All of the following persons who have been actual bona fide residents of this state at the time of their application, and who are indigent and unable to support themselves and their families may be admitted to a state veterans' home under rules as may be adopted by the director of the department, unless sufficient facilities and resources are not available to accommodate these people:

     (1)(a) All honorably discharged veterans of a branch of the armed forces of the United States or merchant marines; (b) members of the state militia disabled while in the line of duty; (c) Filipino World War II veterans who swore an oath to American authority and who participated in military engagements with American soldiers; and (d) the spouses or the domestic partners of these veterans, merchant marines, and members of the state militia. However, it is required that the spouse was married to and living with the veteran, or that the domestic partner was in a domestic partnership and living with the veteran, three years prior to the date of application for admittance, or, if married to or in a domestic partnership with him or her since that date, was also a resident of a state veterans' home in this state or entitled to admission thereto;

     (2)(a) The spouses or domestic partners of: (i) All honorably discharged veterans of the United States armed forces; (ii) merchant marines; and (iii) members of the state militia who were disabled while in the line of duty and who were residents of a state veterans' home in this state or were entitled to admission to one of this state's state veteran homes at the time of death; (b) the spouses or domestic partners of: (i) All honorably discharged veterans of a branch of the United States armed forces; (ii) merchant marines; and (iii) members of the state militia who would have been entitled to admission to one of this state's state veterans' homes at the time of death, but for the fact that the spouse or domestic partner was not indigent, but has since become indigent and unable to support himself or herself and his or her family. However, the included spouse or included domestic partner shall be at least fifty years old and have been married to and living with their spouse, or in a domestic partnership and living with their domestic partner, for three years prior to the date of their application. The included spouse or included domestic partner shall not have been married since the death of his or her spouse or domestic partner to a person who is not a resident of one of this state's state veterans' homes or entitled to admission to one of this state's state veterans' homes; and

     (3) All applicants for admission to a state veterans' home shall apply for all federal and state benefits for which they may be eligible, including medical assistance under chapter 74.09 RCW.

[2008 c 6 § 503; 1998 c 322 § 49; 1993 sp.s. c 3 § 5; 1977 ex.s. c 186 § 1; 1975 c 13 § 1; 1959 c 28 § 72.36.030. Prior: 1915 c 106 § 1; 1911 c 124 § 1; 1905 c 152 § 1; 1901 c 167 § 2; 1890 p 270 § 2; RRS § 10729.]

NOTES:

     Part headings not law -- Severability -- 2008 c 6: See RCW 26.60.900 and 26.60.901.

     Effective date -- 1998 c 322 §§ 1-37, 40-49, and 52-54: See RCW 74.46.906.

     Severability -- 1998 c 322: See RCW 74.46.907.

     Effective date -- 1993 sp.s. c 3: See note following RCW 72.36.140.

     Findings -- 1993 sp.s. c 3: See RCW 72.36.1601.

     Severability -- 1977 ex.s. c 186: "If any provision of this 1977 amendatory act, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act, or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected." [1977 ex.s. c 186 § 12.]