 | WASHINGTON STATE LEGISLATURE | |
| Legislative Digest No. 44 | ||
| SIXTIETH LEGISLATURE | ||
| Monday, March 12, 2007 | 64th Day - 2007 Regular Session | |
| HOUSE |
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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=2007.
HB 1035-S2
by House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Morris, Hudgins, Eickmeyer, Linville, and B. Sullivan)
Regarding anaerobic digestion power.
Finds that anaerobic digester projects in the state provide numerous environmental benefits; they reduce odors from organic waste, control pathogens, minimize sludge production, conserve nutrients, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In addition to providing environmental benefits, anaerobic digestion produces power using a clean, renewable resource.Finds that, despite the numerous environmental and energy-producing benefits that result from anaerobic digester projects, many potential anaerobic digester projects are not pursued in this state because of the high capital costs for construction of such projects. Therefore, it is the intent of the legislature to establish a clean streams grant program to assist anaerobic digestion power producers by bringing down the cost of the initial capital investment.Appropriates the sum of three million dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, from the general fund to the department of community, trade, and economic development for the purposes of this act.Provides that the act shall be null and void if appropriations are not approved.
| Jan 17 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 20 | Executive session in committee. | |
| Mar 1 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Mar 3 | Executive session in committee. | |
| APP - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | ||
| Minority; without recommendation. | ||
| Mar 5 | Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | |
| Mar 8 | Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. | |
HB 1131-S
by House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Dunshee, Haler, Kenney, Fromhold, Priest, Roberts, Jarrett, Kagi, Hunt, McDermott, Haigh, Ormsby, Chase, Wallace, Hudgins, Schual-Berke, Simpson, Conway, Morrell, Moeller, and Santos)
Creating the passport to college promise program.
Declares an intent to create the passport to college promise program that will have two primary components, as follows: (1) Significantly increasing outreach to foster care youth between the ages of fourteen and eighteen regarding the higher education opportunities available to them, how to apply to college, and how to apply for and obtain financial aid; and(2) Providing financial aid to former foster care youth to ensure that the entire costs of their public undergraduate college education are paid for.Creates the passport to college promise program. The purpose of the program is: (1) To encourage current and former foster care youth to prepare for, attend, and successfully complete higher education; and(2) To provide current and former foster care youth with the educational planning, information, institutional support, and direct financial resources necessary for them to succeed in higher education.Directs the department of social and health services, with input from the state board for community and technical colleges, the higher education coordinating board, and institutions of higher education, to contract with at least one nongovernmental entity through a request for proposals process to develop, implement, and administer a program of supplemental educational transition planning for youth in foster care in Washington state.Requires the state board for community and technical colleges to monitor and analyze the academic progress of community and technical college students who receive scholarships under this act, and submit a report regarding the number of community and technical college students who have received scholarships under this chapter and the academic progress of those students to the higher education committees of the senate and the house of representatives by January 15, 2010.Requires the higher education coordinating board to monitor and analyze the academic progress of students enrolled at four-year institutions of higher education who receive scholarships under this chapter, and shall submit a report regarding the number of students who have received scholarships under this chapter and the academic progress of those students to the higher education committees of the senate and the house of representatives by January 15, 2010.Provides that the act shall be null and void if appropriations are not approved.
| Jan 22 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Jan 24 | Executive session in committee. | |
| Feb 5 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 27 | Executive session in committee. | |
| APP - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | ||
| Minority; do not pass. | ||
| Feb 28 | Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | |
| Mar 5 | Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading. | |
| Mar 6 | 1st substitute bill substituted. | |
| Floor amendment(s) adopted. | ||
| Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. | ||
| Third reading, passed; yeas, 81; nays, 16; absent, 0; excused, 1. | ||
| Mar 8 | First reading, referred to Higher Education. | |
| Mar 15 | Scheduled for public hearing in committee. (Subject to change) | |
HB 1165-S
by House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Fromhold, Orcutt, Anderson, Lantz, VanDeWege, Hunter, Wallace, McDonald, Sells, Kenney, Williams, Ormsby, Schual-Berke, Miloscia, Simpson, Campbell, P. Sullivan, Morrell, Moeller, and Haler)
Regarding student transportation funding.
