SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 6173
As Passed Senate, February 12, 1998
Title: An act relating to the veterans' preference in employment examinations.
Brief Description: Removing the requirement that the veterans' preference must be used within eight years.
Sponsors: Senators McCaslin, Fairley, Bauer, Swecker, T. Sheldon and Benton.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Government Operations: 1/22/98 [DP].
Passed Senate, 2/12/98, 47-0.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON
GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators McCaslin, Chair; Hale, Vice Chair; Anderson, Haugen, Horn, Patterson and T. Sheldon.
Staff: Eugene Green (786-7405)
Background: In all competitive examinations for applicants for state and local public employment, veterans are given a preference status, by adding to the passing grade, based upon a rating of 100 points, the following: (1) 10 percent to a veteran who is not receiving any retirement payments; (2) 5 percent to a veteran who is receiving any veterans retirement payments; and (3) 5 percent to a veteran who, after previous state or local public employment, is called or recalled to active military service for a period of at least one year during any period of war, for a first promotional examination only.
These examination preferences must be claimed by a veteran within eight years of the date of his or her release from active service.
Summary of Bill: The eight-year limitation of the examination preferences claimed by a veteran is removed.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: Many veterans could not get their shattered lives back together to be able to take advantage of the preferences within the existing limitation. This could be of help to many of our veterans, including some who are presently homeless.
Testimony Against: None.
Testified: Dennis Primoli, Veterans Leg. Coalition (pro); Skip Dreps, NW Chapter Paralyzed Veterans of America (pro).