 | WASHINGTON STATE LEGISLATURE | |
| Legislative Digest No. 10 | ||
| FIFTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE | ||
| Monday, January 23, 2006 | 15th Day - 2006 Regular Session | |
| SENATE |
|
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://www.leg.wa.gov/wsladm/billinfo1/digsup.cfm?year=2006.
HB 3071
by Representatives Hinkle, Walsh, Pettigrew, O'Brien, and McDonald
Providing for a study to review the age of consent in Washington.
Directs the joint legislative audit and review committee to review Washington law to determine all areas in Washington law in which the age of consent is statutorily established including but not limited to entering a marriage contract, entering into a legal contractual obligation, executing a will, the ability to vote, making health care decisions, receiving mental health or chemical dependency treatment, and obtaining body piercings or tattoos.Directs the joint legislative audit and review committee to review available studies and reports pertaining to the ability of a minor to provide consent, including studies on adolescent brain development. The review should include information available on the ability of a minor to understand the long-term effects or consequences of his or her decisions, his or her ability to provide consent at various ages, and at what age is a minor best able to provide consent.Requires the joint legislative audit and review committee to provide a report to the appropriate legislative committees by December 1, 2006.
| Jan 19 | Held on first reading. | |
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to Judiciary. | |
HB 3101
by Representatives Buri, Grant, Newhouse, Linville, and Kretz
Protecting aquifer levels.
Finds that the department of ecology adopted ground water management subarea rules to manage aquifer depletions in the Odessa subarea, which includes undeveloped portions of the federal Columbia basin project.Finds that deep well agricultural irrigation was permitted within the Odessa subarea under the expectation that federal Columbia basin project water would be delivered to replace the temporary ground water withdrawals in time to stabilize aquifer levels.Finds that because federal project water has not been delivered as anticipated, aquifer levels have continued to decline despite department of ecology and community efforts to manage ground water withdrawals in a sustainable manner.Finds that, because substantial project expansion and aquifer recharge is a long-term effort, the continued availability of ground water for domestic, municipal, industrial, and agricultural uses in the region is in great jeopardy.Declares that immediate relief is needed to encourage more efficient use of water and to protect the region's citizens from economic hardships and public health and safety risks that can result from declining aquifer levels.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to Economic Development, Agriculture & Trade. | |
HB 3102
by Representatives B. Sullivan, Buck, Appleton, Eickmeyer, Pearson, Campbell, and Hasegawa
Providing guidelines for the issuance and renewal of a geoduck diver license and requiring harvesters to help reseed state commercial beds.
Provides guidelines for the issuance and renewal of a geoduck diver license and requiring harvesters to help reseed state commercial beds.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to Natural Resources, Ecology & Parks. | |
HB 3103
by Representatives Hunt, Williams, Upthegrove, Anderson, Hasegawa, Ormsby, and Simpson
Authorizing state employees to express their professional opinions.
Finds that: (1) A workplace where state employees can feel free to express their professional opinions encourages an open and free exchange of ideas and knowledge and more efficient government;(2) Scientific integrity in work by state employees is increasingly important as the issues the state faces are increasing in complexity; and(3) Many professional licenses require license holders to express their professional opinions and make independent professional judgments in their work.Provides that state employees may express their professional opinions in the workplace on topics within their scope of duties, even if those opinions differ from the agency's official position or their supervisor's opinions.Provides that any retaliation, disciplinary action, or withholding of a promotion to a state employee because he or she expressed his or her professional opinion or refused to sign a document as provided for under this act is a violation of chapter 42.52 RCW.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to State Government Operations & Accountability. | |
HB 3104
by Representatives Strow, B. Sullivan, Ormsby, and Simpson
Imposing a fee on athletes of nonresident teams to replace state park user fees and fund football, baseball, and basketball facilities.
Provides that, for the privilege of performing before paying audiences in publicly financed facilities, a fee is imposed on each member of a nonresident professional athletic team for each duty day that occurs in Washington. The fee shall be the following: (1) For a member of a baseball team, seven hundred fifty dollars per duty day;(2) For a member of a football team, three thousand five hundred dollars per duty day; and(3) For a member of a basketball team, three thousand five hundred dollars per duty day.Provides that a member of a nonresident professional athletic team that is domiciled in a state that does not impose income tax on nonresident athletes is exempt from the fee imposed under this act.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to Economic Development, Agriculture & Trade. | |
HB 3105
by Representatives Hunt and Williams
Addressing noise problems from off-road and all-terrain vehicles.
