Z-0286

AN ACT Relating to technical corrections to the code governing the state militia; and amending RCW 38.04.010, 38.12.200, 38.16.030, 38.24.010, 38.38.132, 38.38.260, 38.38.404, 38.38.564, 38.40.110, 38.44.020, 38.44.030, 38.44.040, 38.44.050, and 38.44.060.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. RCW 38.04.010 and 1989 c 19 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

When used in this ((~~act~~)) title, the following words, terms, phrases shall have the following meaning:

The word "militia" shall mean the military forces provided for in the Constitution and laws of the state of Washington.

The term "organized militia" shall be the general term to include both state and national guard and whenever used applies equally to all such organizations.

The term "national guard" shall mean that part of the military force of the state that is organized, equipped and federally recognized under the provisions of the national defense act of the United States, and, in the event the national`guard is called into federal service or in the event the state guard or any part or individual member thereof is called into active state service by the commander-in-chief, the term shall also include the "Washington state guard" or any temporary organization set up in times of emergency to replace either the "national guard" or "state guard" while in actual service of the United States.

The term "state guard" shall mean that part of the military forces of the state that is organized, equipped, and recognized under the provisions of the State Defense Forces Act of the United States (32 U.S.C. Sec. 109, as amended).

The term "active state service" or "active training duty" shall be construed to be any service on behalf of the state, or at encampments whether ordered by state or federal authority or any other duty requiring the entire time of any organization or person except when called or drafted into the federal service by the president of the United States.

The term "inactive duty" shall include periods of drill and such other training and service not requiring the entire time of the organization or person, as may be required under state or federal laws, regulations, or orders, including travel to and from such duty.

The terms "in service of United States" and "not in service of United States" as used herein shall be understood to mean the same as such terms when used in the national defense act of congress and amendments thereto.

The term "military" refers to any or all of the armed forces.

The term "armory" refers to any state-owned building, warehouse, vehicle storage compound, organizational maintenance shop or other facility and the lands appurtenant thereto used by the Washington national guard for the storage and maintenance of arms or military equipment or the administration or training of the organized militia.

The term "member" refers to a soldier or airman of the organized militia.

Sec. 2. RCW 38.12.200 and 1989 c 19 s 22 are each amended to read as follows:

Every commissioned officer of the organized militia of Washington shall, within sixty days from the date of the order whereby he or she shall have been appointed, provide at the officer's own expense((~~, with~~)) the uniform and equipment prescribed by the governor for his or her rank and assignment.

There shall be audited and may be paid, at the option of the adjutant general, to each properly uniformed and equipped officer of the active list of the organized militia of Washington, not in federal service an initial uniform allowance of one hundred dollars and annually thereafter for each twelve months state service an additional uniform allowance of fifty dollars, subject to such regulations as the commander-in-chief may prescribe to be audited and paid upon presentation of proper voucher.

Sec. 3. RCW 38.16.030 and 1989 c 19 s 32 are each amended to read as follows:

The inactive national guard of this state shall respectively be organized by the governor in regulations in conformance with the laws, rules and regulations of the United States. It shall consist of such organizations, officers and enlisted men as the governor shall prescribe. No commissioned officer shall be transferred or furloughed to the inactive national guard ((~~reserve~~)) without the officer's written consent, except as otherwise expressly provided by law. Any officer of the inactive national guard may be restored to the active list by order of the governor, subject to the same examination as in the case of an original appointment to his or her rank, and in such event his or her service in the inactive national guard shall not be counted in computing total length of service for relative seniority.

Sec. 4. RCW 38.24.010 and 1989 c 19 s 36 are each amended to read as follows:

All bills, claims and demands for military purposes shall be certified or verified and audited in the manner prescribed by regulations promulgated by the governor and shall be paid by the state treasurer from funds available for that purpose. In all cases where the organized militia, or any part of the organized militia, is called into the service of the state to execute or enforce the laws or in case of war, riot, insurrection, invasion, breach of the peace, ((~~to execute or enforce the laws,~~)) public disaster, or the imminent danger of the occurrence of any of these events, warrants for allowed pay and expenses for such services or compensation for injuries or death shall be drawn upon the general fund of the state treasury and paid out of any moneys in said fund not otherwise appropriated. All such warrants shall be the obligation of the state and shall bear interest at the legal rate from the date of their presentation for payment.

