SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5666

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Government Operations & Elections, February 11, 2003

Title: An act relating to defining veteran for certain purposes.

Brief Description: Defining veteran for certain purposes.

Sponsors: Senators Rasmussen, Roach, Jacobsen, Oke, Schmidt, Winsley and Shin.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Government Operations & Elections: 2/11/03 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ELECTIONS

Majority Report: Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Roach, Chair; Stevens, Vice Chair; Horn, Kastama and Reardon.

Staff: Mac Nicholson (786-7445)

Background: For the purposes of seeking benefits under various statutes, a veteran is defined as a person who has served as a member in any branch of the armed forces, including the National Guard and reserves, who has fulfilled initial service obligations or has been called into federal service for at least 180 days; a member of the women's air forces service; a member of the Philippine armed forces during WWII; or as a civil service crewmember with service aboard a U.S. Army transport service or U.S. Naval transportation service vessel during WWII.

Summary of Bill: The definition of veteran is amended to include United States documented merchant mariners with service aboard oceangoing vessels operated by the Department of Defense, or its agents, in Korean territorial waters from June 25, 1950, to July 27, 1953, and in Vietnamese territorial waters from August 5, 1964, to May 7, 1975.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: This bill gives merchant marines the recognition they deserve for putting themselves in harm's way during the wars in Korea and Vietnam.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: Ron Springer, Merchant Marine Veterans (pro).