07/31/2007: "Lichter: Veterans Wanted For Advisory Board"

As the single veteran on the County Council, Alan Lichter is helping to organize a Veterans’ Advisory Board for San Juan County. Section 73.08 of the RCW (Revised Code of Washington) requires “The legislative authority for each county must establish a veterans' advisory board”.

This was news to the Council, and it may have been a surprise to newly elected SJC Auditor Milene Henley to find that the Council had not appointed an advisory board as required by RCW. The purpose of the Board is to make recommendations to the Council on the expenditure of money collected by a one and one-eighth cents per thousand dollars in property tax revenues. The money may only be used for Veterans’ relief needs.

Henley informed the Council that the state code had recently been amended to allow both treatment programs and housing for Veterans in need.

According to Councilman Lichter, It is estimated that San Juan County has between 2200 and 2700 veterans, approximately 15% of the total population.

Since Washington State statute (RCW 73.08.035) created a fund through taxation for the relief of honorably discharged indigent veterans and their dependents, it is necessary to create an advisory board.
Members of this Veteran’s Advisory Board must be veterans, and Councilman Lichter, who is helping to organize this new group, would appreciate hearing from any veterans who might be interested in serving on the Board. Interested veterans may contact Councilman Lichter at the County Courthouse, 378-2898, or email to alanl@co.san-juan.wa.us.

The authorizing RCW follows:

RCW 73.08.035
Veterans' advisory boards
(1) The legislative authority for each county must establish a veterans' advisory board. Upon its establishment, the board shall advise the county legislative authority on the needs of local indigent veterans, the resources available to local indigent veterans, and programs that could benefit the needs of local indigent veterans and their families.

(2) The county legislative authority must solicit representatives from either local branches of nationally recognized veterans' service organizations or the veterans' community at large, or both, to serve on the board. No fewer than a majority of the board members shall be members from nationally recognized veterans' service organizations and only veterans are eligible to serve as board members.

(3) Service on the board is voluntary. The county legislative authority may provide for reimbursement to board members for expenses incurred.
[2005 c 250 § 4.]

Notes:
Intent -- 2005 c 250: See note following RCW 73.08.005.

RCW 73.08.005
Definitions

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
(1) "Direct costs" includes those allowable costs that can be readily assigned to the statutory objectives of this chapter, consistent with the cost principles promulgated by the federal office of management and budget in circular No. A-87, dated May 10, 2004.

(2) "Family" means the spouse, widow, widower, and dependent children of a living or deceased veteran.

(3) "Indigent" means a person who is defined as such by the county legislative authority using one or more of the following definitions:
(a) Receiving one of the following types of public assistance: Temporary assistance for needy families, general assistance, poverty-related veterans' benefits, food stamps or food stamp benefits transferred electronically, refugee resettlement benefits, medicaid, or supplemental security income;
(b) Receiving an annual income, after taxes, of up to one hundred fifty percent or less of the current federally established poverty level, or receiving an annual income not exceeding a higher qualifying income established by the county legislative authority; or
(c) Unable to pay reasonable costs for shelter, food, utilities, and transportation because his or her available funds are insufficient.

(4) "Indirect costs" includes those allowable costs that are generally associated with carrying out the statutory objectives of this chapter, but the identification and tracking of those costs cannot be readily assigned to a specific statutory objective without an accounting effort that is disproportionate to the benefit received. A county legislative authority may allocate allowable indirect costs to its veterans' assistance fund if it is accomplished in a manner consistent with the cost principles promulgated by the federal office of management and budget in circular No. A-87, dated May 10, 2004.

(5) "Veteran" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 41.04.005 and 41.04.007.

(6) "Veterans' advisory board" means a board established by a county legislative authority under the authority of RCW 73.08.035.

(7) "Veterans' assistance fund" means an account in the custody of the county auditor, or the chief financial officer in a county operating under a charter, that is funded by taxes levied under the authority of RCW 73.08.080. (8) "Veterans' assistance program" means a program approved by the county legislative authority under the authority of RCW 73.08.010 that is fully or partially funded by the veterans' assistance fund authorized by RCW 73.08.080.
[2005 c 250 § 2.]
Notes:
Intent -- 2005 c 250: "

(1) It is the intent of the legislature that each county establish a veterans' assistance program to benefit indigent veterans and their families. These programs must be funded, at least in part, by veterans' assistance funds. The legislature intends also for each county to establish a veterans' advisory board responsible for advising the county legislative authority on needed and appropriate assistance programs for local indigent veterans and their families. Recognizing the valuable insight and perspectives that veterans offer, it is the intent of the legislature that each board be comprised entirely of veterans.

(2) The legislature recognizes that ongoing veterans' relief or assistance programs in some areas of the state have provided meaningful assistance to indigent veterans and family members. The legislature further recognizes that veterans' service organizations have traditionally been the initial point of contact for indigent veterans and family members seeking assistance. In recognition of these factors, the legislature intends to authorize, upon the satisfaction of certain administrative requirements, existing veterans' relief or assistance programs to continue providing needed and effective assistance to indigent veterans and their families.

(3) The legislature recognizes that counties respond to the needs of indigent veterans and family members in the manner most appropriate to the needs and resources of the county. The legislature intends for the provisions of this act to facilitate the effective use of assistance funds through efficient model programs that benefit veterans and family members experiencing financial hardships.

(4) It is the policy of the state of Washington that bias shall not play a role in the distribution of the veterans' assistance fund." [2005 c 250 § 1.]