OLYMPIA – Legislation authorizing a statewide raffle to benefit Washington veterans and their families passed the House yesterday on a strong bipartisan vote. It now heads to the Governor’s desk for signature.
Senate Bill 5806 directs the state Lottery Commission to conduct a raffle once a year to benefit the Veterans Innovations Program (VIP). VIP provides crisis and emergency relief, education, training and employment assistance to Washington state veterans and their families. Lean budget times for the state have kept VIP from being adequately funded, but the yearly raffle would bring in the necessary additional funds.
Rep. Fred Finn (D – rural Thurston County) prime-sponsored the House version of Senate Bill 5806.
“Over 1800 veterans have been helped through the VIP program since it began in 2006, and this raffle helps ensure that important things like job training and housing assistance will still be available for them,” Finn said.
The raffle won’t compete with ongoing lottery games because it is limited to the period between Labor Day and Veteran’s Day. Drawings will be held each year on Veteran’s Day, beginning this year.
Also clearing the House Tuesday was a measure to address safety and security issues in our state prisons.
After Correctional Officer Jayme Biendl was killed while on duty at the Monroe Correctional Complex, the state Department of Corrections requested that the National Institute of Corrections conduct an independent review of the policies and procedures in our state’s prisons. The review was completed in March 2011, and contained 15 recommendations . Senate Bill 5907takes the next step forward in addressing those recommendations.
Rep. Finn, whose district includes the Washington Corrections Center in Shelton, spoke in favor of the measure, noting that the issues it targets go beyond the Monroe tragedy.
Senate Bill 5907 passed the House unanimously.