Finds that the current student transportation funding formula is outdated and does not adequately address the costs incurred by school districts in transporting students.Finds that any new formula should be based on reliable data from a uniform system of accounting used by all districts, provide incentives for efficient use of state resources, and maintain local school district control over operational decisions within the transportation program.Declares an intent to respond to the findings of the 2006 pupil transportation funding study by the joint legislative audit and review committee by improving the system of accounting for transportation costs, providing additional payments to districts to mitigate funding discrepancies identified by the study, and directing that a new funding formula be developed in a thoughtful and deliberative manner and implemented no later than the 2009-10 school year.
| Jan 29 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 27 | Executive session in committee. | |
| APP - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | ||
| Minority; do not pass. | ||
| Feb 28 | Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | |
HB 1280-S2
by House Committee on Capital Budget (originally sponsored by Representatives Ericks, Jarrett, Quall, O'Brien, Strow, Morrell, Roach, Hunt, McDonald, Chase, Simpson, Haler, Moeller, McCune, Schual-Berke, Miloscia, and Springer)
Providing for the use of the school district capital projects funds for technology.
Recognizes that technology has become an integral part of the facilities and educational delivery systems in our schools. In order to prepare our state's students to participate fully in our state's economy, school districts are making substantial capital investments in their technology systems, facilities, and projects. Districts are implementing, applying, and modernizing their technology systems.Declares that school districts must be empowered to respond to the changing business models in the software industry and be given flexibility and authority to use capital projects funds to pay for licenses or online application fees.Declares an intent that these investments be deemed major capital purpose and are also permitted uses of the district's two to six-year levies authorized by RCW 84.52.053.
| Feb 16 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 26 | Executive session in committee. | |
| Mar 2 | Public hearing and executive action taken in committee. | |
| CB - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | ||
| Minority; do not pass. | ||
| Mar 5 | Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | |
| Mar 8 | Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. | |
HB 1334-S2
by House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Hinkle and Walsh)
Requiring the petitioner in a child welfare case to provide the court with relevant documentation.
Requires that in any proceeding under chapter 13.34 RCW, if the department submits a report to the court in which the department is recommending a child be placed with a parent after the child was removed from the parent due to abuse or neglect allegations, the department shall include the documents listed in (1) through (4) of this act to the report. The department shall include only these relevant documents and shall not attach the entire history of the parent or child.(1) If the report contains a recommendation, opinion, or assertion by the department relating to the parent's substance abuse treatment, mental health treatment, anger management classes, or domestic violence classes, the department shall attach the document upon which the recommendation, opinion, or assertion was based. The documentation may include the progress report or evaluation submitted by the provider, but may not include the entire history with the provider.(2) If the report contains a recommendation, opinion, or assertion by the department relating to the parent's visitation with the child, the department shall attach the document upon which the recommendation, opinion, or assertion was based. The documentation may include the most recent visitation report, a visitation report referencing a specific incident alleged in the report, or summary of the visitation prepared by the person who supervised the visitation. The documentation attached to the report shall not include the entire visitation history.(3) If the report contains a recommendation, opinion, or assertion by the department relating to the psychological status of the parent, the department shall attach the document upon which the recommendation, opinion, or assertion was based. The documentation may include the progress report, evaluation, or summary submitted by the provider, but shall not include the entire history of the parent.(4) If the report contains a recommendation, opinion, or assertion by the department relating to injuries to the child that occurred while in the care of the parent, the department shall attach a summary of the physician's report relating to the recommendation, opinion, or assertion by the department.Provides that the act shall be null and void if appropriations are not approved.
