House Bill Analysis — SSB 5358, Expanding Veterans' Services and Programs (Washington, Hearing 3/14/23)

Summary

House Bill Analysis of SSB 5358, Expanding veterans' services and programs, by the Office of Program Research for the Innovation, Community & Economic Development, & Veterans Committee, with a hearing date of 3/14/23 and Emily Poole listed as staff. The brief summary states that the bill requires the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) to submit reports to the Legislature on the effectiveness of the Veterans Service Officer Program and the Veteran Peer-to-Peer Training and Support Program. It also requires the WDVA to provide grants to develop or expand veterans service officer programs, peer-to-peer support programs, and other services and programs to assist veterans. The WDVA must submit the Veterans Service Officer Program report by September 30, 2024.

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Full text

Washington State BILL
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research ANALYSIS
Innovation, Community & Economic
Development, & Veterans Committee
SSB 5358
Brief Description: Expanding veterans' services and programs.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on State Government & Elections (originally sponsored by
Senators Gildon, Nobles, Conway, Holy, Lovelett, Nguyen, Randall, Torres, Wagoner,
Wellman, Wilson, C. and Wilson, L.).

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill
• Requires the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) to
submit reports to the Legislature regarding the effectiveness of the
Veterans Service Officer Program and the Veteran Peer-to-Peer Training
and Support Program.
• Requires the WDVA to provide grants to develop or expand veterans
service officer programs, peer-to-peer support programs, and other
services and programs to assist veterans.

Hearing Date: 3/14/23

Staff: Emily Poole (786-7106).

Background:

The Washington Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) provides many services and benefits
to veterans and their families, including counseling, employment, education, training, burial,
housing, medical care, and relief programs.

Veteran Service Officer Program.

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative
members in their deliberations. This analysis is not part of the legislation nor does it
constitute a statement of legislative intent.

House Bill Analysis -1- SSB 5358
Veterans service officers assist veterans and their families with claims for federal veterans
benefits. Veterans service officers may work for the state, a county, a tribal government, or a
private organization. The Veterans Service Officer Program (VSO Program) within the WDVA
provides funding for underserved eligible counties to establish and maintain a veterans service
officer. Eligible counties are defined as counties with a population of 100,000 or less.

Veteran Peer-to-Peer Program.
In 2017, the Legislature directed the WDVA to offer training and support for volunteers
interested in providing peer-to-peer support to other veterans. The WDVA was required to
submit a report to the Legislature by December 31, 2018, on the Veteran Peer-to-Peer Training
and Support Program (Peer Program) to determine the effectiveness of the Peer Program in
meeting the needs of veterans. The report was required to include: the number of veterans
receiving peer-to-peer support and the location of such support services; the number of veterans
trained through the Peer Program to provide peer-to-peer support; and the types of training and
support services provided by the Peer Program. The report was also required to include an
analysis of peer-to-peer training and support programs developed by other states, as well as in
the private and nonprofit sectors, in order to evaluate best practices for implementing and
managing the Peer Program.

Summary of Bill:

Veteran Service Officer Program.
The WDVA is required to submit a report to the Legislature by September 30, 2024, regarding
the effectiveness of the VSO Program in meeting the needs of veterans. The report is required to
include the number of veterans receiving services from the VSO Program, the location of such
services, and an analysis of areas in the state that are lacking such services. The report must also
include recommendations for how to phase in an expansion of such services in areas of the state
that are lacking services.

Peer Program.
The WDVA is required to submit an updated report to the Legislature by September 30, 2024,
regarding the effectiveness of the Peer Program. The report is not required to include an analysis
of peer-to-peer training and support programs developed by other states, but the report is
required to include an analysis of areas of the state that lack peer-to-peer support services,
including recommendations for how to phase in an expansion of support services to those areas.

Grant Funding.
Subject to amounts appropriated, the WDVA is required to provide grants to counties in order to
develop or expand veterans service officer programs, peer-to-peer support program, and other
services and programs to assist veterans in areas where such programs and services are needed.
The WDVA is required to prioritize counties with smaller populations and counties that are
below the national average in the percentage of veterans receiving federal disability or pension
compensation.

House Bill Analysis -2- SSB 5358
Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is
passed.

House Bill Analysis -3- SSB 5358

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