HomeMy WebLinkAbout050625 House Bill Report E2SHB 1102 HOUSE BILL REPORT
E2SHB 1102
As Passed Legislature
Title: An act relating to increasing support and services for veterans.
Brief Description: Increasing support and services for veterans.
Sponsors: House Committee on Appropriations(originally sponsored by Representatives
Shavers, Ryu, Leavitt,Callan, Simmons, Goodman,Wylie,Nance,Fosse and Reeves).
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Technology,Economic Development, &Veterans: 1/15/25, 1/21/25 [DPS];
Appropriations: 1/29/25,2/10/25 [DP2S(w/o sub TEDV)];
Finance: 2/24/25,2/26/25 [DP2S(APP)].
Floor Activity:
Passed House: 3/5/25, 96-1.
Senate Amended.
Passed Senate: 4/14/25,49-0.
House Concurred.
Passed House: 4/21/25, 96-0.
Passed Legislature.
Brief Summary of Engrossed Second Substitute Bill
• Requires the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs(WDVA)to
provide information to recently discharged veterans about veterans
benefits and services.
• Expands county eligibility for the WDVA's Veterans Service Officer
Program(Program)to counties where the percentage of veterans
receiving benefits is below the national average.
• Prioritizes counties with the lowest percentage of veterans receiving
benefits for the Program.
This analysis was prepared by non partisan legislative stafffor 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.
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• Requires the WDVA to provide reports every two years including
county-specific information about the number of resident veterans and
services available.
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TECHNOLOGY,ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,&
VETERANS
Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.
Signed by 11 members: Representatives Ryu,Chair;Kloba,Vice Chair;Volz,Ranking
Minority Member; Barnard,Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Cortes,Donaghy,
Keaton,Paul, Penner, Simmons and Waters.
Staff: Martha Wehling(786-7067).
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Majority Report: The second substitute bill be substituted therefor and the second
substitute bill do pass and do not pass the substitute bill by Committee on Technology,
Economic Development,&Veterans. Signed by 19 members: Representatives Ormsby,
Chair; Gregerson,Vice Chair; Macri,Vice Chair;Berg,Bergquist, Callan, Cortes,Doglio,
Fitzgibbon,Leavitt,Lekanoff,Peterson,Pollet,Ryu, Springer, Stonier, Street,Thai and
Tharinger.
Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 1 member: Representative Rude.
Minority Report: Without recommendation. Signed by 11 members: Representatives
Couture,Ranking Minority Member; Connors,Assistant Ranking Minority Member;
Penner,Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Schmick,Assistant Ranking Minority
Member; Burnett,Caldier, Corry, Dye,Keaton, Manjarrez and Marshall.
Staff: Bryan Way (786-7311).
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
Majority Report: The second substitute bill by Committee on Appropriations be
substituted therefor and the second substitute bill do pass. Signed by 10 members:
Representatives Berg,Chair; Street,Vice Chair; Mena,Parshley, Ramel, Santos, Scott,
Springer,Walen and Wylie.
Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 5 members: Representatives Orcutt,Ranking
Minority Member; Jacobsen,Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Abell,Chase and
Penner.
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Staff: Rachelle Harris(786-7137).
Background:
Veterans Service Officers.
Veterans service officers assist veterans and their families with claims for federal
benefits. Veterans service officers may work for the state, a county,a tribal government, or
a private organization. To provide services through veterans service officers,the
Washington Department of Veterans Affairs(WDVA)has contracts with five nonprofit
veterans service organizations. The WDVA also has veterans service officer partnerships
with 17 counties and seven Indian tribes.
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs accredits three types of representatives:
veterans service organization representatives,attorneys,and agents. When a veteran is
filing a claim for benefits,only an accredited attorney,agent,veterans service organization,
federal regional office representative,or permitted individual may represent the veteran.
The Washington Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Service Officer Program.
The WDVA operates a Veterans Service Officer Program(Program)which funds veterans
service officers in certain counties. Counties that are eligible for a veterans service officer
under the Program must have a population of 100,000 or less. The WDVA provides
funding on a first-come, first-served basis to establish and maintain one local accredited
veterans service officer per county. Since its creation in 2019,the Program has funded six
veterans service officers.
The WDVA also provides grants to counties to develop or expand veterans service officer
and peer-to-peer support programs,and other services and programs where needed.
Reporting.
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs'Annual Benefits Report(VA Report)for
fiscal year 2023 identified 6,159,448 veterans receiving federal disability and 262,932
veterans receiving pension compensation out of 18,250,044 veterans. The national average
of veterans receiving benefits in fiscal year 2023 was 35.2 percent. The VA Report
identifies 158,510 veterans receiving federal disability and 3,116 veterans receiving pension
compensation out of the 525,343 veterans in Washington,resulting in a state average of
30.8 percent.
The WDVA was required by Substitute Senate Bill 5358 (2023)to report by September 30,
2024,on the effectiveness of the Program in meeting the needs of veterans in the state. The
September 2024 Veterans Service Officer Program Report(VSO Report)recommends
expanding the Program to provide funds to all eligible counties,prioritizing counties that
are currently lacking veterans service officer services and that are below the state and
national average of veterans receiving federal disability benefits. The VSO Report also
recommends expanding the Program to include funds for federally recognized Indian tribes
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that partner with the WDVA. The VSO Report identifies 158,702 veterans receiving
benefits out of the 532,523 veterans in the state,resulting in an average of 30 percent.
