House Bill Analysis — HB 1869, Innovation, Community & Economic Development, & Veterans Committee

Summary

House Bill Analysis of HB 1869 from the Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research for the Innovation, Community & Economic Development, & Veterans Committee, with a hearing date of 1/10/24. The brief description is enacting the keeping our Washington guard strong act, and Representatives Leavitt, Maycumber, Ryu, Graham and others are listed as sponsors. The brief summary says the bill provides a referral bonus for a National Guard member whose recruitment results in an enlistment contract, and a reenlistment bonus for a member who extends service for at least two years. The summary of the bill describes a referral bonus in an amount up to $500, and the analysis lists a fiscal note requested on January 2, 2024.

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Washington State                  BILL
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research   ANALYSIS
Innovation, Community & Economic
Development, & Veterans Committee
                                        HB 1869
Brief Description: Enacting the keeping our Washington guard strong act.

Sponsors: Representatives Leavitt, Maycumber, Ryu, Graham, Christian, Rule, Couture,
    Bronoske, Slatter, Chambers, Reeves, Reed, Chapman, Ormsby, Barnard, Timmons,
    Sandlin, Orwall, Goodman, Caldier, Riccelli, Hackney, Shavers and Griffey.


                                     Brief Summary of Bill
          • Provides a referral bonus for a National Guard member whose successful
            recruitment results in an enlistment contract.
          • Provides a reenlistment bonus to a National Guard member who extends
            his or her service for at least two years.


Hearing Date: 1/10/24

Staff: Martha Wehling (786-7067).

Background:

The State Militia.
The Washington Constitution provides for the organization of the state militia. The Governor
serves as Commander-in-Chief, and with the advice and consent of the Senate, appoints an
adjutant general, who is Chief of Staff to the Governor and is the executive head of the militia.

The organized militia consists of the National Guard and the State Guard. The National Guard is
the military force of Washington that is organized, equipped, and federally recognized under the
National Defense Act. The Adjutant General commands the National Guard and recruits, trains,




     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-                                         HB 1869
maintains, and administers the organized militia.

The Governor may order the organized militia into active service to execute Washington's laws
or perform duties the Governor deems proper in certain circumstances or in imminent belief of
those circumstances, including war, insurrection, rebellion, invasion, tumult, riot, mob, organized
violence, or public disaster. The organized militia may also be ordered into active service to
enforce controlled substances statutes, prepare for or recover from the specified circumstances,
or when otherwise required for public health, safety, or welfare, including failure of responsible
civil authorities to preserve law and order or protect life or property.

National Guard Enlistment.
National Guard enlistment must conform with the federal Department of Defense laws and
regulations, which specify the term and the minimum and maximum age for original (new)
recruits and reenlistment. A recruit to the National Guard must also be a United States citizen or
permanent resident; meet certain educational requirements; achieve a minimum score on the
Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test; and meet certain medical, physical, and moral
requirements.

Summary of Bill:

Referral Incentive Program.
A National Guard member may identify an appropriate recruitment prospect to the Military
Department. If the prospect enters into an enlistment contract for entry or reentry into the
National Guard, a "completed accession," the referring member may receive a referral bonus in
an amount up to $500. The Adjutant General will set the bonus amount each calendar year.
Current members of the National Guard, command or senior enlisted advisors, and members
with recruitment duties are ineligible for the referral program.

Reenlistment Bonus Program.
A National Guard member who extends his or her term of service is eligible for a reenlistment
bonus. The amount of the bonus must encourage reenlistment for a term greater than two years.
Eligibility is limited to members whose service was deemed satisfactory by the Adjutant General
and who are not eligible for a federal reenlistment bonus. The Adjutant General shall establish
the program, may determine additional eligibility criteria, and must specify all the criteria in
policy.

The Military Department must determine and publish the bonus payment schedule. If the
reenlisting member fails to complete the reenlistment term, the Military Department may seek to
recover a prorated amount of the bonus.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on January 2, 2024.



House Bill Analysis                            -2-                                        HB 1869
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is
passed.




House Bill Analysis                            -3-                                         HB 1869


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