1. (1) There is created in the department the veterans service officer program. The purpose of the veterans service officer program is to provide funding to underserved eligible counties to establish and maintain a veterans service officer within the county. "Eligible counties," for the purposes of this section, means counties where the percentage of the veteran population receiving federal disability or pension compensation is below the national average.

2. (2) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for the specific purposes provided in this section, the department must:

   1. (a) Establish a process to educate local governments, veterans, and those still serving in the national guard or armed forces reserve of the veterans service officer program;
   2. (b) Develop partnerships with local governments to assist in establishing and maintaining local veterans service officers in eligible counties who elect to have a veterans service officer; and
   3. (c) Provide funding to support eligible counties in establishing and maintaining local accredited veterans service officers. The department shall prioritize additional funding to eligible counties with the lowest percentage of the veteran population receiving federal disability or pension compensation, and then to eligible counties without a veterans service officer.
3. (3) The application process for the veterans service officer program must be prescribed as to manner and form by the department.
4. (4) The department may adopt rules necessary to implement this section. The department shall include a requirement that any county that participates in the veterans service officer program must allow any veteran residing in an adjacent county access to the county's veterans service officer.

[ 2025 c 294 s 3; 2019 c 223 s 1.]

Notes:

Findings—Intent—Effective date—2025 c 294: See notes following RCW 43.60A.225.