Speaking at VFW Post 4075 on Second Street Thursday, Beshear filed an emergency regulation to restore hiring preference to veterans.

The practice was eliminated in May when written tests were removed from the state hiring process.
"The experience and professionalism of our veterans make them ideal employment candidates," Beshear said. "I want to make sure we tap that experience and professionalism.

"It's proper and fitting that the commonwealth reward those men and women who forfeited and delayed their career opportunities to fight for our freedom."

Previously, veterans received priority through extra points given on employment tests. That advantage was eliminated in May, however, when the Personnel Cabinet streamlined the hiring process, eliminating written tests for all state jobs.

The new regulation guarantees qualified applicants who are veterans an interview for state jobs.
"The preference is basically to get in the door," said Les Beavers, commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs. "A veteran still has to be qualified for the position."

Beshear said the new regulation will go into effect no later than July 23.

The governor also ceremoniously signed four bills dealing with veterans' affairs:

> House Bill 65, Kentucky Medal for Freedom, creates an award administered by the Kentucky Department of Military Affairs to an individual that has been killed in action after Jan. 1, 1991.
> House Bill 110, Kentucky Stolen Valor Act, makes the act of impersonating a veteran or falsely claiming veterans' benefits a misdemeanor that may be prosecuted up to $5,000 or a year in jail.
> House Bill 227, Indigent Veterans' Burial Program, establishes a program to pay the funeral expenses of indigent veterans.
> House Bill 239, Gold Star License Plates, extends the license fee exemption to include spouses, meaning any mother or spouse of a service member killed on active duty can apply to receive the plates free of charge.

Carlos Pugh, the state commander for Veterans of Foreign Wars, said he hopes the Stolen Valor Act cuts down on the number of people falsely claiming to have served.

"I hate to see some guy wear a Vietnam medal or ribbon that wasn't in Vietnam," Pugh said. "That bill is very important. It will stop a lot of guys from getting recognition that isn't warranted."

Pugh also said the Indigent Veterans' Burial Program is an asset. He said the Department of Veteran Affairs had handled at least three burials of indigent veterans this year.

"They'll have their honor guard," Pugh said, "because they're a veteran even though they had some bad luck."