2851 - Age not to be bar to employment by public authorities.

§  2851.  Age  not  to be bar to employment by public authorities.  No  public  authority  shall  hereafter  prohibit,  prevent,  disqualify  or  discriminate  against  any  person  applying  for  employment  by,  such  authority, who is physically and mentally qualified, or from  competing,  participating  or registering for a position, or be penalized in a final  rating for any position, by reason of his or her age. Any existing rule,  regulation, penalty or requirement resolution preventing the  hiring  of  persons  because  of  age  shall  be  void,  except  that nothing herein  contained, shall prevent any public authority from  adopting  reasonable  minimum  or  maximum  age  requirements for positions such as policeman,  fireman, guard or other positions which require  extraordinary  physical  effort except where age limits for such positions are already prescribed  by law.    Notwithstanding  any  provisions  to  the  contrary,  no person who is  physically or mentally qualified may be  disqualified  from,  competing,  participating  or  registering  for  a  promotional  examination  or  be  penalized in a final rating or barred from promotion after having passed  such promotion examination by reason of his or her age,  by  any  public  authority.