BP BHEAD INT S [atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to bonuses for certain merchant marine veterans and their spouses; and adding a new section to chapter 73.04 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 73.04 RCW to read as follows:

(1) Bonuses shall be paid to servicemen and exservicemen and servicewomen and exservicewomen who served on active duty in the merchant marine at any time during the period between September 16, 1940, through July 25, 1947, and who were citizens of Washington when inducted into active service and certain surviving spouses of such servicemen and servicewomen. The payments of bonuses are in the amounts and subject to the conditions set forth as follows:

(a) To each such serviceman or servicewoman who served in the merchant marine during the established period, the sum of two hundred fifty dollars.

(b) To the surviving spouse of each such serviceman or servicewoman who died while serving in the merchant marine during the established period or who died at any time during the period after having served in the merchant marine during the period as a result of injuries or wounds received or disease contracted while in the merchant marine during the period, the sum of two hundred fifty dollars, provided that the bonus shall not be paid to any surviving spouse who has remarried.

(2) If there is no surviving serviceman or servicewoman or surviving unremarried spouse, then no bonus shall be paid. In addition, the two hundred fifty dollar payment specified under subsection (1) of this section shall be reduced by any other amount paid under the provisions of this section.

(3) A bonus shall not be paid to any serviceman or servicewoman who has been separated from the merchant marine without an honorable discharge or an honorable separation, nor to the surviving spouse of such a serviceman or servicewoman.

(4) A bonus shall not be paid to any serviceman or servicewoman, or to the surviving spouse of any such serviceman or servicewoman, unless a claim is filed in writing with the director of the state department of veterans affairs on or before five years after the effective date of this section.

(5) If any serviceman or servicewoman or surviving spouse entitled to a bonus or payment has received a bonus or gratuitous payment from any other state, territory, or governmental authority, other than the government of the United States, prior to making application under this section, then the amount of the bonus or gratuitous payment shall be deducted from the amount paid to each person under this section.

(6) The bonuses and payments provided shall be completely exempt from all liability for any debt, tax, or obligation. This exemption cannot be waived. The bonus or payment shall be nonassignable and shall not be subject to pledge or hypothecation in any manner whatsoever.

(7) The state department of veterans affairs shall have responsibility for the administration of this section. The director of the department is designated as the officer charged by law with the payment of the bonuses, and the director shall adopt rules as necessary for the distribution of the bonuses and for the proper administration of this section.

(8) The state department of veterans affairs shall estimate the amount necessary to pay the claims and administer this section and include that amount as a separate item in its budget request submitted for fiscal year 1999, and for each fiscal year thereafter during the five-year time limit to make a claim for a bonus.