[Wsssc] Updates to Washington State's Definition of Veteran

Thu Jun 13 13:17:06 PDT 2024

Hello WSSC,
The following has been shared with WACTC-

[cid:image011.jpg at 01DABD93.FB985E80]Jamie Traugott
Director of Student Services and K12 Alignment
Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
jtraugott at sbctc.edu<mailto:jtraugott at sbctc.edu> * o: 360-704-3929
sbctc.edu<https://www.sbctc.edu/> * Facebook: @WASBCTC<https://www.facebook.com/wasbctc/> *
LinkedIn: @washington-state-board-for-community-and-technical-colleges<https://www.linkedin.com/company/washington-state-board-for-community-and-technical-colleges>

From: Audette, Heidi (DVA) <HeidiA at DVA.WA.GOV<mailto:HeidiA at DVA.WA.GOV>>
Sent: Thursday, June 6, 2024 1:17 PM
Subject: Updates to Washington State's Definition of Veteran

[Sent from outside SBCTC]

Good afternoon fellow liaisons!
Now that many of the provisions of HB 2014, Definition of a Veteran for the purpose of state veterans benefits, are in effect, your WDVA wants to describe our plan to share information with your agencies and the Veterans Community.

As you know, the bill expands the state's definition of Veteran to include:

*                     Any veteran who is already eligible for federal Department of Veterans Affairs monetary benefits (non-service connected pension and disability compensation).

*                     Veterans who were separated with less than honorable characterizations of service (discharges) due solely to sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression or actions or statements related to sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, regardless of characterization of service.

WDVA is working to hire a communications team member to assist with sharing information and developing an outreach campaign.  In addition, we will update our website, brochures, and publications that specifically speak to character of discharge for program eligibility.  Within our Veterans Services and Counseling and Wellness Program, we will create education and training opportunities for resource providers, service officers, state agency partners, and others who receive questions about benefits in Washington State.

Understanding that implementation and interpretation of the new law will be up to each individual agency, I would also like to schedule a meeting between our agencies to discuss how we can support you and your programs, and what specific education or training requirements you have.  If you're interested in participating, just let me know!

Additional information, including a list of RCWs affected by HB 2014 is available on our website: https://www.dva.wa.gov/about-wdva/laws-legislation/definition-veteran.  We'll continue to update this website to include a Q&A section, so feel free to share your thoughts on what you'd like to see included here.

Please let me know if you have questions or concerns and thank you!

Heidi Audette (she/her)
Communications and Legislative Director
Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs
"Serving Those Who Served"
(360) 485-1812
(360) 791-8966 - cell
heidia at dva.wa.gov<mailto:heidia at dva.wa.gov>| dva.wa.gov <https://vnet.dva.wa.gov/node/dva.wa.gov>

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