BILL REQ. #:  Z-0549.1 

Prefiled 12/20/13. Read first time 01/13/14.   Referred to Committee on Community Development, Housing & Tribal Affairs.

     AN ACT Relating to veterans' homes; amending RCW 72.36.020, 72.36.030, 72.36.035, 72.36.055, 72.36.070, 72.36.075, and 43.60A.075; and adding a new section to chapter 72.36 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 72.36 RCW to read as follows:
     The "Walla Walla veterans' home" is established and maintained in this state as a branch of the state soldiers' home, and is a home for veterans, their spouses, or parents any of whose children died while serving in the armed forces, who meet admission requirements contained in RCW 72.36.030.

Sec. 2   RCW 72.36.020 and 1993 sp.s. c 3 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
     The director of the department of veterans affairs shall appoint a superintendent for each state veterans' home. The superintendent shall exercise management and control of the institution in accordance with either policies or procedures promulgated by the director of the department of veterans affairs, or both, and rules ((and regulations)) of the department. In accordance with chapter 18.52 RCW, the individual appointed as superintendent for either state veterans' home shall be a licensed nursing home administrator. ((The department may request a waiver to, or seek an alternate method of compliance with, the federal requirement for a licensed on-site administrator during a transition phase from July 1, 1993, to June 30, 1994.))

Sec. 3   RCW 72.36.030 and 2008 c 6 s 503 are each amended to read as follows:
     All of the following persons who have been actual bona fide residents of this state at the time of their application((, and who are indigent and unable to support themselves and their families)) may be admitted to a state veterans' home under rules as may be adopted by the director of the department, unless sufficient facilities and resources are not available to accommodate these people:
     (1)(a) All honorably discharged veterans of a branch of the armed forces of the United States or merchant marines; (b) members of the state militia disabled while in the line of duty; (c) Filipino World War II veterans who swore an oath to American authority and who participated in military engagements with American soldiers; ((and)) (d) the spouses or the domestic partners of these veterans, merchant marines, and members of the state militia; and (e) parents any of whose children died while serving in the armed forces. However, it is required that the spouse was married to and living with the veteran, or that the domestic partner was in a domestic partnership and living with the veteran, three years prior to the date of application for admittance, or, if married to or in a domestic partnership with him or her since that date, was also a resident of a state veterans' home in this state or entitled to admission thereto;
     (2)(((a))) The spouses or domestic partners of: (((i))) (a) All honorably discharged veterans of the United States armed forces; (((ii))) (b) merchant marines; and (((iii))) (c) members of the state militia who were disabled while in the line of duty and who were residents of a state veterans' home in this state or were entitled to admission to one of this state's state veteran homes at the time of death((; (b) the spouses or domestic partners of: (i) All honorably discharged veterans of a branch of the United States armed forces; (ii) merchant marines; and (iii) members of the state militia who would have been entitled to admission to one of this state's state veterans' homes at the time of death, but for the fact that the spouse or domestic partner was not indigent, but has since become indigent and unable to support himself or herself and his or her family. However, the included spouse or included domestic partner shall be at least fifty years old and have been married to and living with their spouse, or in a domestic partnership and living with their domestic partner, for three years prior to the date of their application)). However, the included spouse or included domestic partner shall not have been married since the death of his or her spouse or domestic partner to a person who is not a resident of one of this state's state veterans' homes or entitled to admission to one of this state's state veterans' homes; and
     (3) All applicants for admission to a state veterans' home shall apply for all federal and state benefits for which they may be eligible, including medical assistance under chapter 74.09 RCW.

Sec. 4   RCW 72.36.035 and 2002 c 292 s 5 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 the Washington soldiers' home and colony in Orting, the Washington veterans' home in Retsil, ((and)) the eastern Washington veterans' home, and the Walla Walla veterans' home.
     (5) "Veteran" has the same meaning established in RCW 41.04.007.

Sec. 5   RCW 72.36.055 and 2001 2nd sp.s. c 4 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
     The state veterans' homes ((shall)) may 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. 6   RCW 72.36.070 and 2008 c 6 s 506 are each amended 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 "Washington veterans' home," which branch shall be a home for honorably discharged veterans who have served the United States government in any of its wars, members of the state militia disabled while in the line of duty, and who are bona fide citizens of the state, ((and also)) the spouses or domestic partners of such veterans, and the parents any of whose children died while serving in the armed forces.

Sec. 7   RCW 72.36.075 and 2001 2nd sp.s. c 4 s 6 are each amended 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, and the parents any of whose children died while serving in the armed forces who meet admission requirements contained in RCW 72.36.030.

Sec. 8   RCW 43.60A.075 and 2001 2nd sp.s. c 4 s 7 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, the Washington veterans' home, ((and)) the eastern Washington veterans' home, and the Walla Walla veterans' home.