| Feb 9 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 15 | Executive session in committee. | |
| Feb 26 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 27 | Executive session in committee. | |
| APP - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | ||
| Feb 28 | Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | |
| Mar 5 | Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading. | |
| Mar 6 | 2nd substitute bill substituted. | |
| Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. | ||
| Third reading, passed; yeas, 96; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 2. | ||
| Mar 8 | First reading, referred to Human Services & Corrections. | |
HB 1573-S
by House Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Quall, Priest, P. Sullivan, Pettigrew, Kenney, Kagi, Wallace, McCoy, Dickerson, Lovick, Santos, Hunt, Hasegawa, Simpson, Pedersen, Morrell, Conway, Lantz, O'Brien, and Ormsby; by request of Superintendent of Public Instruction)
Authorizing a statewide program for comprehensive dropout prevention, intervention, and retrieval.
Provides that, subject to the availability of funds appropriated for this purpose, the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall create a grant program to local partnerships of schools, families, and communities to begin the phase in of a statewide comprehensive dropout prevention, intervention, and retrieval system. This program shall be known as the building bridges program. For purposes of this act, a "building bridges program" means a local partnership of schools, families, and communities that provides all of the following programs or activities: (1) A system that identifies individual students at risk of dropping out from middle through high school based on local predictive data, including state assessment data starting in the fourth grade, and provides timely interventions for such students, including a plan for educational success as already required by the student learning plan as defined under RCW 28A.655.061. Students identified shall include foster care youth and adjudicated youth;(2) Coaches or mentors for students as necessary;(3) Staff responsible for coordination of community partners that provide a seamless continuum of academic and nonacademic support in schools and communities;(4) Retrieval or reentry activities; and(5) Alternative educational programming, including, but not limited to, career and technical education preparatory programs and online learning opportunities.Provides that, from the funds appropriated for grant awards under this act, the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall award a grant to a community partnership for a classroom without walls learning proposal involving first place school, Maxine Mimms academy, Yakima valley occupational industries council, and other partners.Declares that the grant awarded under this act shall be for a two-year demonstration project focusing on providing fifth through twelfth grade students with a program that utilizes technology and is integrated with state standards, basic academics, cross-cultural exposures, and age-appropriate preemployment training. The project shall identify at-risk students in each of three distinct communities and populations and implement strategies to close the achievement gap.Requires the community partnership grant recipient under this act to collect and report data on participant characteristics and outcomes of the project, including the characteristics and outcomes specified under this act, and submit a report to the legislature by December 1, 2009.
| Feb 13 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 27 | Executive session in committee. | |
| ED - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | ||
| Feb 28 | Referred to Appropriations. | |
| Mar 9 | Scheduled for public hearing in committee. (Subject to change) | |
| Mar 10 | Scheduled for executive session in committee. (Subject to change) | |
HB 1583-S
by House Committee on Commerce & Labor (originally sponsored by Representatives Moeller, Conway, Darneille, Wood, Green, Ormsby, and Morrell)
Requiring disclosure to customers of the percentage of automatic service charges paid to servers.
Requires disclosure to customers of the percentage of automatic service charges paid to servers.
| Feb 22 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 26 | Executive session in committee. | |
| CL - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | ||
| Feb 28 | Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | |
HB 1871-S
by House Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Representative Santos)
Regarding education system benchmarks and monitoring.
Finds that the existing school district budget review system focuses on current school year budget implementation and preparation of the ensuing school year budget and does not provide a systematic look of longer-range budget issues, including any indication of impending financial problems in school districts and the financial impact of long-term contractual agreements. Parents, students, taxpayers, school employees, and school administrators need a financial monitoring system that considers long-term budgeting issues and commitments, and provides early warning of school district financial health concerns. Once financial concerns and issues are identified, districts should receive early, practical assistance.Requires the legislative evaluation and accountability program committee and the office of financial management to jointly develop and implement a school district financial health and monitoring system.Requires the legislative evaluation and accountability program committee and the office of financial management to present proposed system measures and a financial health outlook rating system to the governor and the legislature by November 1, 2007. Unless the legislature takes action during the 2008 legislative session to change the measures and the rating system, the financial health and monitoring system shall be implemented by the legislative evaluation and accountability program committee during the 2008-09 school year.Directs the legislative evaluation and accountability program committee and the office of financial management to submit a report summarizing the review and reporting recommendations in this act to the governor, the superintendent of public instruction, and the education and fiscal committees of the legislature by November 15, 2007.