Requires the department to, by December 31, 2006, study the adverse effects on residential neighborhoods from the noise generated by off-road and all-terrain vehicles. Based upon its findings, the department shall revise the rules establishing maximum noise levels permissible in identified environments and related use standards relating to the reception of noise within those environments. The revisions must: (1) Strengthen the decibel standards as applied to off-road and all-terrain vehicles so that the standards are stringent enough to protect health, safety, and welfare in residential neighborhoods; and(2) Identify enforcement alternatives such as measurable buffers or a narrative standard such as a "plainly audible at the property line" standard that can be easily measured by law enforcement in the field instead of requiring expensive and burdensome protocols for decibel measurement.Provides that any person who violates any rule adopted by the department under chapter 70.107 RCW is subject to a civil penalty imposed by local government pursuant to this act. Such penalties shall be as follows: One hundred dollars for the first violation; two hundred fifty dollars for the second violation; and one thousand dollars for the third and every subsequent violation.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to Natural Resources, Ecology & Parks. | |
HB 3106
by Representatives Kenney, Buri, Cox, McIntire, and Ericks
Changing public works provisions for institutions of higher education.
Revises public works provisions for institutions of higher education.Amends RCW 28B.10.350.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to State Government Operations & Accountability. | |
HB 3107
by Representatives Williams, Quall, Appleton, Morrell, Hasegawa, Campbell, Simpson, Upthegrove, Sells, Lantz, Hudgins, Chase, Ormsby, and Roberts
Studying military uranium exposure.
Creates a task force that studies the health effects of hazardous materials exposure including, but not limited to, depleted uranium, as they relate to military service.Requires the task force to: (1) Initiate a health registry for veterans and military personnel returning from Afghanistan, Iraq, or other countries in which depleted uranium or other hazardous materials may be found;(2) Develop a plan for outreach to and follow-up of military personnel;(3) Prepare a report for service members concerning potential exposure to depleted uranium and other toxic chemical substances and the precautions recommended under combat and noncombat conditions while in a combat zone; and(4) Make other recommendations the task force considers appropriate.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to State Government Operations & Accountability. | |
HB 3108
by Representatives Santos, Darneille, McDermott, Haigh, Simpson, Hasegawa, Upthegrove, Hunt, Hudgins, Kessler, and Roberts
Promoting student access to various recruiters on high school campuses.
Provides that a school or a school district that allows access to students or student records by military recruiters also must allow access on the same basis and to the same extent to students and student records by recruiters and representatives of the job corps, the peace corps, and AmeriCorps. This act does not permit a school or a school district to release student or family information except as allowed under the federal family educational rights and privacy act.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to Education. | |
HB 3109
by Representatives Miloscia, Morrell, and O'Brien; by request of Governor Gregoire
Addressing government performance and accountability.
Finds that: (1) An independent citizen advisory board is necessary to ensure that government services, customer satisfaction, program efficiency, and management systems are world class in performance. A citizen advisory board will ensure that efforts to improve performance are coordinated across state government and prioritized to prevent duplication of effort and achieve the highest value for taxpayer dollars; and(2) Essential tools for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of government include fair, independent, and professional performance audits of state agencies, performance reviews, a performance-based budgeting process, and quality assessments.Declares that the role of the citizen advisory board is to advise the governor on: (1) Improving state government efficiency and effectiveness, including best practices from public and private sectors;(2) Ensuring that efforts to improve performance are coordinated and prioritized across state government to achieve the highest value for taxpayer dollars;(3) Increasing the accountability of state government through effective communication to citizens;(4) Ensuring that performance improvement efforts by state agencies, the state auditor, and the legislature are fair, independent, and professional; and(5) Engaging citizens to assist in identifying priorities.Repeals RCW 43.09.440, 43.09.445, and 43.88.162.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to State Government Operations & Accountability. | |
HB 3110
by Representatives Roberts, Darneille, Kagi, Walsh, Pettigrew, Kenney, Green, Hasegawa, Appleton, and Ormsby
Expanding parenting provisions in the WorkFirst program.
Expands parenting provisions in the WorkFirst program.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to Children & Family Services. | |
HB 3111
by Representative Appleton
Addressing traffic infractions involving rental vehicles.
