WASHINGTON STATE LEGISLATURE
Legislative Digest No. 17

SIXTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE
Wednesday, February 4, 201524th Day - 2015 Regular Session

SENATE
SB 5010-SSB 5023-SSB 5052-SSB 5082-SSB 5786SB 5787SB 5788
SB 5789SB 5790SB 5791SB 5792SB 5793SB 5794SB 5795
SB 5796SB 5797SB 5798SB 5799SB 5800SB 5801SB 5802
SB 5803SB 5804SB 5805SB 5806SB 5807SB 5808SB 5809
SJM 8010
HOUSE
HB 1079-SHB 1092-SHB 1093-SHB 1188-SHB 1248-SHB 1927HB 1928
HB 1929HB 1930HB 1931HB 1932HB 1933HB 1934HB 1935
HB 1936HB 1937HB 1938HB 1939HB 1940HB 1941HB 1942
HB 1943HB 1944HB 1945HB 1946HB 1947HB 1948HB 1949
HB 1950HJM 4005HJR 4210

This publication includes digest and history for bills, joint memorials, joint resolutions, concurrent resolutions, initiatives, and substitutes. Engrossed measures may be republished if the amendment makes a substantive change.

Electronic versions of Legislative Digests are available at http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/digests.aspx?year=2015.


House Bills

HB 1079-S

by House Committee on State Government (originally sponsored by Representatives Kochmar, Takko, Pike, Springer, Fitzgibbon, S. Hunt, Gregerson, and Stanford)


Allowing public agencies to enter into contracts providing for the joint utilization of architectural or engineering services.


(DIGEST OF PROPOSED 1ST SUBSTITUTE)


Authorizes any two or more public agencies to enter into a contract providing for the joint utilization of architectural or engineering services if certain conditions are met.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Jan 29SG - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
Feb 2Referred to Rules 2 Review.

HB 1092-S

by House Committee on Judiciary (originally sponsored by Representatives Jinkins, Gregerson, Stanford, Bergquist, Goodman, and Rodne; by request of Attorney General)


Creating the patent troll prevention act.


(DIGEST OF PROPOSED 1ST SUBSTITUTE)


Establishes the patent troll prevention act.

Prohibits a person from making assertions of patent infringement in bad faith.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Jan 29JUDI - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
Minority; do not pass.
Minority; without recommendation.
Feb 3Referred to Rules 2 Review.

HB 1093-S

by House Committee on Technology & Economic Development (originally sponsored by Representatives Morris and Moeller)


Concerning unmanned aircraft.


(DIGEST OF PROPOSED 1ST SUBSTITUTE)


Prohibits the use of unmanned aircraft equipped with sensing devices that collect personal information, including images of individuals on private property that could not have been captured without the assistance of the unmanned aircraft.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Jan 29TED - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
Minority; without recommendation.
Feb 3Referred to Rules 2 Review.

HB 1188-S

by House Committee on State Government (originally sponsored by Representatives S. Hunt, Johnson, Appleton, and Holy)


Delaying annual leave payments upon employment termination.


(DIGEST OF PROPOSED 1ST SUBSTITUTE)


Allows state government officers and employees who resign, are dismissed, or who leave employment because of a reduction in force to request that payment of earned vacation leave be delayed for a period of up to one hundred eighty calendar days.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Jan 29SG - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
Feb 2Referred to Appropriations.

HB 1248-S

by House Committee on Judiciary (originally sponsored by Representatives Shea, Sawyer, Rodne, Jinkins, Walkinshaw, Fitzgibbon, Kilduff, and Pollet)


Concerning court proceedings.


(DIGEST OF PROPOSED 1ST SUBSTITUTE)


Modifies court proceeding provisions relating to civil jurisdiction, jurisdictional limit of district courts, mandatory arbitration of civil actions, and adjudication claim filing fee.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Jan 29JUDI - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
Minority; without recommendation.
Minority; do not pass.
Feb 3Referred to Rules 2 Review.

HB 1927

by Representatives Fey and Smith


Concerning distributed generation.


Creates the solar production incentive program for the purposes of: (1) Increasing installation of solar energy systems in the state;

(2) Encouraging broader market participation; and

(3) Facilitating development of a solar industry whose manufacturing and installation practices are both economically and environmentally sustainable.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 3First reading, referred to Technology & Economic Development (Not Officially read and referred until adoption of Introduction report).