Veterans in individual counties range in benefits received from 15 percent to 44 percent.
The VSO Report identifies 31 counties where the percentage of veterans receiving benefits
is less than the national average of 35 percent.
Summary of Engrossed Second Substitute Bill:
Information About Services Available to Veterans.
The Washington Department of Veterans Affairs(WDVA) is required to contact discharged
veterans after receiving a discharge notice from the Department of Defense and provide
information about benefits and services available to veterans.
Expansion and Prioritization of Counties Eligible for the Veterans Service Officer Program.
The counties eligible to apply for a veterans service officer through the WDVA's Veterans
Service Officer Program are expanded to those counties where the percentage of the veteran
population receiving federal disability or pension compensation is below the national
average. The WDVA is required to prioritize veterans service officers for counties where
the percentage of the veteran population receiving federal disability or pension
compensation is lowest,and then to eligible counties without a veterans service officer.
The WDVA may adopt rules and must require that any county participating in the Veterans
Service Officer Program allow veterans residing in an adjacent county access to an officer
funded by the program.
Reporting.
Beginning in December 2028,the WDVA is required to report on services available to
veterans to the Governor and the Legislature and provide information on the number of
veterans, available services, entities providing services,benefits received, and counties that
do not provide access to a veterans service officer or where the veteran population receiving
benefits is below the national average. The WDVA is required to provide this report every
two years.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the
bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony(Technology, Economic Development, &
Veterans):
(In support)Veterans service officers serve as a lifeline to veterans during the challenging
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transition to civilian life and navigating the complexities of the system. Every veteran
should be able to access the benefits earned and promised from service,including federal
health care,housing, education,and employment benefits. Veterans services are more than
resources;they are about living with dignity, fairness,and opportunity.
The state has significant gaps in its coverage of veterans service officers. The Washington
Department of Veterans Affairs'(WDVA)recent report identified 10 counties that do not
have a veterans service officer,and only eight counties meet or exceed the national average
of veterans receiving compensation. There is an urgent need to expand access to a veterans
service officer for every veteran. The impact of a veterans service officer was
transformative for Island County,where the veterans now have access to critical services
that help them rebuild their lives. Counties that most need a veterans service officer are
prioritized by identifying the counties with the lowest number of veterans receiving
benefits, followed by counties without a veterans service officer. The priority counties
include San Juan, Skamania,King,Kittitas, Snohomish,Pacific,Douglas,and Chelan.
No veteran or family member should be left behind in any corner of the state,and we should
make Washington a leader in how we care and treat our veterans by honoring those who
served and acting on our gratitude for their service.
(Opposed)None.
(Other)Veterans service officers connect veterans and their families with a wide range of
federal benefits including burial, survivor, and service-connected disability compensation,
in addition to state benefits. The benefits improve health, economic security,and quality of
life for veterans and their families. Approximately 162,000 veterans in the State receive
federal benefits each month. The average monthly disability payment is$1,800 a month
paid to veterans and their families,which results in$3.6 billion annually to the local
economy. Additional federal benefits include$2.3 billion in medical benefits and$380
million in education and employment benefits.
Counties are a valuable partner because federal rules allow counties to collaborate with state
agencies to provide services to veterans and their families,which is especially important in
rural counties. The WDVA partners with counties, federally recognized Indian tribes, and
nonprofit veterans service organizations to ensure veterans and their families are connected
to the benefits earned. The existing Veterans Service Officer Program has provided funding
to six counties,but there are 25 counties where the veteran population receiving benefits is
below the national average.
Veterans who make Washington home will be contacted,and provided with resources and a
structure that is more meaningful and tailored to the community each veteran is living in.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony(Appropriations):
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s
(In support)Veteran Service Officers(VSO)are critical in rural communities as geographic
isolation limits access to benefits. The VSOs help veterans navigate complex paperwork,
access earned benefits,and transition successfully to civilian life. Expanding the program
would ensure continued support for underserved counties,particularly those with veteran
populations below the national average.
(Opposed)None.
(Other)There are unique challenges in rural areas. There is a need for sustained funding
and increased accessibility for services,not just financial benefits. Maintaining and
expanding VSO programs is important to ensure veterans in remote areas receive the care
and services they are entitled to.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony(Finance):
(In support)This expands veterans' services organizations'programs across the state and
supports our veterans by giving them access to the benefits they deserve. Navigating the
complex program of benefits for veterans is difficult,and veterans deserve assistance in
doing so. This bill thoughtfully approaches equitable access. This allows counties to have
a choice in how they levy the veterans'assistance levy. The bill requires proactive outreach
to veterans for those who have recently left service.
(Opposed)None.
Persons Testifying(Technology,Economic Development,&Veterans): (In support)
Representative Clyde Shavers,prime sponsor; and Jerry Fugich,Veterans Legislative
Coalition.
(Other)David Puente,Jr.,Director,WA State Department of Veterans Affairs.
Persons Testifying(Appropriations): (In support)Levi Douglas, Clallam County; and
Mark Hodgson.
(Other)Ed Bowen;Randy Johnson, Clallam County; and Jim Stoffer, Sequim Community
Public School.
Persons Testifying(Finance): Representative Clyde Shavers,prime sponsor; and Jerry
Fugich,Veterans Legislative Coalition.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying(Technology, Economic
Development,&Veterans): None.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying(Appropriations): None.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying(Finance): Nonc.
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