In all contracts, except those which involve federal-aid funds and when a preference or discrimination would be contrary to a federal law or regulation, hereafter let for state, county, city, school district, or township construction, repair, or maintenance work under any laws of this state, there shall be inserted a provision by which the contractor must give preference to the employment of bona fide North Dakota residents, as determined by section 54-01-26, with preference given first to honorably discharged disabled veterans and veterans of the armed forces of the United States, as defin

Municipal parking authorities shall not be subject to civil service or merit system laws, veterans preference laws, or other laws, ordinances, and regulations pertaining to the status of municipal employees. Employees of a municipal parking authority shall have the same position as employees of a private corporation and the board of directors of a municipal parking authority shall manage their employee relationships in the same manner as private corporations.

Municipal steam heating authorities shall not be subject to civil service or merit system laws, veterans' preference laws, or other laws, ordinances, and regulations pertaining to the status of municipal employees. Employees of an authority shall have the same position as employees of a private corporation and the board of directors of an authority shall manage their employee relationships in the same manner as private corporations.

A private, nonpublic employer in this state may provide a preference to a veteran for employment. Spouses of honorably discharged veterans who have a service-connected permanent and total disability also may be preferred for employment. This preference is not considered a violation of any state or local equal employment opportunity law.

4. Any party aggrieved by the findings of fact, conclusions of law, and order of the hearing officer may appeal in the manner provided for in chapter 28-32, except that the appellant need not execute an undertaking.

3. Within fifteen calendar days after receiving a request from an applicant or person under subsection 1 or 2, the commissioner of veterans' affairs may request the director of the office of administrative hearings to designate a hearing officer to hear the grievance arising under subsection 1 or 2. The commissioner shall notify the employer or employing agency that a request for a hearing has been made.

2. Any person who has exercised the right to an employment preference under this chapter, and who, within one year after exercise of that right:

a. Is discharged;

b. Has had compensation reduced; or

1. If a veteran, or a qualified veteran's spouse, hereafter known as the applicant, is not given the preference provided in section 37-19.1-02 or 37-19.1-03, the applicant, within fifteen calendar days after notification by certified mail that employment has been refused, may request a hearing as provided in subsection 3.

5. An employee of a state agency is not eligible for preference when applying for a different job within the same state agency or other state agencies. An employee of a political subdivision is not eligible for preference when applying for a different job within the same political subdivision.

4. This section does not apply when the position to be filled is that of an administrative head of a department required by law or the chief deputy or private secretary of an elected or appointed official. Temporary committees and individual or group appointments made by the governor or legislative assembly are also excepted from the provisions of this section. If an exempt position is advertised, the advertisement must state that veterans' preference does not apply to the position being advertised.