HB 1928

by Representatives Fey, Kagi, Jinkins, McBride, Senn, Robinson, Walkinshaw, Tharinger, Tarleton, Appleton, Kilduff, Ortiz-Self, Bergquist, Gregerson, Ormsby, Pollet, and Goodman


Requiring an analysis of the homeless youth population.


Requires the state institute for public policy to conduct an analysis to identify characteristics of the homeless youth population from birth to age ten.

Expires July 1, 2016.

Provides that this act is null and void if appropriations are not approved.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 3First reading, referred to Early Learning & Human Services (Not Officially read and referred until adoption of Introduction report).

HB 1929

by Representatives Fitzgibbon, Stanford, and McBride; by request of Governor Inslee


Requiring incentives for electric vehicle readiness in buildings.


Encourages the transition to electric vehicle use by developing an infrastructure of convenient electric vehicle charging opportunities.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 3First reading, referred to Local Government (Not Officially read and referred until adoption of Introduction report).

HB 1930

by Representatives MacEwen, Riccelli, Parker, Tharinger, McCaslin, Ormsby, Sells, and Robinson


Addressing the nonemployee status of athletes in amateur sports.


Excludes athletes who play in an amateur sports league, club, or association from the definition of "employee," for purposes of industrial welfare provisions, the Washington industrial safety and health act, and the minimum wage act.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 3First reading, referred to Labor (Not Officially read and referred until adoption of Introduction report).

HB 1931

by Representatives Cody, Riccelli, Reykdal, Robinson, Walkinshaw, Moscoso, Ormsby, Fey, Gregory, Ryu, Ortiz-Self, Peterson, Tharinger, Dunshee, Bergquist, Jinkins, Moeller, Tarleton, Appleton, Gregerson, S. Hunt, Pollet, and McBride


Concerning employer obligations to provide health care for employees.


Extends the employer responsibility penalty of the federal patient protection and affordable care act to employers with employees covered by medical assistance.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 3First reading, referred to Health Care & Wellness (Not Officially read and referred until adoption of Introduction report).

HB 1932

by Representatives Kagi, Walsh, Caldier, Carlyle, Gregerson, and Ryu


Concerning medication management for youth.


Requires the state health care authority to: (1) Require a second opinion review from an expert in psychiatry before approving the prescriptions of one or more antipsychotic medications of all children under eighteen years of age in the foster care system; and

(2) In collaboration with the evidence-based practice institute of Washington, distribute a list of evidence-based treatments and the location of available treatment programs and providers and include appropriate interventions from the list in the child's treatment plan when available.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 3First reading, referred to Health Care & Wellness (Not Officially read and referred until adoption of Introduction report).

HB 1933

by Representatives Short and Kretz


Authorizing local health jurisdictions to approve certain group B water systems based upon their delivery of water meeting safe drinking water standards for household use.


Authorizes a local health jurisdiction to review and approve the design and construction of certain group B water systems.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 3First reading, referred to Environment (Not Officially read and referred until adoption of Introduction report).

HB 1934

by Representative Manweller


Regulating local employment laws and contracts.


Requires a charter, ordinance, regulation, rule, or resolution enacted by a city, town, county, or port district and regulating wages, hours of work, employee retention, or leave from employment to apply equally to both unionized and nonunionized employers.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 3First reading, referred to Labor (Not Officially read and referred until adoption of Introduction report).

HB 1935

by Representatives Harmsworth, Hayes, Manweller, Vick, Griffey, Orcutt, Shea, Wilson, Buys, Kochmar, Stambaugh, Smith, Young, and McCaslin


Concerning public transparency related to proposed modifications to high occupancy vehicle lane use.


Requires a state transportation agency that intends to increase the number of specified passengers that must be in a vehicle to occupy a highway facility or a limited access facility on a state route or federal highway or change the hours of operation of the highway facility or limited access facility to: (1) Notify and seek approval from the chairs and ranking members of the legislative transportation committees; and

(2) Hold a televised public hearing on any proposed changes to a highway facility or limited access facility in the community that will be impacted by the proposal.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 3First reading, referred to Transportation (Not Officially read and referred until adoption of Introduction report).

HB 1936

by Representatives Muri and Magendanz


Changing the hearing process for adverse changes to certificated employees' contracts.


Changes the hearing process for adverse changes to certificated employees' contracts.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 3First reading, referred to Labor (Not Officially read and referred until adoption of Introduction report).

