39-29-103. Notice and claim of preference. (1) A public employer shall, by posting or on the application form, give notice of the preference provided in 39-29-102.

(2) A job applicant who believes that the applicant is eligible to receive a preference shall claim the preference in writing before the time for filing applications for the position involved has passed. Failure to make a timely preference claim for a position is a complete defense to an action instituted by an applicant under 39-29-104 with regard to that position.

(3) If an applicant for a position makes a timely written preference claim, the public employer:

(a) may, under an existing rule or ordinance implementing this subsection (3)(a), guarantee to a veteran a job interview for a position for which the veteran meets the required qualifications and has submitted a preference claim; and

(b) shall give written notice of its hiring decision to the applicant claiming preference.