Brief Description: Defining veteran for certain purposes.

Sponsors: Representatives Haigh, Talcott, Wallace, Armstrong, Fromhold, Anderson, Upthegrove, Simpson, G., Morrell, Conway and Rockefeller.

Hearing Date: 1/22/04

Staff: Marsha Reilly (786-7135).

Background:

The definition of veteran is used throughout statute as an eligibility requirement for various benefits, including retirement service credit; admission to the soldiers' and veterans' homes; veterans' scoring 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 their families to almshouses; and county burial of indigent deceased veterans.

For purposes of these benefits, veteran is defined as a person who has received an honorable discharge or received a discharge for physical reasons with an honorable record and one who has served in at least one of the following capacities:

•    as a member in any branch of the armed forces, including the national guard and armed forces reserves;

•    as a member of the women's air forces service pilots;

•    as a member of the armed forces reserves, national guard, or coast guard and called into service for at least 180 cumulative days;

•    as a civil service crew member aboard a U.S. army or naval transport service vessel in oceangoing service from December 7, 1941, through December 31, 1946; and

•    as a member of the Philippine armed forces/scouts from December 7, 1941, through August 15, 1945.

Summary of Bill:

The definition of veteran is expanded to include a U.S. documented merchant mariner with service aboard an oceangoing vessel operated by the Department of Defense, or its agents, during the following periods:

•     June 25, 1950, through July 27, 1953, in Korean territorial waters; or

•    August 5, 1964 through May 7, 1975, in Vietnam territorial waters.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on January 19, 2004.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.