Governor Gregoire Signs Legislation to Support Veterans and Their Families

For Immediate Release: May 14, 2007

Governor also signs bill to save students money on college textbooks

OLYMPIA � Governor Chris Gregoire today signed into law several measures that will support veterans and their families.

�During this time of war, it�s important to remember the sacrifice that so many of our service members and their families are making right now,� said Governor Gregoire. �These measures help to fulfill our obligation to our service members, veterans and their families.�

The bills signed today by Governor Gregoire will:

• Clarify the preference given to veterans in the application for public employment;
• Require public colleges and universities to waive all tuition and fees for the children and spouses of military veterans or National Guard members who are killed or totally disabled, missing in action or prisoners of war; and
• Increase opportunities for war veterans while benefiting our environment and natural resources.

Governor Gregoire also this year signed into law several measures that support soldiers and their families. The bills make disorderly conduct within 500 feet of a funeral or memorial service a misdemeanor, create a public list of veteran-owned businesses in Washington and a sticker or decal to help identify those businesses for consumers, create a uniformed service shared leave pool and amend the Washington Law Against Discrimination to prohibit discrimination based on veteran or military status.

Bill Action Today

• HB 1065 - Relating to veterans' scoring criteria in examinations.
• SSB 5002 - Relating to tuition waivers for veterans' families.
• 2SSB 5164 - Relating to expanding the veterans conservation corps program.

Governor Gregoire Signs Legislation to Save Students Money on College Textbooks

Governor Chris Gregoire today signed into law a measure that will help make college textbooks and materials more affordable for community and technical college students. The bill requires faculty, staff, textbook publishers and campus book stores to disclose how new textbook editions differ from previous editions, actively promote textbook buy-back programs and offer unbundled course materials whenever possible.

�We must do what we can to make college more affordable for more Washingtonians,� said Governor Chris Gregoire. �This is a simple step that can be taken to make sure that any price increases are necessary and justified.�

House Bill 1224, sponsored by Rep. Troy Kelley (D-Lakewood, passed the House with 93 votes and passed the Senate with 47 votes. The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the Legislative session.

Additional Bill Action

Governor Gregoire today signed the following bills into law:

• SHB 1041 - Relating to plurality voting for directors.
• HB 1064 - Relating to veterans' benefits.
• HB 1293 - Relating to insurance commissioner regulatory assessment fees.
• ESHB 1368 - Relating to special purpose district commissioner per diem compensation.
• HB 1449 - Relating to independent auditor reports and financial statements of licensees regulated by the gambling commission.
• HB 1457 - Relating to youth soccer referees.
• SHB 1472 - Relating to analyzing and remedying racial disproportionality and racial disparity in child welfare.
• HB 1599 - Relating to raffles conducted by state employees.
• SHB 1777 - Relating to charitable organizations that solicit contributions from the public.
• SHB 1832 - Relating to limitation on actions.
• HB 1859 - Relating to publications of the statute law committee.
• E2SHB 1883 - Relating to modifications of the higher education coordinating board.
• 2SHB 1896 - Relating to creating a legislative gift center.
• HB 1939 - Relating to privileged communications.
• 2SHB 1980 - Relating to the financial literacy public-private partnership.
• EHB 2113 - Relating to objections by cities, towns, and counties to the issuance of liquor licenses.
• SHB 2130 - Relating to providing a means to determine "prior offenses" to implement chapter 73, Laws of 2006, regarding driving under the influence.
• HB 2154 - Relating to election dates for educational service district board members.
• HB 2236 - Relating to the disposition of certain assets.
• HB 2281 - Relating to shared leave.
• 2SSB 2378 - Relating to construction of new vessels for Washington state ferries.
• SSB 5101 - Relating to waiving tuition and fees for public and vocational school teachers and other certified instructional staff.
• ESSB 5339 - Relating to authorizing the acquisition and operation of tourism-related facilities by port districts.
• SB 5402 - Relating to private vocational school programs.
• SB 5434 - Relating to the excise taxation of sales of tangible personal property originating from or destined to foreign countries.
• SSB 5447 - Relating to ensuring a sustainable coastal Dungeness crab fishery.
• E2SSB 5557 - Relating to public facilities for economic development purposes.
• 2SSB 5790 - Relating to skill centers.
• SSB 5830 - Relating to home visitation services for families.
• SSB 6141 - Relating to forest health.

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