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PPS -I. Veterans' Preference (A) <br />Current statutes entitle a veteran to at least two different hearing <br />procedures to challenge any disciplinary actiun. This is not only grossly <br />inefficient but may also he unworkable since the standards for court review of <br />the decisions of veterans' preference boards and grievance arbitrators vary <br />significantly. <br />The Minnesota Supreme Court in a recent decision also has indicated to the <br />Legislature that these statutes need to be amended. The law should provide for <br />a selection of a single hearing procedure and eliminate any requirement for <br />salary payment pending the hearing when the veteran does not request a hearing <br />within lU days or when an impartial hearing body determines that the dismissal <br />was for just cause. <br />Currently an employee has 60 days from the date of the employer's notice to <br />discipline or dismiss to request a hearing and if a hearing is requested, there <br />are no time lines for holding hearings or rendering decisions. <br />Under this current system, a termination determination can, and has, taken <br />more than a year, during which the employee receives full pay and benefits. The <br />result is extremely costly to cities, particularly small cities, which often <br />must hire replacement workers for this period. The League's proposal to provide <br />a more expedited process would not infringe on the employee's right to a <br />hearing, but would ensure a more efficient and cost-effective procedure. <br />