SENATE BILL REPORT

                                   SSB 6086

                      AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 11, 1992

Brief Description:  Changing provisions relating to the veterans affairs advisory committee.

SPONSORS: Senate Committee on Governmental Operations (originally sponsored by Senators McCaslin, M. Kreidler, Oke and Bauer; by request of Department of Veterans Affairs)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6086 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass. 

      Signed by Senators McCaslin, Chairman; Madsen, and Sutherland.

Staff:  Barbara Howard (786‑7410)

Hearing Dates: January 28, 1992; January 30, 1992

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

BACKGROUND:

The statute creating the State Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee requires that several types of veterans be represented among its members.  Most of them are members of federally recognized veterans' organizations, which are named in the law.  

Almost every session, another eligible veterans' organization requests a seat on the advisory committee.  Through the interim, all of the active veterans' organizations were consulted about a mechanism whereby the statute would not require frequent amendment, but the representation could rotate to allow broad participation in the committee's business.

SUMMARY:

Membership on the Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee is increased from 15 to 17.  The Soldiers' Home and Colony at Orting and the Veterans' Home at Retsil each have a representative (up to three may be nominated by the respective residents councils).  Each of the three congressionally chartered veterans' organizations with the largest number of active veteran members have one representative (up to three nominations are made by the respective state commanders).  Two at-large members are also appointed; nominations may come from individuals or organizations.

Ten members are chosen to represent the other congressionally chartered veterans' organizations which have at least one active chapter in the state, under a similar nomination procedure.  No organization may have more than one official representative on the committee at any one time.  In making appointments, geographical balance, minority viewpoints and issues of concern to women veterans must be considered.  The Governor may ask for additional recommendations beyond the first three in each group.  For the at-large members, all nominations must be forwarded by the Director of Veterans Affairs.

All members serve four-year terms, any one individual may serve only two terms, and vacancies can only be filled for an unexpired term.  Current members may serve until the expiration of their terms and may be eligible under the new qualifications for reappointment.

The committee must adopt an order of business for conducting its meetings.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

This provides a more consistent pattern of representation, allows small organizations to compete for rotating membership, and eliminates naming organizations which are no longer active enough to be represented.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  PRO:  Ron Hoffman, Assistant Director, Department of Veterans' Affairs; Phil Casey, Chair, Veterans Advisory Committee

HOUSE AMENDMENT(S):

In each case names selected for committee positions are forwarded, rather than submitted, by the director to the Governor.