,,ii #aae? ,,congress #a/ ,session ,s4 #dch ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,! ,,unit$ ,,/ates ,febru>y #ag 7legislative day1 ,febru>y #af71 #bjag,mr4 ,blunt 7= himself & ,mr4 ,man*97 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,heal?1 ,education1 ,labor1 & ,p5sions ,a ,,bill ,to enc\rage effective1 volunt>y inve/m5ts to recruit1 employ1 & reta9 m5 & wom5 :o h s]v$ 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates milit>y ) annual ,f$]al aw>ds to employ]s recogniz+ su* ef=ts1 & = o!r purposes4 #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,honor+ ,inve/m5ts 9 ,recruit+ & ,employ+ ,am]ican ,milit>y ,vet]ans ,act ( #bjag or ! ,,hire ,vets ,act4 #b4 ,,hire ,vets ,m$allion ,aw>d program 7a7 ,program ,e/abli%$ ,n lat] ?an #b ye>s aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y ( ,labor %all e/abli%1 by rule1 a ,,hire ,vets ,m$allion ,program to solicit volunt>y in=mation f employ]s = purposes ( recogniz+1 by means ( an aw>d to be designat$ a ,,hire ,vets ,m$allion ,aw>d1 v]ifi$ ef=ts by su* employ]s-- 7#a7 to recruit1 employ1 & reta9 vet]ans2 & 7#b7 to provide community & *>itable s]vices support+ ! vet]an community4 7b7 ,application ,process ,beg9n+ 9 ! cal5d> ye> foll[+ ! cal5d> ye> 9 :i* ! ,secret>y e/abli%es ! program1 ! ,secret>y %all annually-- 7#a7 solicit & accept volunt>y applications f employ]s 9 ord] to consid] :e!r ^? employ]s %\ld receive a ,,hire ,vets ,m$allion ,aw>d2 7#b7 review applications receiv$ 9 ea* cal5d> ye>2 7#c7 notify su* recipi5ts ( _! aw>ds2 & 7#d7 at a "t to co9cide ) ! annual commemoration ( ,vet]ans ,day-- 7,a7 ann\nce ! names ( su* recipi5ts2 7,b7 recognize su* recipi5ts ?r\gh publication 9 ! ,f$]al ,regi/]2 & 7,c7 issue to ea* su* recipi5t-- 7i7 a ,,hire ,vets ,m$allion ,aw>d ( ! level det]m9$ "u section #c2 & 7ii7 a c]tificate /at+ t su* employ] is entitl$ to display su* ,,hire ,vets ,m$allion ,aw>d4 7c7 ,tim+ 7#a7 ,solicitation p]iod ,! ,secret>y %all solicit applications n lat] ?an ,janu>y #ca/ ( ea* cal5d> ye> = ! ,aw>ds to be aw>d$ 9 ,novemb] ( t cal5d> ye>4 7#b7 ,end ( acceptance p]iod ,! ,secret>y %all /op accept+ applications n e>li] ?an ,april #cj? ( ea* cal5d> ye> = ! ,aw>ds to be aw>d$ 9 ,novemb] ( t cal5d> ye>4 7#c7 ,review p]iod ,! ,secret>y %all f9i% review+ applications n lat] ?an ,augu/ #ca/ ( ea* cal5d> ye> = ! ,aw>ds to be aw>d$ 9 ,novemb] ( t cal5d> ye>4 7#d7 ,selection ( recipi5ts ,! ,secret>y %all select ! employ]s to receive ,,hire ,vets ,m$allion ,aw>ds n lat] ?an ,septemb] #cj? ( ea* cal5d> ye> = ! ,aw>ds to be aw>d$ 9 ,novemb] ( t cal5d> ye>4 7#e7 ,notice to recipi5ts ,! ,secret>y %all notify employ]s :o w receive ,,hire ,vets ,m$allion ,aw>ds n lat] ?an ,octob] #aa? ( ea* cal5d> ye> = ! ,aw>ds to be aw>d$ 9 ,novemb] ( t cal5d> ye>4 7d7 ,limitation ,an employ] :o receives a ,,hire ,vets ,m$allion ,aw>d = "o cal5d> ye> is n eligible to receive a ,,hire ,vets ,m$allion ,aw>d = ! subsequ5t cal5d> ye>4 #c4 ,selection ( recipi5ts 7a7 ,application review process 7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y %all review all applications receiv$ 9 a cal5d> ye> to det]m9e :e!r an employ] %\ld receive a ,,hire ,vets ,m$allion ,aw>d1 &1 if s1 ( :at level4 7#b7 ,application cont5ts ,! ,secret>y %all require t all applications provide in=mation on ! programs & o!r ef=ts ( applicant employ]s dur+ ! cal5d> ye> prior to t 9 :i* ! m$allion is to be aw>d$1 includ+ ! categories & activities gov]n+ ! level ( aw>d = :i* ! applicant