HB 1937

by Representatives Magendanz and Muri


Establishing a consolidating purchasing system for public school employees.


Creates the school employees' benefits board, within the state health care authority, to design and approve insurance benefit plans for school employees and to establish eligibility criteria for participation in insurance benefit plans.

Creates the school employees' insurance account and the school employees' benefits board medical benefits administration account.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 3First reading, referred to Appropriations (Not Officially read and referred until adoption of Introduction report).

HB 1938

by Representatives Appleton, Johnson, Ryu, Muri, Van De Wege, Tarleton, Moscoso, S. Hunt, and Tharinger


Enacting the tourism marketing act.


Establishes the statewide tourism marketing act.

Establishes the framework and funding for a statewide tourism marketing program.

Establishes the Washington tourism marketing authority.

Creates the statewide tourism marketing account.

Imposes a charge of fifteen cents per occupied room per night on every lodging business in this state and requires the revenue from the charge, including penalties and interest on delinquent lodging charges, to be deposited in the statewide tourism marketing account.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 3First reading, referred to Community Development, Housing & Tribal Affairs (Not Officially read and referred until adoption of Introduction report).

HB 1939

by Representatives Stambaugh, Zeiger, Muri, Orcutt, Wilson, and Hayes


Modifying the transportation system policy goal of mobility.


Includes congestion relief and improved freight mobility in the transportation system's policy goal of mobility.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 3First reading, referred to Transportation (Not Officially read and referred until adoption of Introduction report).

HB 1940

by Representatives Stokesbary, Fitzgibbon, Ryu, Magendanz, Kochmar, Hargrove, Rodne, Bergquist, Hurst, Gregerson, Orwall, and Jinkins


Exempting levies imposed by qualifying flood control zone districts from certain limitations upon regular property tax levies.


Exempts levies imposed by qualifying flood control zone districts from certain limitations upon regular property tax levies.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 3First reading, referred to Finance (Not Officially read and referred until adoption of Introduction report).

HB 1941

by Representatives Gregerson, Muri, Santos, Orwall, Ryu, Hunter, Sells, Ormsby, Springer, Bergquist, Ortiz-Self, Kilduff, Moscoso, Peterson, Senn, Farrell, Hudgins, McBride, Fitzgibbon, Clibborn, Fey, Morris, Takko, Moeller, Wylie, Gregory, Walkinshaw, Riccelli, Hansen, Robinson, Kagi, Jinkins, Pettigrew, Lytton, Tharinger, Cody, Carlyle, Sawyer, Stanford, Goodman, Dunshee, Appleton, Tarleton, Van De Wege, and Pollet


Providing for a simple majority of voters voting to authorize school district bonds at general elections.


Allows the authorization of school district bonds at general elections by a simple majority vote.

Takes effect if the proposed amendment to Article VII, section 2 and Article VIII, section 6 of the state Constitution, providing for a simple majority of voters voting at an election to authorize school district levies and bonds at general elections, is approved by the voters at the next general election and certified by the secretary of state.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 3First reading, referred to Education (Not Officially read and referred until adoption of Introduction report).

HB 1942

by Representatives Tarleton, Moscoso, Ryu, and S. Hunt


Concerning ballot measures regarding required information and filing fees.


Addresses filing fees and required information for sponsors with regard to ballot measures.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 3First reading, referred to State Government (Not Officially read and referred until adoption of Introduction report).

HB 1943

by Representatives Shea, Goodman, McCaslin, and Scott


Concerning home detention.


Improves home detention accountability.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 3First reading, referred to Public Safety (Not Officially read and referred until adoption of Introduction report).

HB 1944

by Representatives Rodne, Schmick, Muri, Holy, Hayes, and Zeiger


Providing for certain exemptions and immunities during a state of emergency.


Expands the list of waivers or suspensions of statutory or regulatory obligations or limitations that the governor may order after proclaiming a state of emergency.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 3First reading, referred to Judiciary (Not Officially read and referred until adoption of Introduction report).

HB 1945

by Representatives Rodne, Hayes, Schmick, Muri, Wilcox, and Zeiger


Concerning standards for detention of persons with mental disorders or chemical dependency.


Modifies detention standards for persons with mental disorders or chemical dependency.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 3First reading, referred to Judiciary (Not Officially read and referred until adoption of Introduction report).

HB 1946

by Representatives Jinkins, Robinson, Riccelli, Moeller, and Cody


Concerning Washington wellness trust obligations for hospitals.


