FINAL BILL REPORT

ESB 5626

C 292 L 02

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Modifying the definition of veteran.

Sponsors:  Senators Rasmussen, Oke, Swecker, Winsley, Snyder, Shin, Roach, Patterson, McAuliffe and Benton; by request of Joint Select Committee on Veterans' and Military Affairs.

Senate Committee on State & Local Government

House Committee on State Government

Background:  The current statutory definition of "veteran" does not include peacetime veterans, except those who served between World Wars I and II, or those who served in the reserves or National Guard, or those who served in the Philippine Armed Forces and Scouts in World War II.  It does include Merchant Mariners who served in World War II.

This definition governs eligibility for pre-LEOFF I fire fighters' pensions; police relief and pensions in first class cities; PERS Plan I retirement benefits; exemption from payment of fees at state universities, regional universities and The Evergreen State College; admission to the soldiers' and veterans' homes; veterans' preference on civil service exams; free license plates for disabled veterans and prisoners of war; county aid to indigent veterans and families; restrictions on sending veterans or families to alms houses; and county burial of indigent deceased veterans.

Drivers licenses issued to any person serving in the armed forces of the United States remain valid as long as the service continues.

Summary:  For some purposes, the definition of veteran includes: (a) peacetime veterans and those who have fulfilled their initial military service obligation in any branch of the armed  services and the National Guard and reserves; (b) those in the National Guard, reserves or Coast Guard who have been called into federal service by a presidential select reserve call up for at least 180 cumulative days; and (c) those who served in the Philippine Armed Forces or Scouts in World War II.  The purposes to which this definition applies are for the veterans' preference on civil service exams; free license plates; county aid to indigent veterans; restrictions on sending veterans to alms houses; county burials; and those service categories of the modified definition to current service members eligible to have continuing valid drivers' licenses.

The Higher Education Coordinating Board and Joint Committee on Pension Policy must study what would be the effect on their respective agencies of changing to the more inclusive definition of veteran.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate442

Senate490(Senate reconsidered)

House920(House amended)

Senate460(Senate concurred)

Effective:  June 13, 2002