HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1707

             As Reported By House Committee on:

                      State Government

Title:  An act relating to the Washington state defense force.

Brief Description:  Changing the Washington state guard to the Washington state defense force.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives Anderson, Sheldon, McLean, R. King, Jacobsen, Broback and Wineberry; by request of Military Department.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

State Government, January 15, 1992, DPS.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

STATE GOVERNMENT

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 10 members:  Representatives Anderson, Chair; Pruitt, Vice Chair; McLean, Ranking Minority Member; Bowman, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Chandler; R. Fisher; Grant; Moyer; O'Brien; and Sheldon.

Staff:  Linda May (786-7135).

Background:  The Washington State Guard is a military organization available to serve the governor in the event that the National Guard in the state of Washington is called into federal service.  The governor may also call the State Guard into state service in other instances, for example, in the wake of a natural disaster.

The federal law which authorizes creation of organizations such as the Washington State Guard refers to these organizations as "defense forces" (32 U.S.C. Sec. 109).  Federal law states that a defense force may not be called, ordered, or drafted into the armed services, nor is a member of a defense force entitled to pay, transportation, medical care, etc. from federal funds.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The name "Washington State Guard" is changed to "Washington State Defense Force."

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The substitute bill incorporates changes made in the underlying statute during the 1991 session.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  The name change will help to clarify that the National Guard and the State Guard are not the same organizations.  The name change will also bring Washington in line with many other states and federal law.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Kevin Ryan, Military Department (1991 session); and Tom Galbraith, Military Department (1992 session).