Sec. 5. RCW 38.38.132 and 1989 c 48 s 15 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Under such regulations as the governor may prescribe, limitations may be placed on the powers granted by this section with respect to the kind and amount of punishment authorized, the categories of commanding officers and warrant officers exercising command authorized to exercise those powers, the applicability of this section to an accused who demands trial by court-martial, and the kinds of courts-martial to which the case may be referred upon such a demand. However, except in the case of a member attached to or embarked in a vessel, punishment may not be imposed upon any member of the organized militia under this section if the member has, before the imposition of such punishment, demanded trial by court-martial in lieu of such punishment. Under similar regulations, rules may be prescribed with respect to the suspension of punishments authorized hereunder. If authorized by regulations of the governor, a commanding officer exercising general court-martial jurisdiction or an officer of general rank in command may delegate powers under this section to a principal assistant.

(2) Subject to subsection (1) of this section, any commanding officer may, in addition to or in lieu of admonition or reprimand, impose one or more of the following disciplinary punishments for minor offenses without the intervention of a court-martial:

(a) Upon officers of his or her command:

(i) Restriction to certain specified limits, with or without suspension from duty, for not more than fourteen consecutive duty or drill days;

(ii) If imposed by an officer exercising general court-martial jurisdiction or an officer of general rank in command:

(A) Forfeiture of up to thirty days' pay, but not more than fifteen days' pay per month;

(B) Restriction to certain specified limits, with or without suspension from duty, for not more than fourteen consecutive drill or duty days;

(b) Upon other personnel of his or her command:

(i) If imposed upon a person attached to or embarked in a vessel, confinement for not more than three consecutive days;

(ii) Forfeiture of not more than seven days' pay;

(iii) Reduction to the next inferior pay grade, if the grade from which demoted is within the promotion authority of the officer imposing the reduction or any officer subordinate to the one who imposes the reduction;

(iv) Extra duties, including fatigue or other duties for not more than fourteen duty or drill days, which need not be consecutive, and for not more than two hours per day, holidays included;

(v) Restriction to certain specified limits, with or without suspension from duty, for not more than fourteen consecutive days;

(vi) Detention of not more than fourteen days' pay;

(vii) If imposed by an officer of the grade of major or above:

(A) The punishment authorized in subsection (2)(b)(i) of this section;

(B) Forfeiture of up to thirty days' pay, but not more than fifteen days' pay per month;

(C) Reduction to the lowest or any intermediate pay grade, if the grade from which demoted is within the promotion authority of the officer imposing the reduction or any officer subordinate to the one who imposes the reduction, but an enlisted member in a pay grade above E-4 may not be reduced more than two pay grades;

(D) Extra duties, including fatigue or other duties, for not more than fourteen drill or duty days, which need not be consecutive, and for not more than two hours per day, holidays included;

(E) Restriction to certain specified limits, with or without suspension from duty, for not more than fourteen consecutive days;

(F) Detention of up to forty-five days' pay, but not more than fifteen days' pay per month.

Detention of pay shall be for a stated period of not more than one year but if the offender's term of service expires earlier, the detention shall terminate upon that expiration. Extra duties and restriction may not be combined to run consecutively in the maximum amount imposable for each. Whenever any such punishments are combined to run consecutively, there must be an apportionment. In addition, forfeiture of pay may not be combined with detention of pay without an apportionment.

(3) An officer in charge may impose upon enlisted members assigned to the unit of which the officer is in charge such of the punishment authorized under subsection (2)(b) of this section as the governor may specifically prescribe by regulation.

(4) The officer who imposes the punishment authorized in subsection (2) of this section, or a successor in command, may, at any time, suspend probationally any part or amount of the unexecuted punishment imposed and may suspend probationally a reduction in grade or a forfeiture imposed under subsection (2) of this section, whether or not executed. In addition, the officer may, at any time, remit or mitigate any part or amount of the unexecuted punishment imposed and may set aside in whole or in part the punishment, whether executed or unexecuted, and restore all rights, privileges, and property affected. The officer may also mitigate reduction in grade to forfeiture or detention of pay. When mitigating extra duties to restriction, the ((~~mitigated punishment~~)) restriction shall not be ((~~greater~~)) longer than the ((~~amount of the forfeiture~~)) number of hours of extra duty that may have been imposed. When mitigating reduction in grade to forfeiture or detention of pay, the amount of the forfeiture or detention shall not be greater than the amount that could have been imposed initially under this section by the officer who imposed the punishment mitigated.