Provides that, in the event a parking infraction is issued by a private parking facility and is based on a vehicle's identification, and the registered owner of the vehicle is a rental car business, the parking facility shall provide a written notice of the infraction to the rental car business within thirty days of the infraction date. The rental car business receiving the written notice of the infraction shall provide to the parking facility by return mail: (1) A statement under oath stating the name and known mailing address of the individual driving or renting the vehicle when the infraction occurred; or(2) A statement under oath that the business is unable to determine who was driving or renting the vehicle at the time the infraction occurred.Provides that timely mailing of this statement to the parking facility relieves a rental car business of any liability under chapter 46.63 RCW for the notice of infraction. In lieu of identifying the vehicle operator, the rental car business may pay the applicable penalty.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to Transportation. | |
HB 3112
by Representatives O'Brien, Orcutt, Rodne, Kilmer, Lovick, Haler, Sells, Talcott, McCoy, Kessler, Ericks, Linville, Kristiansen, Springer, McCune, McDonald, Strow, Dunn, Schindler, Simpson, and Roberts
Providing small business tax relief.
Provides small business tax relief.Repeals RCW 82.04.4451.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to Finance. | |
HB 3113
by Representatives Sells, Kenney, Strow, McCoy, Haler, Dunshee, B. Sullivan, Lovick, Roberts, and Hasegawa
Expanding access to higher education using the university center model.
Finds that RCW 28B.50.901 assigns responsibility for the north Snohomish, Island, and Skagit counties higher education consortium to Everett Community College. Everett Community College submitted a report titled "Higher Education Opportunity in the NSIS Region" on December 1, 2005, to the appropriate committees of the legislature. The legislature accepts this report as representative of the needs for higher education in the North Snohomish, Island, and Skagit counties (NSIS) region. It is the intent of the legislature to support enrollment growth in the NSIS county regions of the state as represented in the report.Finds that recent research by the state board for community and technical colleges indicates that the immediate needs of at least five hundred students are not being met in the NSIS region at the upper-division level.Finds that long-term unmet need in the Snohomish, Island, and Skagit county region is projected to reach four thousand one hundred forty-one upper-division full-time equivalents by the year 2025.Declares an intent to provide funding for a minimum of two hundred fifty full-time equivalents at the upper-division and graduate levels for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007. This funding shall be used to meet the higher education needs of the NSIS region.Requires Everett Community College, with the assistance of Edmonds Community College, Skagit Valley College, and the universities participating in offering the enrollment subject to this act to submit a report to the appropriate committees of the legislature by July 1, 2007. The report shall describe the number of enrollments and degrees produced as a result of the funding provided in this act, as well as the effect of those enrollments and degrees on local communities.Appropriates the sum of one million five hundred seventy-five thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007, from the general fund to the state board for community and technical colleges for the purposes of this act.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to Higher Ed & Workforce Ed. | |
HB 3114
by Representatives Murray and Dunn
Providing a sales and use tax exemption for recovered wood waste boiler equipment.
Provides a sales and use tax exemption for recovered wood waste boiler equipment.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to Finance. | |
HB 3115
by Representatives Darneille, Talcott, Morrell, Green, McDonald, Ormsby, Simpson, and Roberts
Establishing a foster parent critical support and retention program.
Finds that: (1) Foster parents have little means to cope with children who are sexually reactive, are physically assaultive, or have other high-risk behaviors. There is little support for them in the foster home setting. This lack of support contributes to the fact that most of these very high-risk children will have multiple foster home placements;(2) Two-thirds of the work of child protective services in Washington state is linked with families that it sees repeatedly. The families have cumulative risks such as drug abuse, domestic violence, and mental illness. Abuse of children in these families frequently occurs;(3) Many of our next generation's sexual predators and violent offenders are in foster care today. These children have had severe and repeated early abuse, are under age twelve, and move freely in schools and child care. In 1992, the division of children and family services reported that children who were sexually reactive molested an average of five children while in foster care; and(4) In our state, hundreds of these children are now in foster care. This pressures an already stressed foster care system. It also sets the stage for these children to enter into a lifetime of deviant behavior.Establishes a foster parent critical support and retention program to retain foster parents who care for children who act out sexually, are physically assaultive, or have other high-risk behaviors. The foster parent critical support and retention program is to be implemented under the division of children and family services' contract and supervision. A contractor must demonstrate experience providing in-home case management to foster homes that are licensed through the division of children and family services.Provides that, under the foster parent critical support and retention program, foster parents who care for children who act out sexually and/or physically or have other high-risk behaviors shall receive: (1) Twenty-four/seven emergency assistance;(2) Assessment of risk and development of a safety and supervision plan;(3) Home-based foster parent training utilizing evidence-based models;(4) Ongoing support groups; and(5) Referral to community services.Appropriates the sum of two hundred seventy-five thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007, from the general fund to the division of children and family services for direct services for the purposes of this act.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to Children & Family Services. | |
HB 3116
by Representatives Hudgins, Nixon, Anderson, Kessler, and Dunn
Streamlining technology efforts.
