Z-0869.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 2227

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      57th Legislature     2001 Regular Session

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

Read first time 03/28/2001.  Referred to Committee on Appropriations.

Establishing the eastern Washington veterans' home.

    AN ACT Relating to establishing the eastern Washington veterans' home; amending RCW 72.36.035, 72.36.045, 72.36.055, 72.36.060, 43.60A.075, and 72.36.090; and adding a new section to chapter 72.36 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

    Sec. 1.  RCW 72.36.035 and 1993 sp.s. c 3 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:

    For purposes of this chapter, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

    (1) "Actual bona fide residents of this state" means persons who have a domicile in the state of Washington immediately prior to application for admission to a state veterans' home.

    (2) "Department" means the Washington state department of veterans affairs.

    (3) "Domicile" means a person's true, fixed, and permanent home and place of habitation, and shall be the place where the person intends to remain, and to which the person expects to return when the person leaves without intending to establish a new domicile elsewhere.

    (4) "State veterans' homes" means ((either)) the Washington soldiers' home and colony in Orting, ((or)) the Washington veterans' home in Retsil, ((or both)) and the eastern Washington veterans' home.

    (5) "Veteran" has the same meaning established in RCW 41.04.005.

    Sec. 2.  RCW 72.36.045 and 1977 ex.s. c 186 s 10 are each amended to read as follows:

    In the maintenance of the ((Washington soldiers' home and colony and the Washington)) state veterans' homes by the state through the department of veterans' affairs, such maintenance shall include, but not be limited to, the provision of members' room and board, medical and dental care, physical and occupational therapy, and recreational activities, with the necessary implementing transportation, equipment, and personnel therefor.

    Sec. 3.  RCW 72.36.055 and 1977 ex.s. c 186 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:

    The ((soldiers' home and colony at Orting and the Washington)) state veterans' homes ((at Retsil)) shall provide both domiciliary and nursing care.  The level of domiciliary members shall remain consistent with the facilities available to accommodate those members:  PROVIDED, That nothing in this section shall preclude the department from moving residents between nursing and domiciliary care in order to better utilize facilities and maintain the appropriate care for the members.

    Sec. 4.  RCW 72.36.060 and 1977 ex.s. c 186 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

    The state treasurer is authorized to receive any and all moneys appropriated or paid by the United States under the act of congress entitled "An Act to provide aid to state or territorial homes for disabled soldiers and sailors of the United States," approved August 27, 1888, or under any other act or acts of congress for the benefit of such homes.  Such moneys shall be deposited in the general fund and shall be expended for the maintenance of the ((soldiers' home and)) state veterans' homes.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.  A new section is added to chapter 72.36 RCW to read as follows:

    There shall be established and maintained in this state a branch of the state soldiers' home, under the name of the "eastern Washington veterans' home," which branch shall be a home for veterans and their spouses who meet admission requirements contained in RCW 72.36.030.

    Sec. 6.  RCW 43.60A.075 and 1977 c 31 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:

    The director of the department of veterans affairs shall have full power to manage and govern the state soldiers' home and colony ((and)), the Washington veterans' home, and the eastern Washington veterans' home.

    Sec. 7.  RCW 72.36.090 and 1977 ex.s. c 186 s 9 are each amended to read as follows:

    The superintendents of the state ((soldiers' home and colony and the state)) veterans' homes are hereby authorized to:

    (1) Institute programs of hobby promotion designed to improve the general welfare and mental condition of the persons under their supervision;

    (2) Provide for the financing of these programs by grants from funds in the superintendent's custody through operation of canteens and exchanges at such institutions;

    (3) Limit the hobbies sponsored to projects which will, in their judgment, be self-liquidating or self-sustaining.

                            --- END ---