HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SSB 5366

                      As Passed House:

                      February 29, 2000

Title:  An act relating to veterans' scoring criteria in employment examinations.

Brief Description:  Changing scoring criteria for veterans' employment examinations.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on State & Local Government (originally sponsored by Senators Patterson, McCaslin, Oke, Horn, Goings and Bauer).

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

State Government:  2/18/00, 2/25/00 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House:  2/29/00, 97-0.

           Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

$Changes the criteria for determining the percentage to be added to the score of a veteran taking a competitive examination for government employment.

$Expands the number of people eligible to have the percentages added to their scores to include veterans who have not served during a period of war or in an armed conflict.

$Extends the period within which a veteran can receive the percentage to 15 years and allows the period to be extended for valid and extenuating reasons.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 7 members:  Representatives McMorris, Republican Co-Chair; Campbell, Republican Vice Chair; Miloscia, Democratic Vice Chair; Dunshee; Haigh; Lambert and D. Schmidt.

Minority Report:  Without recommendation.  Signed by 1 member:  Representative Romero, Democratic Co-Chair.

Staff:  Jim Morishima (786-7191).

Background:

In competitive examinations for employment with state or local governments, veterans are given preference by adding the following percentages to their scores:

CTen percent to a veteran who is not receiving any veterans retirement payments;

CFive percent to a veteran who is receiving veterans retirement payments; and

CFive percent to a veteran who, after previous state or local public employment, is called or recalled to active military service for at least one year during a period of war (for the first promotional examination only).

In order to qualify as a "veteran" for purposes of claiming an examination preference, a person must have:  1) received an honorable discharge, or a discharge for physical reasons with an honorable record; and 2) served during a period of war, including certain armed conflicts in which the person was awarded a campaign badge or medal.  A veteran must claim the examination preferences within eight years of the date of his or her release from active service.

Summary of Bill:

In competitive examinations for employment with state or local governments, veterans are given "scoring criteria status" by adding to the following percentages to their scores:

CTen percent to a veteran who served during a period of war or in an armed conflict who does not receive military retirement;

CFive percent to a veteran who did not serve during a period of war or in an armed conflict, or who is receiving military retirement; and

CFive percent to a veteran who was called to active duty for one year or more from state or local public employment.

A veteran must claim the scoring criteria status within 15 years of release from active service, unless a valid and extenuating reason arises.  Valid and extenuating reasons include, but are not limited to:

CDocumented medical reasons beyond the control of the veteran;

CUnited States Department of Veterans' Affairs documented disabled veteran;

CAny veteran who has his or her employment terminated through no fault or action of his or her own and whose livelihood is adversely affected may seek scoring criteria employment consideration.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  This is long overdue.  Many veterans miss out on claiming these percentages because of employment after military service.  This bill would extend the period within which veterans must claim the percentages from eight years to 15 years.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Dennis Primoli, Veterans Legislative Coalition.