SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 6284



As Reported By Senate Committee On:
Government Operations & Elections, February 2, 2006

Title: An act relating to the definition of veteran.

Brief Description: Concerning the definition of veteran.

Sponsors: Senators Kastama, Roach, Shin, Swecker, Franklin, Schmidt, Oke, Rasmussen and Mulliken.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Government Operations & Elections: 1/31/06, 2/2/06 [DP].


SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ELECTIONS

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Kastama, Chair; Berkey, Vice Chair; Roach, Ranking Minority Member; Benton, Fairley, Haugen, Kline, McCaslin, Mulliken and Pridemore.

Staff: Cindy Fazio (786-7405)

Background: Washington's statutes define "veteran" in two ways. The first, the "war time" definition, governs veterans' eligibility for programs such as retirement benefits, tuition exemption, and credit for military services.

The second definition, the "peace time" definition, governs eligibility requirements for various other benefits for veterans, including

Summary of Bill: The peace time definition of veteran is changed to remove the reference to the statute that restricts sending veterans or their families to almshouses.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: This is a clean-up change left over from last session. Almshouses were poorhouses and haven't been around for about fifty years.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Dennis Primoli, Veteran's Legislative Coalition.