Revises provisions relating to streamlining Washington state's technology efforts.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to Technology, Energy & Communications. | |
HB 3117
by Representatives O'Brien, Clements, Lovick, Quall, and Ericks
Expanding record check requirements for school employees.
Provides that the record check shall include a fingerprint check through the Washington state patrol.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to Education. | |
HB 3118
by Representatives O'Brien, Clements, Lovick, Dickerson, Darneille, and Ericks
Revising reporting requirements for criminal history record information.
Revises reporting requirements for criminal history record information.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to Criminal Justice & Corrections. | |
HB 3119
by Representatives McCoy, Pettigrew, Wallace, and Blake
Evaluating the business climate in mature biotechnology and medical device manufacturing sectors.
Directs the joint legislative audit and review committee to evaluate the competitive business climate for encouraging a sustainable and mature biotechnology and medical device manufacturing sector. The committee shall review the top ten centers in the nation as listed in this act and identify the best practices in economic development and public policy to identify the measures Washington should take to encourage the formation and maturation, from start-up to commercial business activity, of biotechnology and medical device manufacturing businesses in Washington.Requires the report to be delivered to the appropriate committees of the legislature by December 15, 2006.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to Economic Development, Agriculture & Trade. | |
HB 3120
by Representatives Lantz, Priest, Kirby, and Williams
Concerning notice requirements for tort claims against state and local governments and their officers, employees, or volunteers.
Revises notice requirements for tort claims against state and local governments and their officers, employees, or volunteers.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to Judiciary. | |
HB 3121
by Representative Chase
Authorizing a population sustainability element for comprehensive plans under the growth management act.
Authorizes a population sustainability element for comprehensive plans under the growth management act.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to Local Government. | |
HB 3122
by Representatives Kagi, Walsh, Dickerson, Darneille, Ericks, Ormsby, and Roberts
Recognizing the safety of child protective, child welfare, and adult protective services workers.
Finds that employees of the department of social and health services who provide child protective, child welfare, and adult protective services are sometimes faced with highly volatile, hostile, and/or threatening situations during the course of performing their official duties.Finds that the work group convened by the department of social and health services pursuant to chapter 389, Laws of 2005, has made various recommendations regarding policies and protocols to address the safety of workers.Declares an intent to implement the work group's recommendations for statutory changes in recognition of the sometimes hazardous nature of employment in child protective, child welfare, and adult protective services.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to Children & Family Services. | |
HB 3123
by Representative Simpson
Modifying annexation requirements for unincorporated territories.
Revises annexation requirements for unincorporated territories.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to Local Government. | |
HB 3124
by Representatives B. Sullivan, Appleton, McDermott, Roberts, and Kessler
Authorizing a state distribution to cities and counties to mitigate the costs of state ferry traffic at route terminals.
Provides that, by January 31, 2007, and by January 31st of each year thereafter, the department shall certify to the state treasurer the total number of vehicles that have boarded Washington state ferries for each state ferry route for the prior calendar year. The state treasurer shall distribute an amount equal to twenty-five cents multiplied by the total number of vehicles loading and unloading from a state ferry for each ferry route to the city in which each ferry terminal facility is located, or to the county if the facility is located in an unincorporated area.Provides that a city or county receiving a distribution under this section must use the money to defray capital or operating costs associated with state ferry traffic impacts on the community where the ferry terminal facility is located. The maximum amount a city or county can receive under this act is five hundred thousand dollars per Washington state ferry route.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to Transportation. | |
HB 3125
by Representatives Kilmer, Crouse, Hudgins, Morris, Ericks, Takko, Haler, Hankins, P. Sullivan, Morrell, and Anderson
Creating a joint task force to study the benefits and applications of radio frequency identification, video, or other technologies.
Creates a joint task force to study the benefits and applications of radio frequency identification, video, or other technologies.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to Technology, Energy & Communications. | |
HB 3126
by Representatives Dunn, Miloscia, Pettigrew, Campbell, Fromhold, Conway, Orcutt, McCune, Kretz, and Ahern
Concerning solid waste and recyclable materials collection ordinances.
