Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
Appropriations Committee

HB 2227

Brief Description:  Establishing the eastern Washington veterans' home.

Sponsors:  Representatives Ahern, Gombosky, Schoesler, Wood, Benson, Haigh, Schindler, Conway, Cox, Reardon, D. Schmidt, Talcott, Campbell and Bush; by request of Department of Veterans Affairs.

Brief Summary of Bill

$Establishes an Eastern Washington veterans' home.

Hearing Date:  4/11/01

Staff:  Linda Brooks (786‑7153).

Background: 

The Washington Department of Veterans' Affairs (WDVA) operates two state veterans homes that provide long-term care for veterans and their spouses.  The homes are the Soldiers' Home at Orting and the Veterans' Home at Retsil.  Both homes are funded through a combination of funds that include state general funds, per diem payments from the federal Department of Veterans' Affairs, Medicaid payments, and contributions from residents' incomes.

Summary of Bill: 

An Eastern Washington veterans' home is established.  The WDVA is authorized to operate and manage the Eastern Washington veterans' home in the same manner as other state veterans' homes.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on March 30, 2001.

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