Specifies that each hospital is responsible for payment of a Washington wellness trust obligation as determined by the department of health pursuant to the following calculation: A hospital's obligation shall be determined annually by calculating six percent of the hospital's reported revenue to the department of health less any reported charity care and community benefits reported by the hospital for that same year.

Creates the Washington wellness trust account.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 3First reading, referred to Health Care & Wellness (Not Officially read and referred until adoption of Introduction report).

HB 1947

by Representatives Pollet, Walsh, Santos, S. Hunt, Orwall, Ortiz-Self, Tarleton, Kagi, Bergquist, Robinson, Gregerson, and Ryu


Establishing a comprehensive plan to expand learning opportunities and improve educational outcomes for students with disabilities or special needs using multiple strategies and statewide partnerships.


Creates the commission on improving outcomes for students with special needs to develop a ten-year strategic plan to expand learning opportunities and improve educational outcomes for all students with disabilities or special needs and an accountability framework to monitor and report annually on the progress being made toward the ten-year goal.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 3First reading, referred to Education (Not Officially read and referred until adoption of Introduction report).

HB 1948

by Representatives Blake and Kretz


Providing increased revenue to the state wildlife account without directing any changes to resource allocation outcomes.


Increases revenue to the state wildlife account.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 3First reading, referred to Agriculture & Natural Resources (Not Officially read and referred until adoption of Introduction report).

HB 1949

by Representatives Pollet, S. Hunt, Gregerson, Ortiz-Self, Moscoso, Ormsby, and McBride


Regulating the institutions of higher education, including for-profit institutions and private vocational schools, to protect students from unfair business practices.


Addresses unfair business practices of institutions of higher education with regard to students enrolled in for-profit higher education institutions and private vocational schools.

Authorizes the attorney general to investigate and protect student consumers from unfair business practices.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 3First reading, referred to Higher Education (Not Officially read and referred until adoption of Introduction report).

HB 1950

by Representatives Lytton, Appleton, Bergquist, Ormsby, S. Hunt, Pollet, and Tharinger; by request of State Board of Education


Eliminating the high school science assessment as a requirement for obtaining a certificate of academic achievement.


Changes the certificate of academic achievement requirement by eliminating the high school science assessment requirement.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 3First reading, referred to Education (Not Officially read and referred until adoption of Introduction report).


House Joint Memorials

HJM 4005

by Representatives Dent, Springer, Manweller, Clibborn, Klippert, Sullivan, Short, Hawkins, Smith, MacEwen, Wilcox, McCaslin, Kretz, Wilson, Fagan, Walsh, Condotta, Harris, Chandler, Scott, Magendanz, Pettigrew, Haler, Moeller, Kagi, Orcutt, Hargrove, Griffey, Buys, Carlyle, Tarleton, Nealey, Schmick, Gregerson, and McCabe


Requesting assistance to minimize the impacts of recent changes in port operations on Washington's agriculture, food, and timber industries.


Requests assistance to minimize the impacts of recent changes in port operations on the state's agriculture, food, and timber industries.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 3First reading, referred to Labor (Not Officially read and referred until adoption of Introduction report).


House Joint Resolutions

HJR 4210

by Representatives Gregerson, Muri, Santos, Orwall, Ryu, Hunter, Sells, Ormsby, Springer, Bergquist, Ortiz-Self, Kilduff, Moscoso, Peterson, Senn, Farrell, Hudgins, Fey, McBride, Fitzgibbon, Clibborn, Morris, Moeller, Takko, Wylie, Gregory, Riccelli, Walkinshaw, Hansen, Robinson, Kagi, Jinkins, Lytton, Tharinger, Goodman, Pettigrew, Cody, Carlyle, Sawyer, Stanford, Appleton, Dunshee, Tarleton, Van De Wege, and Pollet


Amending the Constitution to provide for a simple majority of voters voting to authorize school district bonds at general elections.


Proposes an amendment to the state Constitution to provide for a simple majority of voters voting to authorize school district bonds at general elections.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 3First reading, referred to Education (Not Officially read and referred until adoption of Introduction report).


Senate Bills

SB 5010-S

by Senate Committee on Health Care (originally sponsored by Senators Frockt, Rolfes, Kohl-Welles, Hasegawa, Jayapal, Keiser, and Ranker)


Restoring funding to the health professional loan repayment and scholarship program fund.


