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Committee advances bill giving veterans credit toward seniority for educational support professionals
Summary
The committee moved S29‑62 to provide up to four years of seniority/service credit for educational support professionals (ESPs) who served in the military. Veterans testified about job insecurity and fairness; the committee approved the measure by voice vote.
The Senate Higher Education Committee voted to move Senate Bill 29‑62, a measure that would allow educational support professionals (ESPs) who served in the U.S. military to receive up to four years of seniority/service credit.
Sandy Wilcox, a paraprofessional in the Burlington County Special Services School District and a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, testified about her experience working with students with special needs and urged the committee to support parity for ESPs. "This bill would provide the same service credit to educational support professionals who serve their country honorably that the legislature already provides to our teaching colleagues," Wilcox said.
Dan Staples, a Manchester teacher and local association president who also served in the Marine Corps, said the provision is a low‑cost, equity‑focused way to help retain veteran staff who are often in lower‑paid positions. "This small edge could make the difference in maintaining employment for veterans," he said.
Committee members lauded the bipartisan character of the bill. Senator Moriarty moved the bill and Senator Singer seconded; the roll call recorded affirmative votes from Senators Singer, Amato, Moriarty, Cruz Perez (left a vote in the affirmative) and Kryon. The committee announced the bill had been moved out of committee.
The action advances the bill to the next step in the legislative process.
