(a) The Legislature finds that West Virginia veterans represent a strong and productive part of the workforce of this state. They are frequently disadvantaged in their pursuit of civilian employment as a result of military service and delayed entry into the civilian labor market. It is, therefore, in the public interest and welfare that veterans continue to be provided the traditional priority of services in workforce development programs administered under the provisions of the federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998.(b) The purpose of this article is to require all federal and state funded employment and training programs offered within West Virginia to adopt a written policy providing priority of service to veterans of the United States military over other individuals seeking employment and training services.