(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
(2) “Eligible veteran” means a veteran, as defined in § 9–901 of the State Government Article, who has received an honorable discharge or a certificate of satisfactory completion of service, including:
(i) a reserve component;
(ii) the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service; and
(iii) the Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
(3) “Employer” includes a county or municipal corporation.
(b) Subject to subsection (d) of this section, an employer may grant a preference in hiring and promotion to:
(1) an eligible veteran;
(2) the spouse of an eligible veteran who has a service–connected disability;
(3) the spouse of an eligible active service member; or
(4) the surviving spouse of a deceased eligible veteran.
(c) Granting a preference under subsection (b) of this section does not violate any State or local equal employment opportunity law.
(d) If an employer that is a county or municipal corporation chooses to grant a preference under subsection (b) of this section, the county or municipal corporation may adopt a local law that provides for the hiring and promotion preference before implementing the preference.