FINAL BILL REPORT

                                    SB 5477

                                  C 240 L 91

                              SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

Brief Description:  Authorizing veterans' benefits for Women's Air Forces Service Pilots and merchant marines.

SPONSORS:Senators Conner, Rasmussen, Bauer and Nelson.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

BACKGROUND:

For the purposes of most state benefit provisions, the term "veteran" does not include those who served with the Women's Air Forces Service Pilots (WASPs) or with the Merchant Marine during World War II.  Those two groups of individuals were acknowledged as veterans on active duty by Congress in 1977.  While the WASPs became eligible November 23, 1977 under the act passed by Congress, the power to declare the eligibility of veterans of the Merchant Marine was delegated to the Department of Defense.  That order was promulgated on January 19, 1988.

SUMMARY:

An individual who had active service in the Women's Air Forces Service Pilots or in the U.S. Merchant Marine (as defined for federal benefits) is included in the general definition of "veteran" and in the statute defining eligibility for admission to the State Soldiers' Home and Colony at Orting or the Veterans' Home at Retsil.  Veterans as defined for state benefits are specifically excluded from the civilian groups who are disqualified.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

Senate      48    0

House 97    0     (House amended)

Senate                  (Senate refused to concur)

House             (House refused to recede)

Conference Committee

House       90    0

Senate      48    0

EFFECTIVE:  July 28, 1991