Title: An act relating to the joint committee on veterans' and military affairs.

Brief Description: Making the joint committee on veterans' and military affairs permanent.

Sponsors: Representatives Morrell, Haigh, Wallace, Campbell, O'Brien, McCoy, Moeller, Kenney, Hasegawa, Green, Lantz, Flannigan, Williams, Dunshee, B. Sullivan, Kilmer, Strow, Upthegrove, Darneille, Springer, Hunt, Sells, P. Sullivan, Tom, Talcott, McCune, Serben, McDonald, Conway, Linville, Kristiansen, Chase, Ormsby, Santos and Kagi.

Brief History: Passed House: 2/25/05, 95-0.

Committee Activity: Government Operations & Elections: 3/28/05 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ELECTIONS

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Kastama, Chair; Berkey, Vice Chair; Roach, Ranking Minority Member; Fairley, Haugen, Kline, Mulliken and Pridemore.

Staff: Cindy Fazio (786-7405)

Background: The Joint Committee on Veterans' and Military Affairs (joint committee) was created in 2001 and given the following powers and duties: (1) to study veterans' issues, active military forces' issues, and national guard and reserve component issues, and make recommendations to the legislature; and (2) to study structure and administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Military Department, and make recommendations to the legislature.

The joint committee consists of 16 members, four members from each caucus of the House appointed by the Speaker of the House, and four members from each caucus of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate. The four-member executive committee, representing the majority and minority of each chamber, performs administrative duties assigned to it by the joint committee.

The law will expire December 31, 2005.

Summary of Bill: The joint committee is permanent. The joint committee must establish an executive committee. The executive committee is comprised of two members of the Senate and two members of the House of Representatives. The executive committee must appoint one senator and one representative, from different political parties, as co-chairs. The co-chairs' terms of office will run from the close of the session in which they are appointed until the close of the next regular session in an odd-numbered year.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: Yes.

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

Testimony For: This commission is very important, I urge you to support the bill.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Representative Morrell, prime sponsor.