In the

Legislature

of the State

of Washington

DIGEST SUPPLEMENT

To Legislative Digest and History of Bills

Supplement No. 48*

FIFTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE

Thursday, March 17, 2005                                                         67th Day - 2005 Regular

                              SENATE                                                   HOUSE

SB 6088

SB 6089

HB 1246

HB 1401-S

HB 1561

HB 2292

HB 2293

LIST OF BILLS IN DIGEST SUPPLEMENTS

See 2005 Regular, Supplement 46 for List of Bills for Supplements 1 through 46

                                     SENATE                                                               HOUSE

SB 5962. . . . . . . . . . . . .. .Supp.  47

SB 5983-S. . . . . . . . . . . . .Supp.  47

SB 6086. . . . . . . . . . . . .. .Supp.  47

SB 6087. . . . . . . . . . . . .. .Supp.  47

HB 1079-S. . . . . . . . . . . . Supp. 47

HB 1314-S. . . . . . . . . . . . Supp. 47

HB 1970-S2. . . . . . . . . . . Supp. 47

*To be discarded upon receipt of Edition No. 1 of the Legislative Digest and History of Bills

House Bills

by Representatives Dunshee, Pearson, Lovick, Kristiansen, Morrell, P. Sullivan, Murray, Wallace, Chase and Ormsby

Requiring vehicle sound system components to be securely attached.

(AS OF HOUSE 2ND READING 3/08/05)

       Provides that all vehicle sound system components, including any supplemental speaker systems or components, must be securely attached to the vehicle regardless of where the components are located, so that the components cannot become dislodged or loose during operation of the vehicle.

       Declares that enforcement of this act by law enforcement officers may be accomplished only as a secondary action when a driver of a vehicle has been detained for a suspected violation of Title 46 RCW or an equivalent local ordinance or some other offense.

       Requires the Washington state traffic safety commission to create and implement a statewide educational program regarding the safety risks of unsecured vehicle sound system components, including supplemental speaker systems or components. The educational program shall include information regarding securely attaching sound system components to the vehicle, regardless of where the components are located, so that the components do not become dislodged or loose during the operation of the vehicle. The commission shall create and implement this program within the commission's existing budget.

-- 2005 REGULAR SESSION --

       Jan 19        First reading, referred to Transportation.

       Feb 10       TR - Executive action taken by committee.

TR - Majority; do pass.

Minority; do not pass.

       Feb 15       Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

       Feb 25       Made eligible to be placed on second reading.

       Mar 2        Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.

       Mar 8        Floor amendment(s) adopted.

Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

Third reading, passed: yeas, 82; nays, 16; absent, 0.

- IN THE SENATE -

       Mar 9        First reading, referred to Transportation.

by House Committee on Local Government (originally sponsored by Representatives Simpson, Hankins, O'Brien, Ormsby and Chase)

Requiring certain buildings to add automatic sprinkler systems. Revised for 1st Substitute: Regulating fire safety.

(AS OF HOUSE 2ND READING 3/09/05)

        Requires the building code council to adopt rules by December 1, 2005, requiring that all nightclubs be provided with an automatic sprinkler system. Rules adopted by the council shall consider applicable nationally recognized fire and building code standards and local conditions.

        Provides that, by December 15, 2005, the council shall transmit to the fire protection policy board copies of the rules as adopted. The fire protection policy board shall respond to the council by February 15, 2006. If changes are recommended by the fire protection policy board the council shall immediately consider those changes to the rules through its rule-making procedures. The rules shall be effective December 1, 2007.

        Provides that, prior to installation of an automatic sprinkler system under this act, an owner of property may apply to the assessor of the county in which the property is located for a special property tax exemption.

        Declares that, as used in this act, "special property tax exemption" means the determination of the assessed value of the property subtracting, for ten years, the increase in value attributable to the installation of an automatic sprinkler system under this act.

        Provides that the county assessor shall, for ten consecutive assessment years following the calendar year in which application is made, place a special property tax exemption on property classified as eligible.

-- 2005 REGULAR SESSION --

        Feb 24      LG - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.

Minority; do not pass.

        Mar 1      Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

        Mar 7      Made eligible to be placed on second reading.

        Mar 8      Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.

        Mar 9      1st substitute bill substituted.

Floor amendment(s) adopted.

Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

Third reading, passed: yeas, 96; nays, 0; absent, 2.

- IN THE SENATE -

        Mar 10     First reading, referred to Government Operations & Elections.

by Representatives Appleton, Roach, Santos, Kirby, Schual-Berke, Condotta, Williams and Chase

Prohibiting discrimination in life insurance based on lawful travel destinations.

(AS OF HOUSE 2ND READING 3/09/05)

        Provides that no life insurer may deny or refuse to accept an application for insurance, or refuse to insure, refuse to renew, cancel, restrict, or otherwise terminate a policy of insurance, or charge a different rate for the same coverage, based upon the applicant or insured person's past or future lawful travel destinations.