| Feb 6 | Work session and public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 26 | Executive session in committee. | |
| ED - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | ||
| Feb 28 | Referred to Appropriations. | |
HB 1975-S
by House Committee on Commerce & Labor (originally sponsored by Representatives Springer, Condotta, and Wood)
Addressing spirits, beer, and wine restaurant licenses.
Provides that the holder of a license with a catering endorsement may, under conditions established by the board, store liquor on the premises of another so long as there is a written agreement between the licensee and the other party to provide for ongoing catering services, the agreement contains no exclusivity clauses regarding the alcoholic beverages to be served, and the agreement is filed with the board.Provides that the holder of a license with a catering endorsement may, under conditions established by the board, store liquor on other premises so long as the premises is owned or controlled by a leasehold interest by that licensee. A duplicate license may be issued for each additional premises. A license fee of twenty dollars shall be required for such duplicate licenses.
| Feb 23 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 26 | Executive session in committee. | |
| CL - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | ||
| Feb 28 | Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | |
| Mar 8 | Placed on second reading suspension calendar by Rules Committee. | |
HB 1988-S
by House Committee on Commerce & Labor (originally sponsored by Representatives Morrell, DeBolt, Lovick, Conway, Green, Hudgins, and Kenney)
Changing provisions affecting security guards.
Provides that: (1) To promote the safety of persons and the security of property, the director shall meet with interested parties to develop lists of suggested preassignment, postassignment, and postassignment refresher training by rule.(2) All security guards licensed on or after July 1, 2005, must complete at least eight hours of preassignment training.(3) All security guards must complete at least eight hours of initial postassignment training that shall be administered to each security guard by their company and attested to by a department-certified trainer.
| Feb 23 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 26 | Executive session in committee. | |
| CL - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | ||
| Feb 28 | Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | |
| Mar 6 | Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading. | |
| Mar 7 | 1st substitute bill substituted. | |
| Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. | ||
| Third reading, passed; yeas, 97; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 1. | ||
| Mar 9 | First reading, referred to Labor, Commerce, Research & Development. | |
HB 2111-S
by House Committee on Commerce & Labor (originally sponsored by Representatives Williams, Conway, Wood, Green, Moeller, Darneille, Miloscia, Dickerson, P. Sullivan, Morrell, McDermott, Grant, Hudgins, Simpson, and Ormsby)
Making the governor the public employer of adult family home providers.
Provides that, in addition to the entities listed in RCW 41.56.020, this act applies to the governor with respect to adult family home providers. Solely for the purposes of collective bargaining and as expressly limited under this act, the governor is the public employer of adult family home providers who, solely for the purposes of collective bargaining, are public employees. The public employer shall be represented for bargaining purposes by the governor or the governor's designee.
| Feb 23 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 27 | Executive session in committee. | |
| CL - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | ||
| Minority; do not pass. | ||
| Feb 28 | Referred to Appropriations. | |
| Mar 3 | Public hearing and executive action taken in committee. | |
| APP - Executive action taken by committee. | ||
| APP - Majority; do pass 1st substitute bill proposed by Commerce & Labor. | ||
| Minority; do not pass. | ||
| Mar 5 | Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | |
| Mar 8 | Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. | |
HB 2118-S
by House Committee on State Government & Tribal Affairs (originally sponsored by Representatives Conway, Wood, and Ormsby)
Transferring responsibilities related to mobile and manufactured home installation from the department of community, trade, and economic development to the department of labor and industries.
