39-30-206. Notice and claim of preference. (1) A public employer shall, by posting or on the application form, give notice of the preferences that this chapter provides in public employment.

(2) A job applicant who believes that the applicant has an employment preference shall claim the preference in writing before the time for filing applications for the position involved has passed. Failure to make a timely employment preference claim for a position is a complete defense to an action in regard to that position under 39-30-207.

(3) If an applicant for a position makes a timely written employment preference claim, the public employer shall give written notice of its hiring decision to each applicant claiming preference.