House Bill 1541, Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee, State of Washington (2025 Regular Session)

Summary

House Bill 1541, State of Washington, 69th Legislature, 2025 Regular Session, by Representatives Abell, Donaghy, Morgan, Kloba, Shavers, Zahn, Hill, and Simmons, by request of Department of Veterans Affairs. It was read first time 01/23/25 and referred to Committee on Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans. The act relates to the veterans affairs advisory committee and amends RCW 43.60A.080. The text covers the appointment of committee members by the governor, terms of four years, a limit of two consecutive terms, and four members who are veterans at large. It also states that members receive no compensation but receive a per diem allowance and mileage expense.

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Full text

     Z-0269.1

                                HOUSE BILL 1541


     State of Washington        69th Legislature         2025 Regular Session

     By Representatives Abell, Donaghy, Morgan, Kloba, Shavers,           Zahn,
     Hill, and Simmons; by request of Department of Veterans Affairs

     Read first time 01/23/25.      Referred   to   Committee   on   Technology,
     Economic Development, & Veterans.




 1       AN ACT Relating to the veterans affairs advisory committee; and
 2   amending RCW 43.60A.080.


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


 4       Sec. 1.   RCW 43.60A.080 and 2015 c 219 s 1 are each amended to
 5   read as follows:
 6       (1) There is hereby created a veterans affairs advisory committee
 7   which shall serve in an advisory capacity to the governor and the
 8   director of the department of veterans affairs. The committee shall
 9   appoint members to serve as liaisons to each of the state veterans'
10   homes((, unless the home has a representative appointed to the
11   committee)). This liaison must share information on committee
12   meetings and business with the resident council of the state's
13   veterans' homes, as well as bring information back for the
14   committee's consideration to ensure veterans' home resident issues
15   are included at regular committee meetings. The committee shall be
16   composed of seventeen members to be appointed by the governor, and
17   shall consist of the following:
18       (a) ((One representative of the Washington soldiers' home and
19   colony at Orting and one representative of the Washington veterans'
20   home at Retsil. Each home's resident council may nominate up to three
21   individuals whose names are to be forwarded by the director to the
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 1   governor. In making the appointments, the governor shall consider
 2   these recommendations or request additional nominations. If the
 3   resident council does not provide any nomination, the governor may
 4   appoint a member at large in place of the home's representative.
 5       (b))) One representative each from the three congressionally
 6   chartered or nationally recognized veterans service organizations as
 7   listed in the current "Directory of Veterans Service Organizations"
 8   published by the United States department of veterans affairs with
 9   the largest number of active members in the state of Washington as
10   determined by the director. The organizations' state commanders may
11   each submit a list of three names to be forwarded to the governor by
12   the director. In making the appointments, the governor shall consider
13   these recommendations or request additional nominations.
14       (((c))) (b) Ten members shall be chosen ((to represent those
15   congressionally chartered or nationally recognized veterans service
16   organizations listed in the directory under (b) of this subsection
17   and having at least one active chapter within the state of
18   Washington. Up to three nominations may be forwarded from each
19   organization to the governor by the director. In making the
20   appointments, the governor shall consider these recommendations or
21   request additional nominations.
22       (d) Two)) as follows:
23       (i)   Members   from   congressionally   chartered  or   nationally
24   recognized veterans service organizations listed in the directory
25   under (a) of this subsection and having at least one active chapter
26   within the state of Washington. Up to three nominations may be
27   forwarded from each organization to the governor by the director. In
28   making   the   appointments,   the   governor   shall  consider   these
29   recommendations or request additional nominations;
30       (ii) One member may be a veteran who is a member of a native
31   American tribe recognized in Washington state.
32       (iii) One member may be a current or former member of the
33   Washington national guard.
34       (c) Four members shall be veterans at large((, as well as any
35   other at large member appointed pursuant to (a) of this subsection)).
36   Any individual or organization may nominate a veteran for an at large
37   position. Organizational affiliation shall not be a prerequisite for
38   nomination or appointment. All nominations for the at large positions
39   shall be forwarded by the director to the governor.


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 1       (((e))) (d) No organization shall have more than one official
 2   representative on the committee at any one time.
 3       (((f))) (e) In making appointments to the committee, care shall
 4   be taken to ensure that members represent all geographical portions
 5   of the state and minority viewpoints, and that the issues and views
 6   of concern to women veterans are represented.
 7       (2) All members shall have terms of four years. In the case of a
 8   vacancy, appointment shall be only for the remainder of the unexpired
 9   term for which the vacancy occurs. No member may serve more than two
10   consecutive terms, with vacancy appointments to an unexpired term not
11   considered as a term. ((Members appointed before June 11, 1992, shall
12   continue to serve until the expiration of their current terms; and
13   then, subject to the conditions contained in this section, are
14   eligible for reappointment.))
15       (3) The committee shall adopt an order of business for conducting
16   its meetings.
17       (4) The committee shall have the following powers and duties:
18       (a) To serve in an advisory capacity to the governor and the
19   director on matters pertaining to the department of veterans affairs;
20       (b) To acquaint themselves fully with the operations of the
21   department and recommend such changes to the governor and the
22   director as they deem advisable.
23       (5) Members of the committee shall receive no compensation for
24   the performance of their duties but shall receive a per diem
25   allowance and mileage expense according to the provisions of chapter
26   43.03 RCW.

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