Transfers responsibilities related to mobile and manufactured home installation from the department of community, trade, and economic development to the department of labor and industries.
| Feb 21 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 26 | Executive session in committee. | |
| SGTA - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | ||
| Minority; do not pass. | ||
| Feb 28 | Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | |
HB 2148-S
by House Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Representative Quall)
Regarding provisions for changing school district boundaries.
Amends RCW 28A.315.195.
| Feb 23 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 27 | Executive session in committee. | |
| ED - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | ||
| Minority; do not pass. | ||
| Feb 28 | Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | |
| Mar 8 | Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading. | |
HB 2173-S
by House Committee on Health Care & Wellness (originally sponsored by Representatives Schual-Berke and Moeller)
Regarding electronic monitoring in long-term care facilities.
Declares that a resident has the right to install and use an electronic monitoring device in the resident's room, provided that: (1) The resident has obtained consent in writing from any roommate who shares the room as sleeping quarters;(2) The resident has provided written notice to the facility on a form developed by the department under this act of the resident's intent to install the monitoring device;(3) The resident pays for all installation and maintenance costs of the electronic monitoring; and(4) The electronic monitoring conforms to any limitation placed on the monitoring as the condition of the consent given by a roommate and conforms to the requirements outlined in this act.
| Feb 26 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 27 | Executive session in committee. | |
| HCW - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | ||
| Minority; do not pass. | ||
| Feb 28 | Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | |
HB 2246-S
by House Committee on Early Learning & Children's Services (originally sponsored by Representatives Kagi, Haler, Fromhold, Wallace, Kenney, Dickerson, Morrell, Simpson, Conway, and Ormsby)
Providing for the delivery of educational services to children who are deaf and hearing impaired.
Finds that the education of children who are deaf presents unique challenges because deafness is a low-incidence disability and because deafness significantly impacts the child's ability to access communication at home, at school, and in the community.Finds that over the past fifty years, there have been numerous advances in technology as well as a growing awareness about the importance of delivering services to children in a variety of modalities to support their early and continued access to communication.Declares an intent to enhance the coordination of regionally delivered services and supports for children who are deaf and hearing impaired and to promote more communication-rich learning environments for these children.Declares that there is established at Vancouver, Clark county, the Washington state center for childhood deafness and hearing loss which shall be housed at and include the school and related facilities formerly known as the state school for the deaf. The center shall be under the direction of the director and the board of trustees. The superintendent and board of trustees of the Washington school for the deaf as of the effective date of this act shall be the director and board of trustees of the center.Provides that the center's primary functions shall be: (1) Managing and supervising the Washington school for the deaf and the applied research center located at the center;(2) Providing statewide leadership and support for the coordination of regionally delivered education services in the full range of communication modalities, for children who are deaf and hearing impaired; and(3) Collaborating with public and private partners in the development and operation of an applied research center for the training and professional development of educators serving children who are deaf and hearing impaired.Repeals RCW 72.40.023.
| Feb 20 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 27 | Executive session in committee. | |
| ELCS - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | ||
| Feb 28 | Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | |
HB 2268-S
by House Committee on Judiciary (originally sponsored by Representatives Lantz, Lovick, Strow, Kagi, Eddy, Ericks, Green, B. Sullivan, McCoy, Moeller, Schual-Berke, Kenney, Hunt, Kelley, and Ormsby)
Revising provisions relating to possession of dangerous weapons on school facilities.
Revises provisions relating to possession of dangerous weapons on school facilities.
| Feb 20 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 27 | Executive session in committee. | |
| JUDI - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | ||
| Feb 28 | Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | |
| Mar 6 | Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading. | |
HB 2279-S
by House Committee on Housing (originally sponsored by Representatives Darneille, Springer, Pettigrew, O'Brien, Hasegawa, and Santos)
Prohibiting discrimination against affordable housing developments.
