HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SHCR 4428

                    As Passed Legislature

Brief Description:  Creating a joint select committee on veterans and military affairs.

Sponsors:  Representatives Conway, D. Schmidt, O'Brien, Campbell, Lovick, Miloscia, Talcott, Bush, Woods, Haigh, Radcliff, Kenney, Kessler, Rockefeller, Santos and Skinner.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

State Government:  2/18/00, 2/22/00 [DPS].

Floor Activity:

Passed House:  3/1/00, 98-0.

           Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

$Creates the Joint Select Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 8 members:  Representatives McMorris, Republican Co-Chair; Romero, Democratic Co-Chair; Campbell, Republican Vice Chair; Miloscia, Democratic Vice Chair; Dunshee; Haigh; Lambert and D. Schmidt.

Staff:  Jim Morishima (786-7191).

Background:

A variety of military personnel reside in Washington including veterans, active military personnel, members of the National Guard, and members of the reserve.  A variety of state agencies handle issues relating to military personnel including the Military Department and the Department of Veterans' Affairs.

Summary of Substitute Bill:

The Joint Select Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs is created.  The committee must examine and define issues and make recommendations to the Governor, the Legislature, and state agencies with respect to desirable changes in programs, laws, and administrative practices affecting veterans and military affairs before each legislative session.

The committee consists of sixteen members, four members from each caucus in the House appointed by the Co-Speakers of the House, and four members from each caucus in the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate.  The committee must be co-chaired by one member from the House and one from the Senate. 

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  There is a large number of people in this state who are affected by military issues including veterans, active military personnel, and military family members.  There has not been an appropriate focus on veterans' and military issues in the Legislature over the years.  There are a variety of military related issues for which there does not exist a legislative forum including budget issues, disaster preparedness, and public safety.  What you do not know about, you cannot address.  This resolution would solve these problems by providing a forum for military issues.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Representative Conway, prime sponsor; Skip Dreps, Paralyzed Veterans of America; Keith Shearman, Retired Officers Association; John King, Department of Veterans' Affairs; Paul Jamron, American Veterans; and Major General Tim Lowenberg, Washington State Military Department.