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Senator Gildan sponsors bill to allow pre-discharge certification for veterans' civil-service preference
Summary
Sen. Chris Gildan told the committee SB 5,827 would let service members use pre-discharge certification to claim Washington State veterans' civil-service preference under specified timing and follow-up requirements; testimony from veterans groups supported the bill.
Sen. Chris Gildan (25th Legislative District) told the Senate State Government, Tribal Affairs and Elections Committee on Jan. 16 that Senate Bill 5,827 is intended to let service members secure veterans' civil-service preference before their final day of military service.
Greg Vogel, committee staff, said the proposed substitute to SB 5,827 would allow a pre-discharge certification — a statement from a service branch that a service member is expected to be discharged under a qualifying characterization — to serve as proof of a qualifying discharge if the certification was issued no more than 120 days before application and the applicant provides official discharge papers within 30 days of separation. Agencies would still be required to verify characterization of service and document receipt of official discharge documentation.
Gildan said the bill grew from a constituent case in which a service member nearing the end of 23 years of active duty could not claim preference points because the DD-214 is issued on the final day of service. He said he worked with the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs and OFM on a proposed substitute to ease agency implementation.
During questioning, staff clarified that "qualifying discharge" under state law includes honorable and general (under honorable conditions) characterizations; an other-than-honorable characterization may qualify if the veteran has a service-connected disability; and any characterization may qualify if the reason for discharge was solely related to sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, consistent with current statutory provisions cited by staff.
Jerry Futrick, chairman of the Veterans Legislative Coalition, testified in strong support. The vice chair reported 40 individuals signed in in favor and 2 in opposition. The committee closed the hearing on SB 5,827 without taking final action at that time.