(DIGEST OF PROPOSED 1ST SUBSTITUTE)


Makes appropriations to restore funding to the health professional loan repayment and scholarship program fund.

Creates the nurse educator loan repayment and scholarship program which will be administered by the office of student financial assistance.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Jan 29HLTH - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
And refer to Ways & Means.
Referred to Ways & Means.

SB 5023-S

by Senate Committee on Health Care (originally sponsored by Senators Parlette and Keiser)


Concerning the filing of group health benefit plans other than small group plans, stand-alone dental plans, and stand-alone vision plans by disability insurers, health care service contractors, and health maintenance organizations.


(DIGEST OF PROPOSED 1ST SUBSTITUTE)


Enhances competition and creates regulatory uniformity in the filing requirements for group health benefit plans other than small group plans, as well as stand-alone dental plan and stand-alone vision plan rates and forms.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Jan 29HLTH - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

SB 5052-S

by Senate Committee on Health Care (originally sponsored by Senators Rivers, Hatfield, and Conway)


Establishing the cannabis patient protection act.


(DIGEST OF PROPOSED 1ST SUBSTITUTE)


Establishes the cannabis patient protection act.

Adopts a comprehensive act that uses the regulations in place for the recreational market to provide regulation for the medical use of marijuana.

Ensures that patients: (1) Retain their ability to grow their own marijuana for their own medical use; and

(2) Have the ability to possess more marijuana-infused products, useable marijuana, and marijuana concentrates than what is available to a nonmedical user.

Creates a medical marijuana endorsement to a marijuana retail license to permit a marijuana retailer to sell marijuana for medical use to qualifying patients and designated providers.

Authorizes a city, town, or county to adopt an ordinance to prohibit a marijuana producer, processor, or retailer from locating its premises within one thousand feet of a house of worship.

Provides a sales and use tax exemption to qualifying patients on purchases of: (1) Marijuana for medical use when authorized by a health care professional and when purchased at a marijuana retailer with a medical marijuana endorsement; and

(2) Marijuana concentrates, useable marijuana, and marijuana-infused products for medical use when qualifying patients hold a valid authorization card.

Provides a retail sales and use tax exemption for anyone who purchases low THC, high CBD products.

Requires a percentage of marijuana excise taxes in the general fund to be appropriated to local public health districts to develop marijuana youth education and prevention programs.

Changes the name of the state liquor control board to the state liquor and cannabis board.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Jan 29HLTH - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
And refer to Ways & Means.
Minority; without recommendation.
Referred to Ways & Means.

SB 5082-S

by Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education (originally sponsored by Senators McAuliffe, Litzow, Rolfes, McCoy, Billig, Conway, Hobbs, Kohl-Welles, Ranker, and Fraser)


Providing for career and technical education opportunities for elementary school students.


(DIGEST OF PROPOSED 1ST SUBSTITUTE)


Provides elementary school students with career and technical education opportunities.

Requires the office of the superintendent of public instruction to implement a grant program to fund introductory K-12 STEM programs in career and technical education with the goal of developing model programs across elementary, middle, and high schools.

Requires the office of the superintendent of public instruction and the education data center to track student participation and long-term outcome data.

Makes an appropriation.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Jan 29EDU - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
And refer to Ways & Means.
Referred to Ways & Means.

SB 5786

by Senators Conway, Darneille, Cleveland, and McAuliffe


Concerning services that provide support for decision making.


Changes the name of the public guardianship program to the public guardianship and supported decision-making assistance program and modifies the program.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 3First reading, referred to Human Services, Mental Health & Housing.

SB 5787

by Senators Jayapal, Fain, McAuliffe, Darneille, and Hasegawa


Concerning a model policy and procedures for language access by limited-English proficient parents of students.


Requires the state school directors' association to, with the assistance of the office of the superintendent of public instruction, develop a model policy and procedures for language access by limited-English proficient parents.

Requires the office of the superintendent of public instruction to convene an advisory committee to develop sample materials for school districts to disseminate to school employees and parents regarding parents' rights under the model policy developed by the state school directors' association and the resources available to assist parents and guardians in accessing the services available to them.

Requires each school district board of directors to establish its own language access policy and procedures and make them available on the district's web site.

Requires the office of the superintendent of public instruction and the office of the education ombuds to develop a list of and post information on the agency's web site regarding: (1) Language access services providers available to school districts; and

(2) Training programs that are available to support school districts in preparing employees for how to access and effectively use an interpreter.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 3First reading, referred to Early Learning & K-12 Education.

