ILCS » Chapter 20 · Act 415
Illinois Compiled Statutes

20 ILCS 415/8b.7 (2026)

Veteran preference

✓ current as of May 2026
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(20 ILCS 415/8b.7) (from Ch. 127, par. 63b108b.7)
    Sec. 8b.7. Veteran preference. For the granting of appropriate preference to qualified veterans, persons who have been members of the armed forces of the United States or to qualified persons who, while citizens of the United States, were members of the armed forces of allies of the United States in time of hostilities with a foreign country, and to certain other persons as set forth in this Section.
    (a) As used in this Section:
        (1) "Time of hostilities with a foreign country"
    
means any period of time in the past, present, or future during which a declaration of war by the United States Congress has been or is in effect or during which an emergency condition has been or is in effect that is recognized by the issuance of a Presidential proclamation or a Presidential executive order and in which the armed forces expeditionary medal or other campaign service medals are awarded according to Presidential executive order.
        (2) "Armed forces of the United States" means the
    
United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. Service in the Merchant Marine that constitutes active duty under Section 401 of federal Public Law 95-202 shall also be considered service in the Armed Forces of the United States for purposes of this Section.
        (3) "Veteran" means a member of the armed forces of
    
the United States, the Illinois National Guard, or a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States.
    (b) The preference granted under this Section shall be in the form of points, or the equivalent, added to the applicable scores of the persons if they otherwise qualify and are entitled to be considered for appointment.
    (c) A veteran is qualified for a preference of 10 points if the veteran currently holds proof of a service connected disability from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or an allied country or if the veteran is a recipient of the Purple Heart.
    (d) A veteran who has served during a time of hostilities with a foreign country is qualified for a preference of 5 points if the veteran served under one or more of the following conditions:
        (1) The veteran served a total of at least 6 months,
    
or
        (2) The veteran served for the duration of
    
hostilities regardless of the length of engagement, or
        (3) The veteran was discharged on the basis of
    
hardship, or
        (4) The veteran was released from active duty because
    
of a service connected disability and was discharged under honorable conditions.
    (e) A person not eligible for a preference under subsection (c) or (d) is qualified for a preference of 3 points if the person has served in the armed forces of the United States, the Illinois National Guard, or any reserve component of the armed forces of the United States if the person: (1) served for at least 6 months and has been discharged under honorable conditions; (2) has been discharged on the ground of hardship; (3) was released from active duty because of a service connected disability; or (4) served a minimum of 4 years in the Illinois National Guard or reserve component of the armed forces of the United States regardless of whether or not the person was mobilized to active duty. An active member of the National Guard or a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States is eligible for the preference if the member meets the service requirements of this subsection (e).
    (f) The augmented ratings shall be used when determining the rank order of persons to be appointed.
    (g) Employees in positions covered by jurisdiction B who, while in good standing, leave to engage in military service during a period of hostility, shall be given credit for seniority purposes for time served in the armed forces.
    (h) A surviving unremarried spouse of a veteran who suffered a service connected death or the spouse of a veteran who suffered a service connected disability that prevents the veteran from qualifying for civil service employment shall be entitled to the same preference to which the veteran would have been entitled under this Section.
    (i) A preference shall also be given to the following individuals: 10 points for one parent of an unmarried veteran who suffered a service connected death or a service connected disability that prevents the veteran from qualifying for civil service employment. The first parent to receive a civil service appointment shall be the parent entitled to the preference.
    (j) The Department of Central Management Services shall adopt rules and implement procedures to verify that any person seeking a preference under this Section is entitled to the preference. A person seeking a preference under this Section shall provide documentation or execute any consents or other documents required by the Department of Central Management Services or any other State department or agency to enable the department or agency to verify that the person is entitled to the preference.
    (k) If an applicant claims to be a veteran, the Department of Central Management Services must verify that status before granting a veteran preference by requiring a certified copy of the applicant's most recent DD214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), NGB-22 (Proof of National Guard Service), or other evidence of the applicant's most recent honorable discharge from the Armed Forces of the United States that is determined to be acceptable by the Department of Central Management Services.
(Source: P.A. 103-108, eff. 6-27-23; 103-746, eff. 1-1-25.)

