Veterans affairs adv. comm.

AN ACT Relating to the veterans affairs advisory committee; and 1
amending RCW 43.60A.080. 2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:3
Sec. 1. RCW 43.60A.080 and 2015 c 219 s 1 are each amended to 4
read as follows: 5
(1) There is hereby created a veterans affairs advisory committee 6
which shall serve in an advisory capacity to the governor and the 7
director of the department of veterans affairs. The committee shall 8
appoint members to serve as liaisons to each of the state veterans' 9
homes((, unless the home has a representative appointed to the 10
committee)). This liaison must share information on committee 11
meetings and business with the resident council of the state's 12
veterans' homes, as well as bring information back for the 13
committee's consideration to ensure veterans' home resident issues 14
are included at regular committee meetings. The committee shall be 15
composed of seventeen members to be appointed by the governor, and 16
shall consist of the following: 17
(a) ((One representative of the Washington soldiers' home and 18
colony at Orting and one representative of the Washington veterans' 19
home at Retsil. Each home's resident council may nominate up to three 20
individuals whose names are to be forwarded by the director to the 21
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.
p. 1 HB 1541
governor. In making the appointments, the governor shall consider 1
these recommendations or request additional nominations. If the 2
resident council does not provide any nomination, the governor may 3
appoint a member at large in place of the home's representative.4
(b))) One representative each from the three congressionally 5
chartered or nationally recognized veterans service organizations as 6
listed in the current "Directory of Veterans Service Organizations" 7
published by the United States department of veterans affairs with 8
the largest number of active members in the state of Washington as 9
determined by the director. The organizations' state commanders may 10
each submit a list of three names to be forwarded to the governor by 11
the director. In making the appointments, the governor shall consider 12
these recommendations or request additional nominations.13
(((c))) (b) Ten members shall be chosen ((to represent those 14
congressionally chartered or nationally recognized veterans service 15
organizations listed in the directory under (b) of this subsection 16
and having at least one active chapter within the state of 17
Washington. Up to three nominations may be forwarded from each 18
organization to the governor by the director. In making the 19
appointments, the governor shall consider these recommendations or 20
request additional nominations.21
(d) Two)) as follows:22
(i) Members from congressionally chartered or nationally 23
recognized veterans service organizations listed in the directory 24
under (a) of this subsection and having at least one active chapter 25
within the state of Washington. Up to three nominations may be 26
forwarded from each organization to the governor by the director. In 27
making the appointments, the governor shall consider these 28
recommendations or request additional nominations;29
(ii) One member may be a veteran who is a member of a native 30
American tribe recognized in Washington state.31
(iii) One member may be a current or former member of the 32
Washington national guard.33
(c) Four members shall be veterans at large ((, as well as any 34
other at large member appointed pursuant to (a) of this subsection)). 35
Any individual or organization may nominate a veteran for an at large 36
position. Organizational affiliation shall not be a prerequisite for 37
nomination or appointment. All nominations for the at large positions 38
shall be forwarded by the director to the governor.39
p. 2 HB 1541
(((e))) (d) No organization shall have more than one official 1
representative on the committee at any one time. 2
(((f))) (e) In making appointments to the committee, care shall 3
be taken to ensure that members represent all geographical portions 4
of the state and minority viewpoints, and that the issues and views 5
of concern to women veterans are represented. 6
(2) All members shall have terms of four years. In the case of a 7
vacancy, appointment shall be only for the remainder of the unexpired 8
term for which the vacancy occurs. No member may serve more than two 9
consecutive terms, with vacancy appointments to an unexpired term not 10
considered as a term. ((Members appointed before June 11, 1992, shall 11
continue to serve until the expiration of their current terms; and 12
then, subject to the conditions contained in this section, are 13
eligible for reappointment.))14
(3) The committee shall adopt an order of business for conducting 15
its meetings. 16
(4) The committee shall have the following powers and duties:17
(a) To serve in an advisory capacity to the governor and the 18
director on matters pertaining to the department of veterans affairs;19
(b) To acquaint themselves fully with the operations of the 20
department and recommend such changes to the governor and the 21
director as they deem advisable. 22
(5) Members of the committee shall receive no compensation for 23
the performance of their duties but shall receive a per diem 24
allowance and mileage expense according to the provisions of chapter 25
43.03 RCW. 26
--- END ---
p. 3 HB 1541