Provides that a city, county, or other local governmental entity or agency may not adopt, impose, or enforce requirements on an affordable housing development that are different than the requirements imposed on housing developments generally.Does not prohibit any city, county, or other local governmental entity or agency from extending preferential treatment to affordable housing developments intended for occupancy by homeless persons, farmworkers, or low-income households. Preferential treatment may include, but is not limited to: A reduction or waiver of fees or changes in applicable requirements including, without limitation, architectural requirements, site development requirements, property line requirements, building setback requirements, or vehicle parking requirements; or other treatment that reduces or is likely to reduce the development or operating costs of an affordable housing development.
| Feb 26 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 27 | Executive session in committee. | |
| HOUS - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | ||
| Minority; do not pass. | ||
| Feb 28 | Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | |
| Mar 8 | Made eligible to be placed on second reading. | |
HB 2300-S
by House Committee on Higher Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Hasegawa, Jarrett, Wallace, B. Sullivan, Kenney, Hunter, Goodman, Dunshee, Chase, Ormsby, Kelley, Simpson, and Blake)
Concerning college textbooks.
Requires each publisher of college textbooks to make immediately available to a prospective purchaser of their products who is a member of the faculty of an institution of higher education: (1) The price at which the publisher would make the products available to the store on the campus of the institution that would offer the products to students; and(2) The history of revisions for the products, if any.
| Feb 27 | Public hearing and executive action taken in committee. | |
| HE - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | ||
| Minority; do not pass. | ||
| Feb 28 | Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | |
HB 2317-S
by House Committee on Higher Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Wallace, Anderson, Sells, and Kenney)
Requiring development of a definition of "high demand."
Directs the higher education coordinating board, the state board for community and technical colleges, the office of financial management, the employment security department, and the department of community, trade, and economic development, to work collaboratively to prepare recommended legislation that includes a statutory definition of high demand for use by the legislature and all agencies and institutions that offer postsecondary education, employment preparation, and workforce-related services to business and industry. The recommendations and proposed legislation shall be submitted in a joint report from all agencies listed in this act to the higher education committees in the house of representatives and senate by November 1, 2007.
| Feb 27 | Public hearing and executive action taken in committee. | |
| HE - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | ||
| Feb 28 | Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | |
| Mar 8 | Placed on second reading suspension calendar by Rules Committee. | |
HB 2327-S
by House Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Representatives P. Sullivan, Priest, Haler, Quall, Jarrett, Wallace, Kenney, McDermott, Sells, Santos, Wood, and Ormsby)
Regarding a system of standards, instruction, and assessments for mathematics and science.
Finds that Washington schools and students are making significant progress in improving achievement in reading and writing. Schools are adapting instruction and providing remediation for students who need additional assistance. Reading and writing are being taught across the curriculum. Therefore, the legislature does not intend to make changes to the Washington assessment of student learning or high school graduation requirements in reading and writing.Finds that, however, students are having difficulty improving their academic achievement in mathematics and science, particularly as measured by the high school Washington assessment of student learning. The legislature finds that corrections are needed in the state's high school assessment system that will improve alignment between learning standards, instruction, diagnosis, and assessment of students' knowledge and skills in high school mathematics and science.Finds there is a sense of urgency to make these corrections. There is not the time or the necessity to build a new set of standards and assessments from the ground up. Rather, the state board of education and the superintendent of public instruction must take advantage of the opportunity to draw on the experience of other states. There are a number of states that use end-of-course assessments to measure student achievement of mathematics and science standards in high school.Declares an intent to direct the state board of education, in collaboration with the superintendent of public instruction, to select and implement end-of-course assessments in a timely manner so that they are a reliable and valid measure of students' knowledge and skills for purposes of high school graduation. The legislature further intends to revise the high school graduation requirements to allow these corrections to be fully implemented.Requires that, beginning in 2007, the state board of education and the superintendent of public instruction shall report annually by December 1st to the education committees of the legislature on the status and progress of implementation of their responsibilities under this act.
| Feb 27 | Executive session in committee. | |
| ED - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | ||
| Feb 28 | Referred to Appropriations. | |
| Mar 9 | Scheduled for public hearing in committee. (Subject to change) | |
| Mar 10 | Scheduled for executive session in committee. (Subject to change) | |
HB 2361-S
by House Committee on Commerce & Labor (originally sponsored by Representative Conway)
Regarding collective bargaining for certain employees of institutions of higher education and related boards.