Provides that a solid waste or recyclable materials collection ordinance may not require the occupants of a mobile or manufactured home park to: (1) Use the solid waste collection and disposal system or recyclable materials collection and disposal system as provided in the ordinance; or(2) Dispose of their solid waste and recyclable materials as provided in the ordinance.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to Natural Resources, Ecology & Parks. | |
HB 3127
by Representatives Santos, Hasegawa, McCoy, P. Sullivan, McDermott, Upthegrove, Pettigrew, and Morrell
Regarding the center for the improvement of student learning.
Finds that expanding activity in educational research, educational restructuring, and educational improvement initiatives has produced and continues to produce much valuable information.Finds that such information should be shared with the citizens and educational community of the state as widely as possible.Finds that students and schools benefit from increased parental, guardian, and community knowledge of and input regarding the delivery of public education.Finds that increased knowledge of and input regarding the public education system is particularly needed in low-income and ethnic minority communities.Finds that the center for the improvement of student learning, created by the legislature in 1993 under the auspices of the superintendent of public instruction, has not been allocated funding since the 2001-2003 biennium, and in effect no longer exists.Declares an intent to reassign the authority and duties of the center for the improvement of student learning from the superintendent of public instruction to the governor, and to create within the center an educational ombudsman to serve as a resource center for parents and students and as an advocate for students in the public education system.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to Education. | |
HB 3128
by Representatives Kenney, Hankins, Conway, Chandler, Wood, Condotta, Newhouse, and Springer
Regulating the sale of wine by a society or organization.
Declares that nothing in this act prohibits any director, officer, employee, agent, or representative of any manufacturer, importer, distributor, or authorized representative, or person financially interested, directly or indirectly, in such business, whether resident or nonresident, from serving as a director, officer, or employee of a society or organization licensed under Title 66 RCW.Declares that nothing in this act prohibits a society or organization licensed under Title 66 RCW from selling wine manufactured, imported, or distributed by any licensed person, including but not limited to a licensed person with a director, officer, employee, agent, or representative who is also a director, officer, or employee of the society or organization, as long as the sale is otherwise consistent with the terms of the society or organization's license.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to Commerce & Labor. | |
HJR 4221
by Representatives O'Brien, Kagi, and Darneille
Amending the constitutional provision on inmate labor.
Proposes an amendment to the state Constitution regarding inmate labor.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to Criminal Justice & Corrections. | |
SB 6741
by Senators Stevens, Hargrove, Carrell, Brandland, and Rasmussen
Regarding the joint task force on the administration and delivery of services to children.
Requires the joint task force to report its recommendations to the governor and appropriate committees of the legislature by December 1, 2006.Expires July 1, 2007.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to Human Services & Corrections. | |
SB 6742
by Senators Stevens, Swecker, Benton, Carrell, Zarelli, and Delvin
Clarifying determination of parentage.
Declares an intent to clarify the process for the determination of parentage in this state in response to In re the Parentage of L.B.; Sue Ellen ("Mian") Carvin v. Page Britain;Docket Number 75626-1 (2005). In that case, the court held that Washington's common law recognizes the status of de facto parents and grants them standing to petition for a determination of the rights and responsibilities that accompany legal parentage in Washington state. The legislature intends to preempt the common law and clarify that chapter 26.26 RCW governs every determination of parentage in this state without exception.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to Human Services & Corrections. | |
SB 6743
by Senators Stevens, Carrell, and Benton
Clarifying the legal status of children born from embryos transferred during assisted reproduction.
Provides that a child born to a woman as the result of the implantation of an embryo, which was donated by the genetic parents, or any person or entity with the legal authority to transfer such embryo, is presumed to be the adopted child of the woman and, if married, of her husband. All legal authority to transfer the embryo, and the parental rights of the embryo donor, shall be irrevocably terminated in accordance with the terms of a written instrument executed prior to the implantation or the thawing and implantation of the embryo. A child born as the result of such an embryo implantation shall be afforded all of the legal rights and protection of any child adopted under the laws of this state.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to Human Services & Corrections. | |
SB 6744
by Senators Rockefeller, Fraser, Berkey, Doumit, Shin, Kline, Kohl-Welles, McAuliffe, and Rasmussen
Creating the guaranteed opportunities scholarship program.