SB 5788

by Senators Cleveland, Billig, Padden, Keiser, Bailey, Frockt, Fraser, Darneille, Nelson, Becker, Hargrove, and Benton


Creating two elder justice center demonstration sites.


Requires the department of social and health services to establish an elder justice center at two demonstration sites, one in Clark county and the other in Spokane county.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 3First reading, referred to Health Care.

SB 5789

by Senators Kohl-Welles, Fraser, Pedersen, Darneille, Billig, Keiser, McAuliffe, Nelson, and Chase


Concerning the protection of children through responsible storage of firearms.


Creates the crime of child endangerment due to unsafe storage of a firearm.

Requires a firearms dealer, when selling a firearm, to offer to sell or give the purchaser a locked box, a lock, or a device that prevents the firearm from discharging.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 3First reading, referred to Law & Justice.

SB 5790

by Senators Darneille, Roach, Conway, Hasegawa, Miloscia, O'Ban, Jayapal, Rolfes, McAuliffe, and Dammeier


Concerning services provided to individuals with developmental disabilities.


Requires the department of social and health services to pilot a program that allows clients to be able to choose either a qualified home care agency or an individual provider to provide community access services.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 3First reading, referred to Health Care.

SB 5791

by Senators Darneille, Pedersen, McAuliffe, Conway, and Chase


Concerning charter schools.


Authorizes a charter school board to contract for an independent performance audit of the school.

Revises requirements of the Washington charter school commission when authorizing charter schools.

Addresses successor members of the Washington charter school commission.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 3First reading, referred to Early Learning & K-12 Education.

SB 5792

by Senator Darneille


Establishing a centralized office of forensic mental health services.


Creates the office of forensic mental health services within the department of social and health services in order to prioritize goals of accuracy, prompt service to the court, quality assurance, and integration with other services.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 3First reading, referred to Human Services, Mental Health & Housing.

SB 5793

by Senators Darneille, Conway, and O'Ban


Providing credit towards child support obligations for veterans benefits.


Provides credit towards child support obligations for veterans' benefits.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 3First reading, referred to Law & Justice.

SB 5794

by Senators McAuliffe, Kohl-Welles, Liias, Billig, Jayapal, Cleveland, Chase, Darneille, and Hasegawa


Requiring the department of social and health services to request all necessary exemptions and waivers from the federal government to allow students to use electronic benefit transfer cards at institutions of higher education.


Requires the department of social and health services, in consultation with the state board for community and technical colleges and the student achievement council, to seek all necessary exemptions and waivers from and amendments to federal statutes, rules, and regulations to authorize the state's public and private institutions of higher education to accept supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits in the form of an electronic benefit transfer card at the institutions' on-campus food retail establishments.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 3First reading, referred to Human Services, Mental Health & Housing.

SB 5795

by Senators Roach and Liias


Authorizing municipalities to create assessment reimbursement areas for the construction or improvement of water or sewer facilities.


Revises the municipal water and sewer facilities act to authorize a municipality to: (1) Create an assessment reimbursement area on its own initiative, without the participation of a private property owner;

(2) Finance the costs of the construction or improvement; and

(3) Become the sole beneficiary of reimbursements.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 3First reading, referred to Government Operations & Security.

SB 5796

by Senators Becker, Keiser, and Pearson


Concerning the regulation of adult family homes.


Requires the department of social and health services to charge a licensee a nonrefundable fee in the event of a change in ownership of an adult family home.

Authorizes the department of social and health services to: (1) Authorize a one-time waiver of all or any portion of certain licensing, processing, or change of ownership fees if the department determines that an adult family home is being relicensed because of exceptional circumstances and that to require the full payment of the fees would present a hardship to the applicant; and

(2) Under exceptional circumstances, consider granting a license to an applicant who has not completed the adult family home administration and business planning class but who meets all other requirements.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 3First reading, referred to Health Care.

SB 5797

by Senators Rivers, Roach, Conway, Angel, Hasegawa, Litzow, Miloscia, Jayapal, Hobbs, Warnick, McCoy, Cleveland, Rolfes, Pearson, O'Ban, and Benton


Concerning passenger-carrying vehicles for railroad employees.


