Title: An act relating to the definition of veteran.

Brief Description: Concerning the definition of veteran.

Sponsors: Senators Kastama, Roach, Shin, Swecker, Franklin, Schmidt, Oke, Rasmussen and Mulliken.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Government Operations & Elections: 1/31/06, 2/2/06 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ELECTIONS

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Kastama, Chair; Berkey, Vice Chair; Roach, Ranking Minority Member; Benton, Fairley, Haugen, Kline, McCaslin, Mulliken and Pridemore.

Staff: Cindy Fazio (786-7405)

Background: Washington's statutes define "veteran" in two ways. The first, the "war time" definition, governs veterans' eligibility for programs such as retirement benefits, tuition exemption, and credit for military services.

The second definition, the "peace time" definition, governs eligibility requirements for various other benefits for veterans, including

• armed forces license plate collection,
• admission to a state veterans' home,
• veterans' scoring preference on civil service exams,
• free license plates for disabled veterans and prisoners of war,
• county assistance to indigent veterans and families,
• restrictions on sending veterans or their families to almshouses,
• and county burial of indigent deceased veterans
• .

Summary of Bill: The peace time definition of veteran is changed to remove the reference to the statute that restricts sending veterans or their families to almshouses.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

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

Testimony For: This is a clean-up change left over from last session. Almshouses were poorhouses and haven't been around for about fifty years.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Dennis Primoli, Veteran's Legislative Coalition.