PUBLIC LAW 107-288—NOV. 7, 2002 116 STAT. 2043 and fiscal years under chapter 41 of title 38, United States Code, beginning on or after such date. (b) REVISION OF STATUTORILY DEFINED DUTIES OF DISABLED VETERANS' OUTREACH PROGRAM SPECIALISTS AND LOCAL VETERANS' EMPLOYMENT REPRESENTATIVES.—(1) Section 4103A is amended by striking all after the heading and inserting the following: "(a) REQUIREMENT FOR EMPLOYMENT BY STATES OF A SUFFI- CIENT NUMBER OF SPECIALISTS. — (1) Subject to approval by the Secretary, a State shall employ such full- or part-time disabled veterans' outreach program specialists as the State determines appropriate and efficient to carry out intensive services under this chapter to meet the employment needs of eligible veterans with the following priority in the provision of services: " (A) Special disabled veterans. "(B) Other disabled veterans. "(C) Other eligible veterans in accordance with priorities determined by the Secretary taking into account applicable rates of unemployment and the employment emphases set forth in chapter 42 of this title. "(2) In the provision of services in accordance with this subsection, maximum emphasis in meeting the employment needs of veterans shall be placed on assisting economically or educationally disadvantaged veterans. "(b) REQUIREMENT FOR QUALIFIED VETERANS.— ^A State shall, to the maximum extent practicable, employ qualified veterans to carry out the services referred to in subsection (a). Preference shall be given in the appointment of such specialists to qualified disabled veterans. ". (2) Section 4104 is amended by striking all after the heading and inserting the following: "(a) REQUIREMENT FOR EMPLOYMENT BY STATES OF A SUFFI- CIENT NUMBER OF REPRESENTATIVES.—Subject to approval by the Secretary, a State shall employ such full- and part-time local veterans' employment representatives as the State determines appropriate and efficient to carry out employment, training, and placement services under this chapter. "(b) PRINCIPAL DUTIES.— As principal duties, local veterans' employment representatives shall— "(1) conduct outreach to employers in the area to assist veterans in gaining employment, including conducting seminars for employers and, in conjunction with employers, conducting job search workshops and establishing job search groups; and "(2) facilitate employment, training, and placement services furnished to veterans in a State under the applicable State employment service delivery systems. "(c) REQUIREMENT FOR QUALIFIED VETERANS AND ELIGIBLE PER- SONS.—^A State shall, to the maximum extent practicable, employ qualified veterans or eligible persons to carry out the services referred to in subsection (a). Preference shall be accorded in the following order: "(1) To qualified service-connected disabled veterans. "(2) If no veteran described in paragraph (1) is available, to qualified eligible veterans. "(3) If no veteran described in paragraph (1) or (2) is available, then to qualified eligible persons. "(d) REPORTING. —Each local veterans' employment representative shall be administratively responsible to the manager of the
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