Declares an intent to inspire and encourage all Washington students to dream big by creating a guaranteed one-year tuition scholarship program for academically successful high school students from low and middle-income families.Finds that too often, financial barriers prevent many of the brightest students from even considering college as a future possibility. Often the cost of tuition coupled with the complexity of finding and applying for financial aid is enough to prevent a student from even applying to college. Many students become disconnected from the education system early on and may give up or even drop out before graduation.Declares an intent to reward high-achieving students early in their high school career so that they know they have options and opportunities available beyond high school.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to Early Learning, K-12 & Higher Education. | |
SB 6745
by Senator Carrell
Expanding the definition of a bail bond recovery agent.
Amends RCW 18.185.010 to expand the definition of a bail bond recovery agent.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to Judiciary. | |
SB 6746
by Senators Kohl-Welles, Poulsen, Pridemore, and Thibaudeau
Imposing monetary penalties on windfall profits of petroleum corporations.
Finds that Washington citizens and businesses are paying historically high prices for gasoline while the major oil companies are reaping windfall profits. As a result, tens of millions of dollars are being taken from the budgets of families and businesses.Declares an intent to reverse this economic injustice by developing a state windfall profits tax. This tax will create an incentive for major oil companies to keep retail gasoline prices at historically reasonable levels and a disincentive to increase prices to gain windfall profits. If the major oil companies are unresponsive to this incentive, the tax will generate substantial revenue which can be used to partially offset the adverse effects of high gasoline prices by providing additional funding for public goods and services that are linked to the current costs of energy and/or the development of renewable in-state energy resources.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to Ways & Means. | |
SB 6747
by Senators Rockefeller, Roach, Pridemore, Pflug, Thibaudeau, Regala, Doumit, Fraser, McAuliffe, and Rasmussen
Regarding comprehensive safe school plans.
Provides that if funding is provided specifically for this purpose, all schools must have comprehensive safe school plans, except for the school mapping component, in place by the beginning of the 2007-08 school year. If specific funding is not provided to enable this deadline to be met, the superintendent of public instruction shall adopt rules regarding timelines for the development and review of comprehensive safe school plans consistent with the availability of resources including but not limited to technical assistance.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to Early Learning, K-12 & Higher Education. | |
SB 6748
by Senator Jacobsen
Imposing a tax on the production of oil and gas.
Imposes a tax on the production of oil and gas.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to Ways & Means. | |
SB 6749
by Senators Hargrove, Schmidt, and Rasmussen
Establishing a foster parent critical support and retention program.
Finds that: (1) Foster parents have little means to cope with children who are sexually reactive, are physically assaultive, or have other high-risk behaviors. There is little support for them in the foster home setting. This lack of support contributes to the fact that most of these very high-risk children will have multiple foster home placements;(2) Two-thirds of the work of child protective services in Washington state is linked with families that it sees repeatedly. The families have cumulative risks such as drug abuse, domestic violence, and mental illness. Abuse of children in these families frequently occurs;(3) Many of our next generation's sexual predators and violent offenders are in foster care today. These children have had severe and repeated early abuse, are under age twelve, and move freely in schools and child care. In 1992, the division of children and family services reported that children who were sexually reactive molested an average of five children while in foster care; and(4) In our state, hundreds of these children are now in foster care. This pressures an already stressed foster care system. It also sets the stage for these children to enter into a lifetime of deviant behavior.Establishes a foster parent critical support and retention program to retain foster parents who care for children who act out sexually, are physically assaultive, or have other high-risk behaviors. The foster parent critical support and retention program is to be implemented under the division of children and family services' contract and supervision. A contractor must demonstrate experience providing in-home case management to foster homes that are licensed through the division of children and family services.Provides that, under the foster parent critical support and retention program, foster parents who care for children who act out sexually and/or physically or have other high-risk behaviors shall receive: (1) Twenty-four/seven emergency assistance;(2) Assessment of risk and development of a safety and supervision plan;(3) Home-based foster parent training utilizing evidence-based models;(4) Ongoing support groups; and(5) Referral to community services.Appropriates the sum of two hundred seventy-five thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007, from the general fund to the division of children and family services for direct services for the purposes of this act.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to Human Services & Corrections. | |
SB 6750
by Senators Shin, Rockefeller, and Poulsen
Authorizing a state distribution to cities and counties to mitigate the costs of state ferry traffic at route terminals.