        Declares that nothing in this act prohibits a life insurer from excluding or limiting coverage of specific lawful travel, or charging a differential rate for such coverage, when bona fide statistical differences in risk or exposure have been substantiated. A risk or exposure is substantiated when the insurer demonstrates risk or exposure greater than in all other countries where the insurer does not exclude or limit coverage.

-- 2005 REGULAR SESSION --

       Jan 28        First reading, referred to Financial Institutions & Insurance.

       Feb 10       FII - Executive action taken by committee.

FII - Majority; do pass.

Minority; do not pass.

       Feb 14       Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

       Mar 2        Made eligible to be placed on second reading.

       Mar 7        Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.

       Mar 9        Floor amendment(s) adopted.

Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

Third reading, passed: yeas, 96; nays, 0; absent, 2.

- IN THE SENATE -

       Mar 10       First reading, referred to Financial Institutions, Housing & Consumer Protection.

by Representatives Lantz, Cody, Campbell, Kirby, Flannigan, Williams, Linville, Springer, Clibborn, Wood, Fromhold, Morrell, Hunt, Moeller, Green, Kilmer, Conway, O'Brien, Sells, Kenney, Kessler, Chase, Upthegrove, Ormsby, Lovick, McCoy and Santos

Addressing health care liability reform.

       Finds that access to safe, affordable health care is one of the most important issues facing the citizens of Washington state.

       Finds that the rising cost of medical malpractice insurance has caused some physicians, particularly those in high-risk specialties such as obstetrics and emergency room practice, to be unavailable when and where the citizens need them the most. The answers to these problems are varied and complex, requiring comprehensive solutions that encourage patient safety practices, increase oversight of medical malpractice insurance, and making the civil justice system more understandable, fair, and efficient for all the participants.

       Finds that neither of the initiatives, Initiative 330 or Initiative 336, contain comprehensive, real solutions to the problems they are attempting to solve, and for this reason, offers the following single alternative to both of these initiatives to the citizens of this state.

       Declares an intent to prioritize patient safety and the prevention of medical errors above all other considerations as legal changes are made to address the problem of high malpractice insurance premiums. Thousands of patients are injured each year as a result of medical errors, many of which can be avoided by supporting health care providers, facilities, and carriers in their efforts to reduce the incidence of those mistakes.

       Declares an intent to provide incentives to settle cases before resorting to court, and to provide the option of a more fair, efficient, and streamlined alternative to trials for those for whom settlement negotiations do not work.

       Declares an intent to provide the insurance commissioner with the tools and information necessary to regulate medical malpractice insurance rates and policies so that they are fair to both the insurers and the insured.

        Declares that this act constitutes an alternative to Initiative 330. The secretary of state shall place this act on the ballot in conjunction with Initiative 330 at the next regular general election.

        Declares that this act constitutes an alternative to Initiative 336. The secretary of state shall place this act on the ballot in conjunction with Initiative 336 at the next regular general election.

-- 2005 REGULAR SESSION --

        Mar 16     First reading, referred to Judiciary.

by Representatives Williams, Serben, Hasegawa, Fromhold, Darneille, Moeller, Kirby, Linville, Simpson, Chase, Green, P. Sullivan, Quall, Kagi, Ormsby, Hunt, Cox, Buri, Haler, Appleton, Morrell, Kenney and Santos

Eliminating information about students' WASL scores from high school transcripts.

        Amends RCW 28A.305.220 and 28A.655.061 relating to providing information regarding results of the Washington assessment of student learning on high school transcripts.

-- 2005 REGULAR SESSION --

        Mar 16     First reading, referred to Education.

Senate Bills

by Senator Jacobsen

Modifying the petroleum products tax.

        Amends RCW 82.23A.020 to modify the petroleum products tax.

        Repeals RCW 82.23A.902.

-- 2005 REGULAR SESSION --

        Mar 16     First reading, referred to Transportation.

by Senators Finkbeiner, Jacobsen, Esser, Kastama, Schmidt and Swecker

Modifying provisions related to the financing of central Puget Sound transportation improvements.

        Revises provisions related to the financing of central Puget Sound transportation improvements.

        Authorizes a regional transportation investment district to, with voter approval and as part of a regional transportation investment plan, impose a local option surcharge of not more than two-tenths of one percent of the value of vehicles registered to a person residing within the district. The proceeds collected under this act shall be used for transportation projects as defined in RCW 36.120.020. No surcharge may be imposed on new vehicles, except that the surcharge shall apply to the initial registration of a vehicle previously licensed in another jurisdiction.

       Directs the governor to appoint, from a designated list of nominees submitted by each major party caucus of the legislature, a regional transportation governance commission.

       Requires the commission to make public its preliminary findings and recommendations by November 15, 2005, and to provide at least fifteen days for public comment. The commission shall then adopt its findings and recommendations and submit them to the legislature by January 1, 2006.

-- 2005 REGULAR SESSION --

       Mar 16       First reading, referred to Transportation.