I. A public employer shall appoint an otherwise qualified veteran or disabled veteran to a vacant position for state employment if the results of a veteran's or disabled veteran's application examination, when combined with the veteran's or disabled veteran's preference, are equal to or higher than the results of an application examination for an applicant who is not a veteran or disabled veteran.
II. A public employer may base a decision not to appoint the veteran or disabled veteran solely on the veteran's or disabled veteran's merits or qualifications with respect to the vacant position for state employment.
III. A public employer that does not appoint a veteran or disabled veteran to a vacant position for state employment, shall upon written request of the veteran or disabled veteran, provide an explanation of its decision.