Preference in hiring veterans for private employers.

(1) The Legislature intends to establish a permissive preference in private employment for certain veterans.

(2) A private employer may adopt an employment policy that gives preference in hiring to an honorably discharged veteran, as defined in s. 1.01(14); the spouse of a veteran with a service-connected disability, as described in s. 295.07(1)(b); the unremarried widow or widower of a veteran who died of a service-connected disability, as described in s. 295.07(1)(d); or the unremarried widow or widower of a member of the United States Armed Forces who died in the line of duty under combat-related conditions. Such policy shall be applied uniformly to employment decisions regarding hiring and promotion.

(3) These preferences are not considered violations of any state or local equal employment opportunity law.