§21A-2C-2. Declaration of legislative intent and purpose.

The Legislature of West Virginia hereby recognizes that disabled veterans and economically disadvantaged veterans of the Vietnam era and of the Korean conflict, members of the West Virginia National Guard and the reserve forces of the United States have made sacrifices which merit preferential employment treatment in both the public and private sectors. Economically disadvantaged and disabled veterans traditionally suffer a disproportionately higher unemployment rate than that of nonveterans of similar age and skills. Members of the West Virginia National Guard and reserve forces of the United States who are called upon to leave their jobs to perform military obligations are frequently placed in conflict with their employers and as such are frequently discriminated against by prospective employers. It is the intent and purpose of the Legislature to encourage the employment of these veterans and members of the guard and reserve forces in the private sector by providing tax credits for private sector employers who employ economically disadvantaged Vietnam era and Korean conflict veterans, disabled veterans, unemployed members of the West Virginia National Guard and unemployed members of the reserve forces of the United States generally.