Brief Description: Helping families suffering financial hardship due to national guard activation.

Sponsors: Representatives Darneille, Simpson, G., Chase, Upthegrove, Ormsby, Romero, Morrell, Kenney and O'Brien.

Hearing Date: 2/4/04

Staff: Cynthia Forland (786-7152).

Background:

Families of individuals who serve in the Unites States military reserves face many challenges when those individuals are away performing military service, whether serving in support of a military operation overseas, performing security or other duty in a local or regional location, or performing training locally. Due to the geographic dispersion of military reserve families, it is often more difficult to obtain information about available benefits and can be more difficult to access those benefits. It may also be more difficult for military reserve families to access support services that are normally available at active duty installations.

As of November 2003, 2,999 reserve forces have been mobilized from Washington. Those forces include 1,746 members of the Army Reserve, 593 members of the Army National Guard, 407 members of the Air Force Reserve, 123 members of the Air National Guard, 87 members of the Marine Corps Reserve, and 43 members of the Naval Reserve.

Summary of Bill:

There is established in the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development (CTED) a Military Family Assistance Program. To the extent of available funds, the CTED is required to contract with an existing military family assistance program in the state that provides emergency grants to families with financial hardship due to National Guard activation.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

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