FINAL BILL REPORT

                 ESHB 2781

                        PARTIAL VETO

                         C 300 L 96

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Providing for veterans' preferences.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Basich, Regala, Conway, Reams, Grant, Elliot, Quall, Linville, Chandler, Hatfield, D. Sommers, Scheuerman, Stevens, McMahan, Buck, Sheldon, Tokuda, Poulsen, Cole, Chopp, Kessler, Costa, Thompson, D. Schmidt, Robertson and Cooke).

House Committee on Appropriations

Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce and Trade

Background:  For purposes of seeking certain benefits through retirement systems, personnel systems, and license and property tax benefits.  The definition of veteran includes military and certain civilian personnel serving in World Wars I and II, the Korean conflict, the Vietnam era, and any other declared war.

For purposes of seeking employment with the state or its political subdivisions, a scoring preference is given to a veteran in the examination process until his or her first employment appointment, as follows:

1)a 10 percent increase in the veteran's passing score, if he or she is not receiving veteran's benefits; or,

2)a 5 percent increase in the veteran's passing score, if he or she is receiving veteran's benefits.

In addition, a veteran who was employed by the state or a political subdivision and was called to active military service for a period of one year or more receives a 5 percent scoring preference on his or her first promotional examination.

Examination scoring preferences are available to a veteran for eight years after his or her release from service.

Summary:  The definition of veteran is amended to include persons who served in the Persian Gulf War and other armed conflicts (Lebanon, Grenada, Panama, Somalia, Haiti, and Bosnia).

For purposes of civil service examinations, the definition of veteran will also include any person who has served 180 days of active duty not for training and who was not dishonorably discharged.  The civil service scoring preference scheme is amended:

(1)10 percent preference is provided for a veteran who served in a combat zone and is receiving no military retirement benefits.  A scoring preference may be added in the first promotional examination if such a veteran was called to military service from employment with the state or political subdivision.

(2)A 5 percent scoring preference is provided to a veteran who did not serve in a combat zone or who is receiving military retirement benefits.  A scoring preference may be added in the first promotional examination if such a veteran was called to military service from employment with the state or political subdivision.

Veteran examination scoring preferences are extended for two years, for a total of 10 years, after a veteran's release from service.

Partial Veto Summary:  The Governor vetoed the provision which extends veteran civil service examination preferences to individuals who served in the armed forces for at least 180 days of active duty, not for training, who were not dishonorably discharged.  Also vetoed were several changes in the scheme for scoring veteran civil service exams, and a provision to extend veteran examination scoring preferences from eight years to a total of 10 years after a veteran's release from service.

Votes on Final Passage:

House     96 0

Senate    47 0

Effective:  June 6, 1996