HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 2755
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in
their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a
statement of legislative intent.
As Passed House:
February 7, 2008
Title: An act relating to veterans' scoring criteria.
Brief Description: Adjusting veterans' scoring criteria.
Sponsors: By Representatives Kelley, Rodne, Hunt, Green, Wallace, Seaquist, Goodman, VanDeWege, Lantz, McCune, Hurst, Conway, Morrell and Haigh.
Brief History:
State Government & Tribal Affairs: 1/25/08, 1/30/08 [DP].
Floor Activity:
Passed House: 2/7/08, 95-0.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT & TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 8 members: Representatives Hunt, Chair; Appleton, Vice Chair; Chandler, Ranking Minority Member; Armstrong, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Kretz, Liias, Miloscia and Ormsby.
Staff: Colleen Kerr (786-7168).
Background:
State law provides that honorably discharged veterans receive preference in public
employment. Some public employment positions require applicants to take a competitive
examination. In those cases, preference is given to veterans by adding a certain percentage to
the passing mark, grade, or rating of an examination. Among other scoring criteria for
veterans, a 5 percent preference is given for the first promotional examination to veterans
who are called to active military service for one or more years from employment with the
state.
Summary of Bill:
The requirement that veterans must have been called from state employment to active duty
service for one or more years is removed so that any veteran called to active duty military
service from state employment may receive preferential scoring criteria.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:
(In support) This bill corrects an oversight in the current statute. Right now, veterans of
active military service only receive preferential scoring if they were called away from state
employment for at least one year. There are veterans coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan
after a few months with injuries and disabilities who are not eligible for the scoring criteria
and they are the very veterans who should be eligible. This bill corrects that gap.
(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: Representative Kelley, prime sponsor; and Skip Dreps, Paralyzed Veterans of America.