Passed by the Senate April 28, 1991

Yeas 48 Nays 0

President of the Senate

Passed by the House April 27, 1991

Yeas 98 Nays 0

Speaker of the

House of Representatives

Approved

Governor of the State of Washington

CERTIFICATE

I, Gordon Golob, Secretary of the Senate of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is SENATE BILL 5477 as passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on the dates hereon set forth.

Secretary

FILED

Secretary of State

State of Washington

_______________________________________________

SENATE BILL 5477

AS RECOMMENDED BY THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE

_______________________________________________

Passed Legislature - 1991 Regular Session

State of Washington 52nd Legislature 1991 Regular Session

By Senators Conner, Rasmussen, Bauer and Nelson.

Read first time February 1, 1991. Referred to Committee on Governmental Operations.

AN ACT Relating to veterans; and amending RCW 41.04.005, 72.36.035, and 73.04.090.

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

Sec. 1. RCW 41.04.005 and 1984 c 36 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

As used in RCW 41.04.005, 41.04.010, 41.16.220, and 41.20.050 "veteran" includes every person, who at the time he or she seeks the benefits of RCW 28B.40.361, 41.04.005, 41.04.010, 41.16.220, 41.20.050, 41.40.170, 73.04.110, or 73.08.080 has received an honorable discharge or received a discharge for physical reasons with an honorable record and((: (1) Has served in any branch of the armed forces of the United States between World War I and World War II or during any period of war; or (2) has served in any branch of the armed forces of the United States and has received the armed forces expeditionary medal, or Marine Corps and Navy expeditionary medal, for opposed action on foreign soil)) who meets at least one of the following two criteria:

(1) The person has served between World War I and World War II or during any period of war as either (a) a member in any branch of the armed forces of the United States, (b) a member of the women's air forces service pilots, or (c) a U.S. documented merchant mariner with service aboard an oceangoing vessel operated by the war shipping administration, the office of defense transportation, or their agents, during the period of armed conflict, December 7, 1941, to August 15, 1945, or a civil service crewmember with service aboard a U.S. army transport service or U.S. naval transportation service vessel in oceangoing service during the period of armed conflict December 7, 1941, to August 15, 1945; or

(2) The person has received the armed forces expeditionary medal, or marine corps and navy expeditionary medal, for opposed action on foreign soil, for service (a) in any branch of the armed forces of the United States; or (b) as a member of the women's air forces service pilots.

A "period of war" includes World War I, World War II, the Korean conflict, the Vietnam era, and the period beginning on the date of any future declaration of war by the congress and ending on the date prescribed by presidential proclamation or concurrent resolution of the congress. The "Vietnam era" means the period beginning August 5, 1964, and ending on May 7, 1975.

Sec. 2. RCW 72.36.035 and 1977 ex.s. c 186 s 11 are each amended to read as follows:

For purposes of this chapter, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, "actual bona fide residents of this state" shall mean persons who have a domicile in the state of Washington immediately prior to application for membership in the soldiers' home or colony or veterans' home. The term "domicile" shall mean a person's true, fixed, and permanent home and place of habitation, and shall be the place where the person intends to remain, and to which the person expects to return when the person leaves without intending to establish a new domicile elsewhere. "Veteran" has the same meaning established in RCW 41.04.005.

Sec. 3. RCW 73.04.090 and 1974 ex.s. c 171 s 45 are each amended to read as follows:

All benefits, advantages or emoluments, not available upon equal terms to all citizens, including but not being limited to preferred rights to public employment, civil service preference, exemption from license fees or other impositions, preference in purchasing state property and special pension or retirement rights, which by any law of this state have been made specially available to war veterans or to persons who have served in the armed forces or defense forces of the United States, shall be available only to persons who have been subject to full and continuous military control and discipline as actual members of the federal armed forces or to persons defined as "veterans" in RCW 41.04.005. Service with such forces in a civilian capacity, or in any capacity wherein a person retained the right to terminate his or her service or to refuse full obedience to military superiors, shall not be the basis for eligibility for such benefits. Service in any of the following shall not for purposes of this section be considered as military service: The office of emergency services or any component thereof; the American Red Cross; the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary; United States Coast Guard Reserve Temporary; United States Coast and Geodetic Survey; American Field Service; Civil Air Patrol; Cadet Nurse Corps, and any other similar organization.