    
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 13 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1996–2023 · leading case: Denton v. Civil Serv. Com'n of State, 679 N.E.2d 1234 (Ill. 1997).
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Denton v. Civil Serv. Com'n of State, 679 N.E.2d 1234 (Ill. 1997). · cites it 12× “7 (now codified as 20 ILCS 415/8b.7 (West 1992)). Nevertheless, the Commission rendered a final administrative decision by adopting its staff's findings on May 13, 1992.”
Denton v. Civil Serv. Com'n of State, 661 N.E.2d 520 (Ill. App. Ct. 1996). · cites it 10× “20 ILCS 415/8b.7 (West 1992). On April 17, the Commission staff sent Denton a letter stating in part: "Rule 302.”
Dep't of Revenue v. Civil Serv. Comm'n, 827 N.E.2d 960 (Ill. App. Ct. 2005). · cites it 2× “20 ILCS 415/8b.7 (West 2000). The Personnel Code states that hired employees are subject to a probationary period "not to exceed one year," after which the employee's appointment or promotion is complete.”
Swinkle v. Illinois Civil Serv. Comm'n, 903 N.E.2d 746 (Ill. App. Ct. 2009). · cites it 2× “h 28, 2008, circuit court ruling affirming the administrative decision of respondent, the Illinois Civil Service Commission (Civil Service Commission), denying him an evidentiary hearing on his claim against respondent, Illinois Liquor Control Commission (Liquor Commission),…”
Vets. Legal Def. Fund v. Schwartz, 330 F.3d 937 (7th Cir. 2003). “7(f) of the Illinois Personnel Code: "When the Director [of CMS] establishes eligible lists on the basis of category ratings such as `superior', `excellent', `well-qualified', and `qualified', the veteran eligibles in each such category shall be preferred for appointment before…”
Vets. Legal Def. Fund v. Schwartz, 330 F.3d 937 (7th Cir. 2003). “7(f) of the Illinois Personnel Code: “When the Director [of CMS] establishes eligible lists on the basis of category ratings such as ‘superior’, ‘excellent’, ‘well-qualified’, and ‘qualified’, the veteran eligibles in each such category shall be preferred for appointment before…”
Behl v. Duffin, 952 N.E.2d 1 (Ill. App. Ct. 2010). “20 ILCS 415/8b.7 (West 2008). The final selection may be made from the three highest-ranking candidates, the highest-ranking group, or from the next lower ranking group if the highest-ranking group does not contain at least three candidates.”
Hitt v. Ryan, 718 N.E.2d 695 (Ill. App. Ct. 1999). “Complaints under the Personnel Code are first decided by the Civil Service Commission, an administrative body whose duties are defined to be almost identical to those of the Merit Commission (compare 15 ILCS 310/8c (West 1998), with 20 ILCS 415/10 (West 1998)). Though the…”
Campbell v. The Dep't of Pers., 2013 IL App (4th) 120610 (Ill. App. Ct. 2013). “7(f) of the Personnel Code (20 ILCS 415/8b.7(f) (West 1992)) affords veterans an absolute hiring preference over nonveterans within the same grade category.”
Denton v. Civil Serv. Comm'n (Ill. 1997). · cites it 5× “7 (codified as 20 ILCS 415/8b.7 (West 1992)). Nevertheless, the Commission rendered a final administrative decision by adopting its staff's findings on May 13, 1992.”
Player v. Vill. of Bensenville, 722 N.E.2d 792 (Ill. App. Ct. 1999). · cites it 3× “Our supreme court has succinctly explained the requirements of the Personnel Code pertaining to veterans’ preferences: “[T]he Personnel Code requires CMS [the Department of Central Management Services] *** to establish a position classification plan for all positions governed by…”
Pinn v. State of Illinois Dep't of Healthcare & Fam. Servs. (C.D. Ill. 2023). “See 20 ILCS 415/8b.7; cf. Rudin v. Lincoln Land Cmty.”
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— 20 ILCS 415/8b.7(c) — 1 case
Denton v. Civil Serv. Com'n of State, 661 N.E.2d 520 (Ill. App. Ct. 1996). “20 ILCS 415/8b.7 (West 1992). On April 17, the Commission staff sent Denton a letter stating in part: "Rule 302.”
— 20 ILCS 415/8b.7(f) — 8 cases
Denton v. Civil Serv. Com'n of State, 679 N.E.2d 1234 (Ill. 1997). “7 (now codified as 20 ILCS 415/8b.7 (West 1992)). Nevertheless, the Commission rendered a final administrative decision by adopting its staff's findings on May 13, 1992.”
Denton v. Civil Serv. Com'n of State, 661 N.E.2d 520 (Ill. App. Ct. 1996). “20 ILCS 415/8b.7 (West 1992). On April 17, the Commission staff sent Denton a letter stating in part: "Rule 302.”
Swinkle v. Illinois Civil Serv. Comm'n, 903 N.E.2d 746 (Ill. App. Ct. 2009). “h 28, 2008, circuit court ruling affirming the administrative decision of respondent, the Illinois Civil Service Commission (Civil Service Commission), denying him an evidentiary hearing on his claim against respondent, Illinois Liquor Control Commission (Liquor Commission),…”
Vets. Legal Def. Fund v. Schwartz, 330 F.3d 937 (7th Cir. 2003). “7(f) of the Illinois Personnel Code: "When the Director [of CMS] establishes eligible lists on the basis of category ratings such as `superior', `excellent', `well-qualified', and `qualified', the veteran eligibles in each such category shall be preferred for appointment before…”
Vets. Legal Def. Fund v. Schwartz, 330 F.3d 937 (7th Cir. 2003). “7(f) of the Illinois Personnel Code: “When the Director [of CMS] establishes eligible lists on the basis of category ratings such as ‘superior’, ‘excellent’, ‘well-qualified’, and ‘qualified’, the veteran eligibles in each such category shall be preferred for appointment before…”
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