Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Community Development, Housing & Tribal Affairs Committee |
HB 2040
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
Brief Description: Initiating a campaign to increase veteran employment.
Sponsors: Representatives McCabe, Caldier, Senn, Harris, McBride, Dent, Johnson, Sells, Kagi, Kilduff and Wilson.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 2/17/15
Staff: Kirsten Lee (786-7133).
Background:
Veteran Employment Preferences.
Both federal and state law provide preferences for veterans in employment in federal, state, and local government. In Washington, if a veteran must take a competitive examination for public employment qualification purposes, 5 or 10 percentage points will be added to an eligible veteran's passing score. If an examination is not required, eligible veterans, their surviving spouses, and spouses of honorably discharged veterans with a permanent and total service-connected disability are preferred for public employment. In 2011 legislation was enacted that allows private employers to also give voluntary hiring preferences to honorably discharged veterans.
Veterans Advisory Boards.
The legislative authority for each county is required to establish a veterans' advisory board. The board must advise the legislative authority of the needs of local indigent veterans, resources available to local indigent veterans, and programs that could benefit the needs of the local indigent veterans and their families. Members of the board must be veterans. The majority of board members must be from a nationally recognized veterans organization.
Associate Development Organizations.
An associated development organization (ADO) is a local economic development nonprofit corporation that is broadly representative of community interests. Associated development organizations serve as a point of contact for local economic development activities, supporting new business development and recruitment, and coordinating business retention and expansion activities within their area and are commonly referred to as an economic development council. Each county in Washington has designated an organization as their ADO. There are 34 ADOs total. The Department of Commerce contracts with each of the ADOs to provide technical and financial support for ADOs activities.
Summary of Bill:
The Department Veterans Affairs, Employment Security Department, and Department of Commerce are required to consult local chambers of commerce, associate development organizations, and businesses to initiate a campaign to increase veteran employment in Washington. "Veteran" is defined as any member of any branch of the armed forces, including the National Guard and armed forces reserves who has received an honorable discharge, is actively serving honorably, or received a discharge for physical reasons or medical reasons with an honorable record.
The Department of Veterans Affairs is required to maintain a database of state agencies, local governments, local chamber of commerce, associate development organizations, and businesses that have chosen to participate in the campaign. All participants in the campaign are encouraged to work with veterans' advisory boards. Funds used for the campaign must be from existing resources.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.