S-2062.1  _______________________________________________

                    SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5875

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Government Operations (originally sponsored by Senators Swanson, McCaslin, Haugen, Swecker, Jacobsen, Patterson, Rossi, Brown, Heavey, Finkbeiner, Hochstatter, Fraser, Sheldon, Kline, Loveland, Zarelli, Goings, Anderson, Hargrove, Prentice, Oke, Franklin, Thibaudeau, Winsley, Rasmussen, Kohl and Roach)

Read first time 03/05/97.

Creating the joint select committee on veterans and military personnel affairs.

    AN ACT Relating to the legislature; and adding a new chapter to Title 44 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  (1) Issues raised during this legislative session have underscored that there is a need to provide properly for those who are currently giving service or have given service to their state and country.  Due to proposed substantial federal cuts in programs, veterans, members of the active duty military forces, and members of the national guard and reserve components in Washington state, must have consideration given to their unique concerns and the programs designed for their assistance.

    (2) To this end, there is created a joint select committee on veterans and military personnel affairs.  The committee consists of four members, one from each caucus of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate, and one from each caucus of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

    (3) The committee shall make an annual report to the legislature, the first report on or before the 1999 legislative session, on the current status of veteran and military personnel affairs in the state of Washington.

    Further, the committee shall establish an advisory group of all interested parties including, but not limited to, representatives of the department of veterans affairs, the state military department, and the reserve and active military, and have access to and the assistance of legislative staff and employees of state agencies as necessary to perform studies, develop recommendations, and report to the legislature in an ongoing manner concerning issues affecting veterans and military personnel in this state.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  Section 1 of this act constitutes a new chapter in Title 44 RCW.

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