SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6143

As Passed Senate, February 16, 2004

Title: An act relating to determining eligibility for veteran's regular or special license plates.

Brief Description: Determining eligibility for veteran's regular or special license plates.

Sponsors: Senators Kastama, Winsley, Oke, Franklin, Rasmussen and Schmidt.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Highways & Transportation: 1/21/04, 1/22/04 [DP].

Passed Senate: 2/16/04, 48-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHWAYS & TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Horn, Chair; Swecker, Vice Chair; Esser, Haugen, Jacobsen, Kastama, Murray, Oke, Poulsen and Spanel.

Staff: Kimberly Johnson (786-7346)

Background: During the 2002 session a broader definition of veteran was provided for certain purposes. The definition 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) members of the women's air forces services pilots; (c) 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; (d) civil service crewmembers with service aboard a U.S. army transport service or U.S. naval transportation service vessel in oceangoing service from December 7, 1941, through December 31, 1946; and (e) those who served in the Philippine Armed Forces or Scouts in World War II.

The definition references several sections of the RCW that provide benefits for which veterans are eligible. These benefits include: veterans' preference on civil service exams; free license plates; county aid to indigent veterans; restrictions on sending veterans to alms houses; and county burials.

Summary of Bill: The definition of veteran used to determine eligibility for free disabled veteran license plates is changed to refer to the broader definition of veteran.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

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

Testimony For: This bill makes a purely technical correction and clarifies that all 100 percent service connected disabled veterans meeting the definition of veteran will be eligible for the disabled veteran license plate.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: Heidi Audette, Washington Department of Veterans Affairs.