(5) A person punished under this section who considers the punishment unjust or disproportionate to the offense may, through the proper channel, appeal to the next superior authority. The appeal shall be promptly forwarded and decided, but the person punished may in the meantime be required to undergo the punishment adjudged. The superior authority may exercise the same powers with respect to the punishment imposed as may be exercised under subsection (4) of this section by the officer who imposed the punishment. Before acting on an appeal from a punishment of:

(a) Forfeiture of more than seven days' pay;

(b) Reduction of one or more pay grades from the fourth or a higher pay grade;

(d) Restriction for more than ten days; or

(e) Detention of more than fourteen days' pay;

the authority who is to act on the appeal shall refer the case to a judge advocate for consideration and advice, and may so refer the case upon appeal from any punishment imposed under subsection (2) of this section.

(6) The imposition and enforcement of disciplinary punishment under this section for any act or omission is not a bar to trial by court-martial for a serious crime or offense growing out of the same act or omission, and not properly punishable under this section; but the fact that a disciplinary punishment has been enforced may be shown by the accused upon trial, and when so shown shall be considered in determining the measure of punishment to be adjudged in the event of a finding of guilty.

(7) The governor may by regulation prescribe the form of records to be kept of proceedings under this section and may also prescribe that certain categories of those proceedings shall be in writing.

Sec. 6. RCW 38.38.260 and 1989 c 48 s 27 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) (a) Trial counsel and defense counsel shall be detailed for each general and special court-martial. Assistant trial counsel and assistant and associate defense counsel may be detailed for each general and special court-martial. The governor shall prescribe regulations providing for the manner in which counsel are detailed for such courts-martial and for the persons who are authorized to detail counsel for such courts-martial.

(b) No person who has acted as investigating officer, military judge, or court member in any case may act later as trial counsel, assistant trial counsel, or, unless expressly requested by the accused, as defense counsel or assistant or associate defense counsel in the same case. No person who has acted for the prosecution may act later in the same case for the defense, nor may any person who has acted for the defense act later in the same case for the prosecution.

(2) Trial counsel or defense counsel detailed for a general court-martial:

(a) Must be a judge advocate who is a graduate of an accredited law school or is a member of the bar of a federal court or of the highest court of a state, or must be a member of the bar of a federal court or of the highest court of a state; and

(b) Must be certified as competent to perform such duties by the state judge advocate.

(3) In the case of a special court-martial:

(a) The accused shall be afforded the opportunity to be represented at the trial by counsel having the qualifications prescribed under ((~~RCW 38.38.260~~)) subsection (2) of this section unless counsel having such qualifications cannot be obtained on account of physical conditions or military exigencies. If counsel having such qualifications cannot be obtained, the court may be convened and the trial held but the convening authority shall make a detailed written statement, to be appended to the record, stating why counsel with such qualifications could not be obtained;

(b) If the trial counsel is qualified to act as counsel before a general court-martial, the defense counsel detailed by the convening authority must be a person similarly qualified; and

(c) If the trial counsel is a judge advocate or a member of the bar of a federal court or the highest court of a state, the defense counsel detailed by the convening authority must be one of the foregoing.

Sec. 7. RCW 38.38.404 and 1989 c 48 s 44 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) If an accused arraigned before a court-martial makes an irregular pleading, or after a plea of guilty sets up matter inconsistent with the plea, or if it appears that the accused has entered the plea of guilty improvidently or through lack of understanding of its meaning and effect, or if the accused fails or refuses to plead, a plea of not guilty shall be entered in the record, and the court shall proceed as though the accused had pleaded not guilty.

(2) With respect to any other charge or specification to which a plea of guilty has been made by the accused and accepted by the military judge or by a court-martial without a military judge, a finding of guilty of the charge or specification may be entered immediately without vote. This finding shall constitute the finding of the court unless the plea of guilty is withdrawn prior to announcement of the sentence, in which event the proceedings shall continue as ((~~through~~)) though the accused had pleaded not guilty.

Sec. 8. RCW 38.38.564 and 1989 c 48 s 57 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Upon the final review of a sentence of a general court-martial, the accused has the right to be represented by counsel before the reviewing authority, before the staff judge advocate, ((~~as the case may be,~~)) and before the state judge advocate.

(2) Upon the request of an accused entitled to be so represented, the state judge advocate shall appoint a lawyer who is a member of the organized militia and who has the qualifications prescribed in RCW 38.38.260, if available, to represent the accused before the reviewing authority, before the staff judge advocate, and before the state judge advocate, in the review of cases specified in subsection (1) of this section.

(3) If provided by the accused, an accused entitled to be so represented may be represented by civilian counsel before the reviewing authority, before the staff judge advocate, and before the state judge advocate.

