BILL REQ. #: S-0902.1

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SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5035
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State of Washington

61st Legislature

2009 Regular Session

By Senate Government Operations & Elections (originally sponsored by Senators Hobbs, Swecker, Marr, Roach, Kastama, Kauffman, Kilmer, Hatfield, McAuliffe, and Haugen; by request of Joint Committee on Veterans' and Military Affairs)

READ FIRST TIME 01/22/09.

AN ACT Relating to improving veterans' access to services; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The department of veterans affairs shall study efficient ways to increase the department's access to veterans, and to increase veterans' access to the state and federal assistance programs for which they may be eligible. By January 1, 2010, the department shall submit a report to the legislature with recommendations. The report shall address:
     (1) How the department can achieve a goal of identifying all veterans in the state within five years;
     (2) How the department can efficiently identify veterans as their population in the state continues to grow;
     (3) How the department can identify veterans through referrals from other state agencies that currently provide services to veterans;
     (4) How the department can effectively inform veterans of the state and federal programs for which they may be eligible;
     (5) The potential costs and savings to the state that would result if the department's recommendations were undertaken; and
     (6) What legislation would be needed, if any, to undertake the department's recommendations.

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