. The Department of Veterans’ Affairs shall review each case and may issue an opinion to the Public Employees Relations Commission as to the merit or lack of merit in each case. The investigation must be accomplished within existing amounts appropriated to the department.
(2) Upon completion of the investigation, the department shall furnish a copy of the investigative findings to the complainant and to the agency involved.
(3) When a satisfactory resolution to the complaint is not forthcoming, any department of the state or political subdivision in the state may testify telephonically or in person at the discretion of the Public Employees Relations Commission. The complainant, however, may be represented at the hearing by counsel of his or her choice at his or her expense.
(4) Jurisdiction to effectuate the purposes of ss. 295.07-295.09 shall vest with the Public Employees Relations Commission for appropriate administrative determination. If, upon preliminary review of the Public Employees Relations Commission, the commission agrees with the department’s determination that a case lacks merit and finds, in its discretion, that there was a complete absence of justiciable issues of either law or fact raised by the veterans’ preference complaint, the Public Employees Relations Commission shall dismiss the complaint without the necessity of holding a hearing.
History.—s. 5, ch. 24201, 1947; ss. 18, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 3, ch. 77-422; s. 4, ch. 78-372; s. 33, ch. 79-190; s. 4, ch. 80-370; s. 79, ch. 86-163; s. 8, ch. 87-356; s. 23, ch. 88-290; s. 113, ch. 92-279; s. 55, ch. 92-326; s. 251, ch. 95-148; s. 6, ch. 98-33; s. 82, ch. 99-13.
Structure Florida Statutes
Chapter 295 - Laws Relating to Veterans: General Provisions
295.011 - Disabled Veterans; Education.
295.015 - Children of Prisoners of War and Persons Missing in Action; Education.
295.016 - Children of Servicemembers Who Died or Became Disabled in Operation Eagle Claw.
295.018 - Children of Servicemembers Who Died in Newfoundland Air Tragedy; Educational Opportunity.
295.019 - Children of Servicemembers Who Died in u.s.s. Stark Attack.
295.02 - Use of Funds; Age, Etc.
295.03 - Minimum Requirements.
295.04 - Appropriation; Benefits.
295.05 - Admission; Enrollment.
295.061 - Active Duty Servicemembers; Death Benefits.
295.07 - Preference in Appointment and Retention.
295.08 - Positions for Which a Numerically Based Selection Process Is Used.
295.085 - Positions for Which a Numerically Based Selection Process Is Not Used.
295.09 - Reinstatement or Reemployment; Promotion Preference.
295.11 - Investigation; Administrative Hearing for Not Employing Preferred Applicant.
295.123 - Deserters and Others; Inapplicability of Chapter.
295.124 - State Approving Agency for Veterans’ Education and Training.
295.125 - Preference for Admission to Career Training.
295.155 - Military Retirement Based on Longevity.
295.156 - Alternative Treatment Options for Veterans.
295.16 - Disabled Veterans Exempt From Certain License or Permit Fee.
295.17 - Identification Cards.
295.186 - Removal of Certain Forms From Official Records.
295.187 - Florida Veteran Business Enterprise Opportunity Act.
295.188 - Preference in Hiring Veterans for Private Employers.
295.21 - Florida Is for Veterans, Inc.
295.22 - Veterans Employment and Training Services Program.