S.D. Codified Laws § 3-3-1

In all public departments and subdivisions and upon all public works of this state and of the counties, municipalities, and school districts of this state, any veteran, as defined in § 33A-2-1 , who is a citizen of the United States, shall receive preference for appointment, employment, and promotion. Age, loss of limb, or other physical impairment which does not in fact incapacitate does not disqualify the veteran if the veteran possesses the qualifications and business capacity necessary to discharge the duties of the position involved. A veteran who has a service-connected disability shall be given a preference over a nondisabled veteran. In order to determine if the veterans' preference applies, each applicant for employment under this chapter shall complete an employment application on which the applicant is asked if the applicant is a veteran as defined by § 33A-2-1 .

Source: SL 1935, ch 188, §§ 1, 2; SL 1937, ch 227, § 1; SDC 1939, §§ 41.0501, 41.0502; SL 1939, ch 159, § 1; SL 1943, ch 147, § 1; SL 1951, ch 214, § 1; SDC Supp 1960, § 41.0508; SL 1980, ch 27, § 1; SL 1992, ch 60, § 2; SL 2010, ch 19, § 8; SL 2011, ch 1 (Ex. Ord. 11-1 ), § 20, eff. Apr. 12, 2011; SL 2015, ch 20, § 1; SL 2015, ch 21, § 1; SL 2016, ch 30, § 1.