STANDING UP FOR VETERANS

2014 SESSION: ATTORNEY GENERAL REQUEST LEGISLATION Office of the Attorney General BOB FERGUSON STRENGTHENING ECONOMIC PROTECTIONS 1125 St. SE PO Box 40100 FOR VETERANS AND MILITARY PERSONNEL Olympia, WA 98504 360-753-6200 www.atg.wa.gov

OBJECTIVE OFFICE CONTACT: Incorporate existing federal protections into state laws to protect military Travis Alley personnel, veterans, and their families. Veterans Outreach Specialist

[email protected] PROBLEM 206-464-6431 SUPPORT Jointly requested with the Protections under state law for military service members called to active duty Office of Governor are less than those provided under federal law. This inequality means that service members whose active duty orders are signed by the Governor are less ORGANIZATIONS protected than those whose active duty orders are signed by the President. BACKGROUND • Washington Military HOUSE Department (D-33) The federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) provides various financial and legal protections for military service members ordered to federal active Norm Johnson (R-14) duty. These protections allow the men and women who bravely serve in our Gael Tarleton (D-36) Charles Ross (R-14) Armed Forces to focus their full attention on their military responsibilities (R-16) without adverse consequence for themselves or their families. (R-10) (D-1) Pat Sullivan (D-47) In 2010, Congress amended the SCRA to clarify that a private right of action (D-46) exists, and granted authority to the U.S. Department of Justice to enforce SCRA Steve Kirby (D-29) protections that raise an issue of significant public importance. (D-23) (R-15) (D-28) Washington’s state version of the Service Members’ Civil Relief Act (RCW (R-4) 38.42) does not include provisions similar to the 2010 federal amendments Kevin Parker (R-6) (R-10) and is silent on who has the authority to affirmatively seek enforcement. (R-5) LEGISLATION John McCoy (D-38) (SB 5989 / HB 2171) (R-8) SENATEJay Rodne (R-5) Steve Hobbs (D-44) This legislation will strengthen the protections available to Washington’s Mike Baumgartner (R-6) veterans and military personnel by: (D-27) (R-9) • Clarifying that military service members have a private right of action Kevin Ranker (D-40) to enforce their rights under the Washington Service Members’ Civil John Braun (R-20) (D-5) Relief Act. (R-25) Kirk Pearson (R-39) • Authorizing the Attorney General to enforce SCRA protections to provide (D-34) equal protection for federal and state active duty. (R-47) (D-11) • Correct an outdated reference to a federal law that provides employment (D-23) Steve Conway (D-29) and reemployment protections. Janea Holmquistupdated: Newbry 1-10-14 (R-13)