MARVIN MANDEL, Governor

1371

system or systems of registration for said laborers or
otherwise as in its judgment will best provide for such
positions; and provide further as to all positions that
the Secretary may by his rules give preference in
competition for higher classes of positions to classified
service employees or to classified service employees of a
certain class or classes by giving credit for experience
and demonstrated efficiency (not to exceed twenty per
centum of all marks) in determining the relative fitness
for promotion of such employees. Veterans of the
military and naval services of the United States who
served a minimum of [ninety (]90[)] days or were released
prior to that length of service due to a
service—connected disability prior to January 31, 1955,
or who served on or after January 31, 1955 for a minimum
of [one hundred and eighty—one(]181[)] days of continuous
active duty or were released prior to that length of time
due to a service—connected disability, who have either
been honorably discharged or who have received a
certificate of satisfactory completion of such service,
and who have been bona fide residents of this State for
five years or more Immediately prior to filing an
application, shall be given special credit for such
service. Such war veterans who are disabled as a result
of their war service shall be given credit of ten points
in all examinations for appointments. Nondisabled
veterans shall be given a credit of five points in all
examinations for appointment. All such credit shall be
allowed only in determining the standing on the
certification of eligibles of said veteran.

(d) The same preference extended disabled veterans
shall be given to [wives] SPOUSES of such veterans as
have themselves been unable to qualify for merit system
appointment because of disability, and to the unmarried
[widows] [[WIDOWS OR WIDOWERS]] SURVIVING SPOUSE of
deceased veterans who had served in any branch of the
armed forces of the United States as aforesaid; such war
veterans under [fifty—five] 55 years of age granted
preference shall be released from age limitation, except
for positions of policemen and firemen. Such war
veterans having qualified with all such credits shall be
certified for appointment, employment, reinstatement or
reemployment before nonveterans with the same or lower
examination score.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act
shall take effect July 1, 1975.

Approved April 22, 1975.