Sec. 9. RCW 38.40.110 and 1989 c 19 s 52 are each amended to read as follows:

No club, society, association, corporation, employer, or organization shall by any constitution, rule, bylaws, resolution, vote or regulation, or otherwise, discriminate against or refuse to hire, employ, or reemploy any member of the organized militia of Washington because of his or her membership in said organized militia. Any person or persons, club, society, association, employer, corporation, or organization, violating or aiding, abetting, or assisting in the violation of any provision of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction thereof shall be fined in any sum not exceeding one hundred dollars and in addition thereto shall forfeit the right to do business for a period of thirty days. Any person who has been discriminated against in violation of this section shall have a civil cause of action for damages.

Sec. 10. RCW 38.44.020 and 1989 c 19 s 56 are each amended to read as follows:

Persons making an enrollment under ((~~RCW 38.20.040 and 38.44.020 through 38.44.060~~)) this chapter shall, at the time of making same, serve a notice of such enrollment upon each person enrolled, by delivering such notice to the enrollee personally or by leaving it with some person of suitable age and discretion at his or her place of business or residence, or by mailing such notice to him or her at the enrollee's last known place of residence, and shall make a return under oath of such service to accompany the copy of the enrollment filed with the adjutant general. The return shall be prima facie evidence of the facts therein.

Sec. 11. RCW 38.44.030 and 1989 c 19 s 57 are each amended to read as follows:

Whenever an enrollment shall have been ordered under ((~~RCW 38.20.040 and 38.44.020 through 38.44.060~~)) this chapter, the commanding officers of existing organizations of militia, and the chiefs of all police and fire departments shall make and deliver to the enrolling officer of the county in which such organization and departments are stationed, verified lists in triplicate of the members of their respective commands and departments, and the enrolling officer shall mark "Exempt" opposite the names of all persons so listed, attaching one copy of each such list to each copy of the enrollment. The enrolling officer shall also mark "Exempt" opposite the names of all federal, state and county officers. All other persons claiming exemption must within fifteen days after service upon them of the notice of enrollment make a written verified claim in duplicate of such exemption and file the same in the office of the county auditor, who shall within five days thereafter forward one copy thereof with remarks and recommendations to the adjutant general. Upon the expiration of the time within which any claim of exemption may be filed and received by the adjutant general, the latter shall notify the county auditor of the decision in each case where exemption has been claimed, and the county auditor shall write upon the roll opposite the name of each person whose claim of exemption has been allowed by the adjutant general, the word "Exempt." All those on the roll not marked "Exempt" shall be subject to military duty.

Sec. 12. RCW 38.44.040 and 1989 c 19 s 58 are each amended to read as follows:

If any officer or person, who becomes charged under ((~~RCW 38.20.040 and 38.44.020 through 38.44.060~~)) this chapter with any duty relating to an enrollment of persons subject to military duty, refuses or neglects to perform the same within the time and substantially in the manner required by law, or if he or she shall knowingly make any false certificate, or if, when acting as county or assistant enrolling officer, he or she shall knowingly or willfully omit from the roll any person required by ((~~RCW 38.20.040 and 38.44.020 through 38.44.060~~)) this chapter to be enrolled he or she shall thereby forfeit not less than one hundred nor more than five hundred dollars, to be sued for in the name of the state of Washington by the prosecuting attorney of the county in which such offense shall occur, the amount of the penalty to be determined by the court, and, when recovered, to be paid into the ((~~military~~)) general fund of the state.

Sec. 13. RCW 38.44.050 and 1989 c 19 s 59 are each amended to read as follows:

Each county enrolling officer shall be allowed the sum of five cents per name enrolled and served with notice of enrollment by the enrolling officer or assistants, to be audited and paid as other military bills out of any moneys in the ((~~military~~)) general fund ((~~not otherwise~~)) appropriated to the military department, and from such allowance the enrolling officer must pay the assistant or assistants.

Sec. 14. RCW 38.44.060 and 1989 c 19 s 60 are each amended to read as follows:

All civil officers in each county, city and town shall allow persons authorized under ((~~RCW 38.20.040 and 38.44.020 through 38.44.060~~)) this chapter to make enrollments, at all proper times, to examine their records and take copies thereof or information therefrom. It shall be the duty of every person, under the penalties provided in RCW 38.44.040, upon application of any person legally authorized to make an enrollment, truthfully to state all of the facts within his or her knowledge concerning any individual of whom the enroller shall make inquiry. In event of a violation of this section the enroller shall report the facts to the prosecuting attorney, who shall at once proceed to enforce the penalty.