Provides that, by January 31, 2007, and by January 31st of each year thereafter, the department shall certify to the state treasurer the total number of vehicles that have boarded Washington state ferries for each state ferry route for the prior calendar year. The state treasurer shall distribute an amount equal to twenty-five cents multiplied by the total number of vehicles loading and unloading from a state ferry for each ferry route to the city in which each ferry terminal facility is located, or to the county if the facility is located in an unincorporated area.Provides that a city or county receiving a distribution under this section must use the money to defray capital or operating costs associated with state ferry traffic impacts on the community where the ferry terminal facility is located. The maximum amount a city or county can receive under this act is five hundred thousand dollars per Washington state ferry route.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to Transportation. | |
SB 6751
by Senators Carrell, Benton, and Stevens
Authorizing the deferral of large property tax assessments.
Provides that a claimant may defer payment of that amount of real property taxes that exceeds six percent of the claimant's combined disposable income, but not to exceed two thousand five hundred dollars per year.Declares that deferral of taxes under this act is subject to the following conditions: (1) The claimant must have owned, at the time of filing, the residence on which the real property taxes have been imposed. For purposes of this subsection, a residence owned by a marital community or owned by cotenants shall be deemed to be owned by each spouse or cotenant. A claimant who has only a share ownership in cooperative housing, a life estate, a lease for life, or a revocable trust does not satisfy the ownership requirement.(2) The property taxes must have been imposed upon a residence that was occupied by the claimant as a principal place of residence. (3) A deferral is not allowed for taxes levied in the first full calendar year in which the person owns the residence.(4) The claimant must have and keep in force fire and casualty insurance in sufficient amount to protect the interest of the state in the claimant's equity value. If the claimant fails to keep fire and casualty insurance in force to the extent of the state's interest in the claimant's equity value, the amount deferred shall not exceed one hundred percent of the claimant's equity value in the land or lot only.(5) The total amount of taxes deferred, including interest thereon, must not exceed eighty percent of the claimant's equity value in the residence.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to Ways & Means. | |
SB 6752
by Senators Carrell and Benton
Deferring large property tax increases.
Finds that it has become increasingly difficult for many homeowners to pay the increased taxes resulting from rapid increases in valuation. The legislature intends to allow low and middle-income homeowners to defer payment of property taxes on their principal residences to the extent that tax increases exceed fifteen percent. The deferral program created in this act is intended to assist persons in maintaining their homes by easing the increases in tax.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to Ways & Means. | |
SB 6753
by Senator Fraser
Regarding collaborative intergovernmental solutions in water management.
Declares that the state of Washington supports and shall participate in the implementation of a pilot intergovernmental program with federally recognized Indian tribes to voluntarily find collaborative solutions in water management. This program shall be mediated by the United States government's institute on conflict resolution and follow a process similar to the national environmental policy act. All agreed upon results of the process shall be adopted by rule and incorporated into the management of water resources by the state.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to Water, Energy & Environment. | |
SB 6754
by Senators McAuliffe, Schoesler, Pridemore, and Rasmussen
Changing public works provisions for institutions of higher education.
Revises public works provisions for institutions of higher education.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to Early Learning, K-12 & Higher Education. | |
SB 6755
by Senator Honeyford
Modifying provisions relating to collective bargaining contracts with state employees.
Provides that a collective bargaining agreement effective July 1, 2007, and beyond may not contain a union security provision requiring as a condition of employment the payment of an agency shop fee to the employee organization that is the exclusive bargaining representative for the bargaining unit in which the employee is employed. A collective bargaining agreement may not require any other fees or payments as a condition of employment.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to Labor, Commerce, Research & Development. | |
SB 6756
by Senator Honeyford
Providing for public disclosure of public sector unions' finances.
Provides that if an agency shop or other union security provision is agreed to, the exclusive bargaining representative must annually, not more than ninety days after the end of its fiscal year, provide financial disclosure information to all members of the bargaining unit and to the general public by filing with the commission a report containing the designated information, detailed by functional spending categories, that accurately discloses its financial condition and operations for the preceding fiscal year.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to Labor, Commerce, Research & Development. | |
SB 6757
by Senator Benton
Reducing taxes imposed on the provision of physical fitness services.
Reduces taxes imposed on the provision of physical fitness services.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to Ways & Means. | |
SB 6758
by Senators Benton and Oke
Including a child fourteen or younger in the aggravated first degree murder provisions.
Includes a child fourteen or younger in the aggravated first degree murder provisions.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to Judiciary. | |
SB 6759
by Senators Keiser and Kohl-Welles
Requiring a report on the employment status of basic health plan and medical assistance recipients.