is eligible "u subsection 7b74 7#c7 ,v]ification ,! ,secret>y %all v]ify all in=mation provid$ 9 ! applications1 to ! ext5t t su* in=mation is relevant 9 det]m9+ :e!r or n an employ] %\ld receive a ,,hire ,vets ,m$allion ,aw>d or 9 det]m9+ ! appropriate level ( ,,hire ,vets ,m$allion ,aw>d = t employ] to receive1 includ+ by requir+ ! *ief executive (fic] or ! *ief human relations (fic] ( ! employ] to atte/ "u p5alty ( p]jury t ! employ] has met ! crit]ia describ$ 9 subsection 7b7 = a p>ticul> level ( ,aw>d4 7b7 ,aw>ds 7#a7 ,l>ge employ]s 7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y %all e/abli% #b levels ( ,,hire ,vets ,m$allion ,aw>ds to be aw>d$ to employ]s employ+ #ejj or m employees1 to be designat$ ! ,gold ,,hire ,vets ,m$allion ,aw>d & ! ,plat9um ,,hire ,vets ,m$allion ,aw>d4 7,b7 ,gold ,,hire ,vets ,m$allion ,aw>d ,no employ] %all be eligible to receive a ,gold ,,hire ,vets ,m$allion ,aw>d 9 a giv5 cal5d> ye> unless-- 7i7 vet]ans con/itute n less ?an #g p]c5t ( all employees hir$ by su* employ] dur+ ! prior cal5d> ye>2 7ii7 su* employ] has reta9$ n less ?an #ge p]c5t ( ! vet]an employees hir$ dur+ ! cal5d> ye> prec$+ ! prec$+ cal5d> ye> = a p]iod ( at lea/ #ab mon?s f ! date on :i* ! employees 7 hir$2 7iii7 su* employ] has e/abli%$ an employee vet]an organization or res\rce gr\p to assi/ new vet]an employees ) integration1 includ+ coa*+ & m5tor+2 & 7iv7 su* employ] has e/abli%$ programs to enhance ! lead]%ip skills ( vet]an employees dur+ _! employm5t4 7,c7 ,plat9um ,,hire ,vets ,m$allion ,aw>d ,no employ] %all be eligible to receive a ,plat9um ,,hire ,vets ,m$allion ,aw>d 9 a giv5 cal5d> ye> unless-- 7i7 ! employ] meets all ! requirem5ts = eligibility = a ,gold ,,hire ,vets ,m$allion ,aw>d "u subp>agraph 7,b72 7ii7 vet]ans con/itute n less ?an #aj p]c5t ( all employees hir$ by su* employ] dur+ ! prior cal5d> ye>2 7iii7 su* employ] has reta9$ n less ?an #he p]c5t ( ! vet]an employees hir$ dur+ ! cal5d> ye> prec$+ ! prec$+ cal5d> ye> = a p]iod ( at lea/ #ab mon?s f ! date on :i* ! employees 7 hir$2 7iv7 su* employ] employs d$icat$ human res\rces pr(essionals to support hir+ & ret5tion ( vet]an employees1 includ+ ef=ts focus$ on vet]an hir+ & tra9+2 7v7 su* employ] provides ea* ( its employees s]v+ on active duty 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,national ,gu>d or ,res]ve ) comp5sation suffici5t1 9 comb9ation ) ! employee's active duty pay1 to a*ieve a comb9$ level ( income comm5surate ) ! employee's sal>y prior to und]tak+ active duty2 & 7vi7 su* employ] has a tuition assi/ance program to support vet]an employees' att5dance 9 po/second>y education dur+ ! t]m ( _! employm5t4 7,d7 ,exemption = small] employ]s ,an employ] %all be deem$ to meet ! requirem5ts ( subp>agraph 7,c77iv7 if su* employ]-- 7i7 employs #e1jjj or few] employees2 & 7ii7 employs at lea/ "o human res\rces pr(essional ^: regul> "w duties include ^? describ$ "u subp>agraph 7,c77iv74 7,e7 ,additional crit]ia ,! ,secret>y may provide1 by rule1 additional crit]ia ) :i* to det]m9e qualifications = receipt ( ea* level ( ,,hire ,vets ,m$allion ,aw>d4 7#b7 ,small- & m$ium-siz$ employ]s ,! ,secret>y %all e/abli% simil> aw>ds 9 ord] to recognize a*ievem5ts 9 support+ vet]ans by-- 7,a7 employ]s ) #ej or few] employees2 & 7,b7 employ]s ) m ?an #ej b few] ?an #ejj employees4 7c7 ,design by ,secret>y ,! ,secret>y %all e/abli% ! %ape1 =m1 & design ( ea* ,,hire ,vets ,m$allion ,aw>d1 except t ! ,aw>d %all be 9 ! =m ( a c]tificate & %all /ate ! ye> = :i* x 0 aw>d$4 #d4 ,display ( aw>d 7a7 ,9 g5]al ,! recipi5t ( a ,,hire ,vets ,m$allion ,aw>d may-- 7#a7 publicly display su* ,aw>d ?r\gh ! end ( ! cal5d> ye> foll[+ receipt ( su* ,aw>d2 & 7#b7 publicly display ! ,,hire ,vets ,m$allion ,aw>d ,c]tificate issu$ 9 conjunction ) su* ,aw>d4 7b7 ,unlawful display prohibit$ ,x is unlawful = any employ] to publicly display a ,,hire ,vets ,m$allion ,aw>d1 9 connection )1 or z a "p (1 any adv]tisem5t1 solicitation1 bus9ess activity1 or product-- 7#a7 = ! purpose ( convey+1 or 9 a mann] reasonably calculat$ to convey1 a false impression t ! employ] receiv$ ! ,aw>d ?r\gh ! ,,hire ,vets ,m$allion ,aw>d ,program1 if su* employ] did n receive su* ,aw>d ?r\gh ! ,,hire ,vets ,m$allion ,aw>d ,program2 or 7#b7 = ! purpose ( convey+1 or 9 a mann] reasonably calculat$ to convey1 a false impression t ! employ] receiv$ ! ,aw>d ?r\gh ! ,,hire ,vets ,m$allion ,aw>d ,program = a ye> = :i* su* employ] did n receive su* ,aw>d4 #e4 ,application fee & fund+ 7a7 ,fund e/abli%$ ,!re is e/abli%$ 9 ! ,treasury ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates a fund to be designat$ ! ,,hire ,vets ,m$allion ,aw>d ,fund4 ,am\nts appropriat$ to ! fund pursuant to subsection 7c7 %all rema9 available until exp5d$4 7b7 ,fee au?oriz$ ,! ,secret>y may assess a reasonable fee on employ]s t apply = receipt ( a ,,hire ,vets ,m$allion ,aw>d & ! ,secret>y %all deposit su* fees into ! ,,hire ,vets ,m$allion ,aw>d ,fund4 ,! ,secret>y %all e/abli% ! am\nt ( ! fee su* t ! am\nts collect$ z fees & deposit$ into ! ,fund are suffici5t to cov] ! co/s associat$ ) c>ry+ out ?is ,act4 7c7 ,use ( funds ,am\nts 9 ! ,,hire ,vets ,m$allion ,aw>d ,fund %all be available1 subject to appropriation1 to ! ,secret>y to c>ry out ! ,,hire ,vets ,m$allion ,aw>d ,program4 #f4 ,initial implem5tation ,! ,,hire ,vets ,m$allion ,program %all beg9 to solicit applications on ,janu>y #ca ( ! ye> t is #b fiscal ye>s aft] ! fiscal ye> dur+ :i* funds are fir/ appropriat$ to c>ry out ?is ,act4 #g4 ,report to ,congress 7a7 ,reports ,beg9n+ n lat] ?an #b ye>s aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y %all submit to ,congress annual reports on-- 7#a7 ! fees collect$ f applicants = ,,hire ,vets ,m$allion ,aw>ds 9 ! prior ye> & any *anges 9 fees to be propos$ 9 ! pres5t ye>2 7#b7 ! co/ ( adm9i/]+ ! ,,hire ,vets ,m$allion ,aw>d ,program 9 ! prior ye>2 7#c7 ! numb] ( applications = ,,hire ,vets ,m$allion ,aw>ds receiv$ 9 ! prior ye>2 & 7#d7 ! ,,hire ,vets ,m$allion ,aw>ds aw>d$ 9 ! prior ye>1 includ+ ! "n ( ea* employ] to :om a ,,hire ,vets ,m$allion ,aw>d 0 aw>d$ & ! level ( m$allion aw>d$ to ea* su* employ]4 7b7 ,committees ,! ,secret>y %all provide ! reports requir$ "u subsection 7a7 to ! ,*airman & ,rank+ ,memb] (-- 7#a7 ! ,committees on ,education & ! ,work=ce & ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives2 & 7#b7 ! ,committees on ,heal?1 ,education1 ,labor1 & ,p5sions & ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( ! ,s5ate4 #h4 ,def9itions ,9 ?is ,act3 7a7 ,! t]m employ] means any p]son1 in/itution1 organization1 or o!r entity t pays sal>y or wages = "w p]=m$ or t has control ov] employee opportunities1 except t su* t]m does n include-- 7#a7 ! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t2 or 7#b7 any ,/ate gov]nm5t1 z def9$ 9 su* section4 7b7 ,! t]m ,secret>y means ! ,secret>y ( ,labor4 7c7 ,! t]m vet]an has ! mean+ giv5 su* t]m "u section #aja ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code4