Requires the utilities and transportation commission to: (1) Regulate charter party carriers providing railroad crew transportation and contract crew hauling vehicles with respect to the safety of equipment, driver qualifications, insurance levels, and safety of operations;

(2) Compile data regarding reported safety complaints, accidents, regulatory violations and fines, and corrective actions taken by the commission involving passenger-carrying vehicles; and

(3) Develop an inspection program for vehicles used to carry railroad employees.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 3First reading, referred to Transportation.

SB 5798

by Senators Keiser and Bailey


Concerning a second-party payment process for paying insurers.


Clarifies that an entity that makes premium payments from accounts that are owned and controlled by the insured do not constitute a third party for the purposes of acceptance of premium payments by an insurer.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 3First reading, referred to Health Care.

SB 5799

by Senators Fain and Keiser


Exempting levies imposed by qualifying flood control zone districts from certain limitations upon regular property tax levies.


Exempts levies imposed by qualifying flood control zone districts from certain limitations upon regular property tax levies.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 3First reading, referred to Ways & Means.

SB 5800

by Senator Pearson


Allowing businesses to possess gambling devices or components of authorized gambling devices without first obtaining a license under certain conditions.


Authorizes a business, under certain circumstances, to possess gambling devices or components of authorized gambling devices without first obtaining a license if the business registers with the gambling commission.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 3First reading, referred to Commerce & Labor.

SB 5801

by Senator Pearson


Creating a water commission.


Creates the Washington water commission and transfers certain powers, duties, and functions, pertaining to water resources, from the department of ecology to the commission.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 3First reading, referred to Agriculture, Water & Rural Economic Development.

SB 5802

by Senators Becker and Keiser


Concerning assisted living payment rates.


Addresses payment rate methodology of medicaid home and community-based long-term care services.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 3First reading, referred to Health Care.

SB 5803

by Senators Dammeier, McAuliffe, and Keiser


Concerning the notification of parents when their children are below basic on the third grade statewide English language arts assessment.


Requires teachers, during spring meetings with parents of students in third grade, to inform the parents or guardians of students who are below grade-level in reading of the following: (1) The intensive reading improvement strategies available to students before fourth grade; and

(2) The school district's grade placement policy for the following year.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 3First reading, referred to Early Learning & K-12 Education.

SB 5804

by Senators Liias, Benton, Hasegawa, Dammeier, and Angel


Modifying the procedure for adoption and amendment of the Washington state energy code.


Modifies state energy code provisions relating to adoption and amendment procedures.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 3First reading, referred to Government Operations & Security.

SB 5805

by Senators Rivers, Rolfes, and Keiser


Concerning conflict resolution programs in schools.


Includes statewide dispute resolution organizations in developing a volunteer-based conflict resolution and mediation program for use in community groups such as neighborhood organizations and the public schools.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 3First reading, referred to Early Learning & K-12 Education.

SB 5806

by Senators Jayapal, Frockt, Keiser, Cleveland, Conway, Litzow, Rivers, Darneille, and Angel


Concerning access to highly effective contraception for patients enrolled in a medicaid-funded plan.


Requires the state health care authority to assure that the total medicaid rate paid for the services required for the provision of long-acting reversible contraceptive methods is at least equivalent with the total rate paid for the services required to provide oral contraceptives.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 3First reading, referred to Health Care.

SB 5807

by Senators Litzow and Dammeier


Concerning targeted professional development for educators.


Modifies provisions relating to targeted professional development for educators.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 3First reading, referred to Early Learning & K-12 Education.

SB 5808

by Senators Habib, Becker, Ranker, Liias, McAuliffe, Keiser, and Hasegawa


Concerning cancer research.


Creates the fund to fight cancer authority and requires the authority to establish one or more independent expert scientific review and advisory committees.

Creates the fund to fight cancer as a special trust fund in the custody of the state treasurer.

Increases the cigarette tax and the tobacco tax to fund the fund to fight cancer.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 3First reading, referred to Health Care.

SB 5809

by Senator Benton


Requiring the provision of comprehensive information in writing to real property owners during negotiations for the acquisition of the property by government agencies.


Requires an acquiring agency to provide comprehensive information in writing to real property owners during negotiations for the acquisition of the property by government agencies.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 3First reading, referred to Law & Justice.


Senate Joint Memorials

SJM 8010

by Senators Roach, Angel, and Benton


Requesting the President and United States Congress to take action to approve the Keystone XL pipeline.


Requests the president and congress to take action to approve the Keystone XL pipeline.
-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 3First reading, referred to Energy, Environment & Telecommunications.