HB 286-VETS' RETIREMENT/LOANS/HOUSING/EMPLOYMENT  1:57:26 PM CO-CHAIR FOSTER announced that the final order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 286, "An Act relating to the Teachers' Retirement System, the Judicial Retirement System, and the Public Employees' Retirement System for qualified military service; relating to the definition of 'veteran' for purposes of housing, eligibility for veterans' loans, and preferences in state employment hiring; and providing for an effective date." 1:57:50 PM MIKE BARNHILL, Deputy Commissioner, Office of the Commissioner, Department of Administration (DOA), informed the committee HB 286 was introduced by the request of the governor and is known as the veterans' update bill. REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER expressed his appreciation of all aspects of the bill. He asked for the amount of the state's exposure actuarially. MR. BARNHILL responded that the state's actuary, Buck Consultants, computed the projected number of deaths expected in the Public Employees' Retirement System and the Teachers' Retirement System based on the percentage of military in the U.S. population as a whole. The projection over an 11-12 year period - based on statistics from 2003 - is that there would be 1.13 deaths, which would equate to approximately $800,000 in benefits. The actuary concluded this projection is de minimis, therefore, DOA [attached a zero fiscal note.] In further response to Representative Saddler, he confirmed that the data was from 2003. 2:01:01 PM CO-CHAIR FOSTER reopened public testimony. After ascertaining no one wished to testify, public testimony on HB 286 was closed. REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER directed attention to lines 27-29, page 7, of the bill which read: day prescribed by presidential proclamation or by law as the last date of Operation Iraqi Freedom, or during any time period listed in 5 U.S.C.2108(1); or REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER then asked when the conflict in Afghanistan is likely to be legally concluded for the purpose of veterans' benefits. 2:02:02 PM MCHUGH PIERRE, Deputy Commissioner, Office of the Commissioner/Adjutant General, Department of Military & Veterans' Affairs, answered: ... This is the most current up-to-date definition that the VA is using, and it does cover all current conflict members. ... I would think when the President officially removes our last troops, and concludes the conflict, which is supposed to be 2015 .... 2:03:39 PM CO-CHAIR LEDOUX moved to report HB 286 out of committee with individual recommendations and the attached fiscal notes. There being no objection, HB 286 was reported out of the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs.