CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT
SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1055
Chapter 163, Laws of 2017
65th Legislature
2017 Regular Session
OFFICE OF MILITARY AND VETERAN LEGAL ASSISTANCE
EFFECTIVE DATE: 7/23/2017
SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1055
AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE
Passed Legislature - 2017 Regular Session
| | |
State of Washington | 65th Legislature | 2017 Regular Session |
By House Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Kilduff, Muri, Haler, Shea, Appleton, Klippert, Lovick, Stokesbary, Stanford, Jinkins, Reeves, MacEwen, Koster, Hayes, Barkis, Kloba, Frame, Ormsby, Bergquist, Goodman, Gregerson, Young, Kirby, Fey, Slatter, Sawyer, and Tarleton; by request of Attorney General)
READ FIRST TIME 02/24/17.
AN ACT Relating to pro bono legal services for military service members, veterans, and their families; and adding new sections to chapter
43.10 RCW.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, there is hereby created an office of military and veteran legal assistance within the office of the attorney general for the purpose of promoting and facilitating civil legal assistance programs, pro bono services, and self-help services for military service members, veterans, and their family members domiciled or stationed in Washington state.
(2) For the purposes of sections 1 through 3 of this act, the following definitions apply:
(a) The term "service member" means an active or reserve member in any branch of the armed forces of the United States, including the national guard, coast guard, and armed forces reserves.
(c) The term "family member" means the spouse or domestic partner, surviving spouse, surviving domestic partner, and dependent minor children under twenty-one years of age of a living or deceased service member or veteran for whom the service member or veteran provided at least one-half of that person's support in the previous one hundred eighty days before seeking assistance of the programs and services authorized by this chapter.
(3) The attorney general may not directly provide legal assistance, advice, or representation in any context, unless otherwise authorized by law, and the attorney general may not provide legal assistance programs, pro bono services, or self-help services to a service member, veteran, or family member being criminally prosecuted.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The office of military and veteran legal assistance shall:
(1) Recruit and train volunteer attorneys and identify service programs willing to perform pro bono services for service members, veterans, and their family members, and create and maintain a registry of the same;
(2) Assess and assign requests for pro bono services to volunteer attorneys and service programs registered with the office; and
(3) Establish an advisory committee that will include, among others, representatives from legal assistance offices on military installations, the office of civil legal aid, the Washington state bar association's legal assistance to military personnel section, the Washington state veterans bar association, relevant office of military service and support organizations, and organizations involved in coordinating, supporting, and delivering civil legal aid and pro bono legal services in Washington state. The committee shall provide advice and assistance regarding program design, operation, volunteer recruitment and support strategies, service delivery objectives and priorities, and funding.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The attorney general may apply for and receive grants, gifts, donations, bequests, or other contributions to help support and to be used exclusively for the operations of the office of military and veteran legal assistance.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. Sections 1 through 3 of this act are each added to chapter 43.10 RCW.
Passed by the House April 17, 2017.
Passed by the Senate April 11, 2017.
Approved by the Governor May 4, 2017.
Filed in Office of Secretary of State May 4, 2017.
--- END ---