HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  SB 5736

                  As Passed House‑Amended:

                       April 15, 1997

Title:  An act relating to county burial costs for indigent deceased veterans.

Brief Description:  Increasing county burial costs for indigent deceased veterans.

Sponsors:  Senators Roach, Winsley, Oke, Benton, Schow, Snyder, Heavey, Bauer and Rasmussen.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Trade & Economic Development:  3/31/97, 4/2/97 [DP];

Appropriations:  4/5/97 [DPA].

Floor Activity:

Passed House-Amended:  4/15/97, 95‑0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRADE & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 9 members:  Representatives Van Luven, Chairman; Dunn, Vice Chairman; Veloria, Ranking Minority Member; Sheldon, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Alexander; Ballasiotes; Mason; McDonald and Morris.

Staff:  Kenny Pittman (786-7392).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  Signed by 30 members:  Representatives Huff, Chairman; Alexander, Vice Chairman; Clements, Vice Chairman; Wensman, Vice Chairman; H. Sommers, Ranking Minority Member; Doumit, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Gombosky, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Benson; Carlson; Chopp; Cody; Cooke; Crouse; Dyer; Grant; Keiser; Kenney; Kessler; Linville; Lisk; Mastin; McMorris; Parlette; Poulsen; Regala; D. Schmidt; Sehlin; Sheahan; Talcott and Tokuda.

Minority Report:  Without recommendation.  Signed by 1 member:  Representative Lambert.

Staff:  Dave Johnson (786-7154).

Background:  Each county legislative authority must inter at the expense of the county any honorably discharged veterans and the wives, husbands, minor children, widows or widowers of these veterans who are indigent.  The interment cost may not be more than $300.  This sum may also be paid to relatives or friends who conduct a burial for the indigent veteran or their family members who are indigent.

Counties are authorized to levy property taxes of not less than 1-1/8 cents per $1,000 or more than 27 cents per $1,000 of assessed value.  The monies must be used to provide relief for indigent veterans, families of veterans, and families of deceased veterans.

Summary of Bill:  The interment cost of honorably discharged indigent veterans and the wives, husbands, minor children, widows or widowers of these veterans who are indigent is increased from an amount not more than $300 to not more than a limit established by the county legislative authority.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  (Trade & Economic Development)  The bill allows counties to keep pace with increased costs of burial.

(Appropriations)  None.

Testimony Against:  (Trade & Economic Development)  None.

(Appropriations)  None.

Testified:  (Trade & Economic Development)  John Lee, Washington State Veterans Department (pro).

(Appropriations)  None.