§ 19-14-111 — Employment; permissive preference in private employment

(a) A private employer may grant preference to a veteran
in hiring and promotion.
(b) A private employer may grant preference in hiring and
promotion to a spouse of a disabled veteran and to a surviving
spouse of a deceased veteran.
(c) The granting of a preference based on a person's
status under subsection (a) or (b) of this section shall not be
considered a discriminatory or unfair employment practice under
local or state equal employment opportunity law, provided the
granting of the preference is not based in any manner on
consideration of a characteristic, attribute or category
enumerated in state law as constituting a discriminatory or
unfair employment practice.
(d) As used in this section:
(i) "Disabled veteran" means a veteran who has a
compensable service connected permanent and total disability
certified by the United States veterans administration or by the
retirement board of one (1) of the several branches of the armed
forces;
(ii) "Veteran" means a member of the armed forces of
the United States whose written evidence of separation from the
armed forces shows an honorable discharge or the rendition of
honorable military service.