SENATE BILL REPORT

SJM 8008

As Passed Senate, March 7, 2003

Brief Description: Requesting that veterans receive concurrent retirement and disability payments.

Sponsors: Senators Rasmussen, Swecker, Roach, Shin, Kastama, Franklin, Winsley, Schmidt, Oke, Eide and Kohl-Welles; by request of Joint Select Committee on Veterans' and Military Affairs.

Brief History:

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

Passed Senate: 3/7/03, 49-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ELECTIONS

Majority Report: Do pass.

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

Staff: Ronda Larson (786-7429)

Background: Retired veterans who are also disabled are not allowed to receive both the full amount of their retirement benefits and also the full amount of their disability benefits. The federal government reduces dollar for dollar the amount of retirement benefits received by the amount of disability benefits received.

In Washington, retired veterans account for 10 percent of the population. Of this, 37 percent are disabled.

Summary of Bill: The federal government is asked to allow retired veterans who are also disabled to receive the full amounts of their retirement and disability entitlements.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Testimony For: We need to send a message to the federal government. It is an injustice that the most vulnerable veterans are being denied their full benefits.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: Senator Marilyn Rasmussen, prime sponsor (pro).