(330 ILCS 55/1) (from Ch. 126 1/2, par. 23)
    Sec. 1. In the employment and appointment to fill positions in the construction, addition to, or alteration of all public works undertaken or contracted for by the State, or by any political subdivision thereof, preference shall be given to persons who have been members of the armed forces of the United States or 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 have 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 served in the theater of operations
    
but was discharged on the basis of a hardship, or
        (4) The veteran was released from active duty because
    
of a service connected disability and was honorably discharged. But such preference shall be given only to those persons who are found to possess the business capacity necessary for the proper discharge of the duties of such employment. No political subdivision or person contracting for such public works is required to give preference to veterans, not residents of such district, over residents thereof, who are not veterans.
    As used in this Section:
    "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.
    "Armed forces of the United States" means the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard, United States Reserve Forces, or Illinois National 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.
(Source: P.A. 95-566, eff. 8-31-07.)