Requires the administrator, in coordination with the department of social and health services, to prepare an annual report on the employment status of basic health plan enrollees under chapter 70.47 RCW. The report shall detail the number of employees enrolled in the basic health plan by employer, ranked from the employer with the highest number of employees on the basic health plan to the employer with the lowest number of employees on the basic health plan.Requires the report to be delivered electronically to appropriate committees of the senate and house of representatives by November 15th of each year, beginning November 15, 2006.Requires the department of social and health services, in coordination with the health care authority, to prepare an annual report on the employment status of recipients of medical assistance under chapter 74.09 RCW. The report shall detail the number of employees who are recipients of medical assistance by employer, ranked from the employer with the highest number of employees who are recipients to the employer with the lowest number of employees who are recipients.Requires the report to be delivered electronically to appropriate committees of the senate and house of representatives by November 15th of each year, beginning November 15, 2006.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to Health & Long-Term Care. | |
SB 6760
by Senator Parlette
Regarding mosquito control district assessments.
Amends RCW 17.28.255 and 79.44.010 relating to mosquito control districts.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to Government Operations & Elections. | |
SB 6761
by Senators Parlette and Keiser
Determining community rates for health benefit plans.
Determines community rates for health benefit plans.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to Health & Long-Term Care. | |
SB 6762
by Senators Mulliken, Benson, Schoesler, and Sheldon
Limiting the posting of hazards to motorcycles to paved roadways.
Limits the posting of hazards to motorcycles to paved roadways.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to Transportation. | |
SB 6763
by Senators Parlette, Sheldon, Mulliken, Delvin, and Poulsen
Encouraging the use of hydroelectric power as a renewable energy resource.
Encourages the use of hydroelectric power as a renewable energy resource.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to Water, Energy & Environment. | |
SB 6764
by Senators Shin, Berkey, Rockefeller, Sheldon, Doumit, and Deccio
Streamlining the administration of tax incentive programs.
Finds that the state's retail sales tax on construction discourages capital investment by new and existing Washington businesses. Without relief from the state's retail sales tax on construction, Washington businesses in certain sectors and areas will be adversely impacted. The legislature recognizes the importance of such businesses for employment and economic development in Washington state.Reaffirms that policies providing tax incentives for manufacturing and research and development businesses in these distressed areas are essential to promote economic stimulation, economic growth, and new employment opportunities in these distressed areas.Reaffirms that high-technology businesses are a vital and growing source of high-wage, high-skilled jobs in this state, and that the high-technology sector is a key component of the state's effort to encourage economic diversification. The legislature found that many high-technology businesses incur significant costs associated with research and development and pilot scale manufacturing many years before a marketable product can be produced, and that current state tax policy discourages the growth of these companies by taxing them long before they become profitable. The legislature reaffirms that stimulating growth of high-technology businesses early in their development cycle, when they are turning ideas into marketable products, will build upon the state's established high-technology base, creating additional research and development jobs and subsequent manufacturing facilities.Reaffirms that state policies providing tax incentives for economic growth in the fruit and vegetable processing industry are essential.Declares that tax incentives should be subject to the same rigorous requirements for efficiency and accountability as are other expenditure programs, and that tax incentives should therefore be focused to provide the greatest possible return on the state's investment.Repeals various provisions.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to International Trade & Economic Development. | |
SB 6765
by Senator Kastama
Creating the clean elections act.
Finds that our current election financing system: (1) Gives incumbents an unhealthy advantage over challengers;(2) Hinders communication to voters by many qualified candidates;(3) Undermines public confidence in the integrity of public officials;(4) Drives up the cost of running for state office, discouraging otherwise qualified candidates who lack personal wealth or access to special interest funding; and(5) Requires that elected officials spend too much of their time raising funds rather than representing the public.Declares that this act, to be known as the Washington clean elections act, establishes an alternative campaign financing option available to candidates running for office. The alternative campaign financing program is funded entirely through voluntary donations made by individuals. The commission shall administer this chapter and the Washington clean elections account. Participating candidates must also comply with all other applicable election and campaign laws and rules.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to Government Operations & Elections. | |
SJM 8033
by Senators Thibaudeau, Keiser, Franklin, Jacobsen, and Kohl-Welles
Calling on the President to renew funding for the United Nations Population Fund.
Requests that the United States government renew funding for UNFPA to promote the health and rights of women around the world.
| Jan 20 | First reading, referred to Health & Long-Term Care. | |