Revises provisions regarding collective bargaining for certain employees of institutions of higher education and related boards.
| Feb 26 | Executive session in committee. | |
| CL - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | ||
| Minority; do not pass. | ||
| Feb 28 | Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | |
| Mar 8 | Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading. | |
SB 5024-S2
by Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Jacobsen and Kline)
Increasing fees to fund community traumatic brain injury services.
Finds that driving under the influence leads to a significant number of motor vehicle accidents, and intends that additional revenue from license reinstatement for impaired drivers be used to support individuals with traumatic brain injuries.Finds that many individuals recovering from a traumatic brain injury need assistance not only with physical tasks, but also have unique mental health and cognitive needs.Finds that community-based organizations are best able to provide prevention services and support that assist beyond an individual's basic physical care needs, such as managing temper and behaviors, improving memory, and acquiring new job and life skills.
| Jan 29 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 5 | Executive session in committee. | |
| Feb 28 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Mar 1 | Executive session in committee. | |
| Mar 5 | TRAN - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| And refer to Ways & Means. | ||
| Minority; do not pass. | ||
| Minority; without recommendation. | ||
| Referred to Ways & Means. | ||
SB 5075-S
by Senate Committee on Water, Energy & Telecommunications (originally sponsored by Senators Honeyford, Rasmussen, Hewitt, Clements, Schoesler, Roach, and Parlette)
Authorizing outdoor burning within an urban growth area to protect life or property from a fire hazard.
Provides that, in rural counties with a population density of fewer than one hundred persons per square mile, as determined by the office of financial management, cut brush and timber may be burned within an urban growth area as defined by RCW 36.70A.030 to protect life or property from a fire hazard when a federal, state, or local fire official has determined in writing that the material at the site poses a fire hazard and that properly burning the material is an appropriate method to eliminate the hazard, unless: (1) The urban growth area is within an area of the state identified as nonattainment or maintenance for federal ambient air quality standards for pollutants emitted by outdoor burning;(2) There is an air quality episode, or a determination of impaired air quality has been made as provided in RCW 70.94.473; or(3) The department or local air authorities have identified either alternative disposal methods or facilities, or both that are: Located within a reasonable distance; consistent with good solid-waste management practices and will accept the type and volume of organic refuse; and available at a reasonable cost, including any anticipated labor, material, and equipment costs incurred to handle, pile, chip, haul, or dispose of the material, that is less than or equivalent to the median of all county tipping fees in the state for disposal of municipal solid waste.
| Feb 2 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 28 | Executive session in committee. | |
| WET - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | ||
| Minority; without recommendation. | ||
| Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | ||
| Mar 6 | Made eligible to be placed on second reading. | |
| Mar 8 | Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. | |
SB 5159-S
by Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senator Jacobsen)
Adding personal rapid transit and magnetic levitation transit systems to the definition of rail fixed guideway system.
Adds personal rapid transit and magnetic levitation transit systems to the definition of rail fixed guideway system.
| Feb 19 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 28 | Executive session in committee. | |
| Mar 5 | TRAN - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | ||
SB 5171-S
by Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Schoesler, Pridemore, Fairley, McAuliffe, Shin, Prentice, Sheldon, Franklin, Kline, and Rasmussen; by request of Select Committee on Pension Policy)
Establishing contribution rates in the Washington state patrol retirement system.
Establishes contribution rates in the Washington state patrol retirement system.
| Feb 7 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 12 | Executive session in committee. | |
| Feb 28 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Mar 1 | Executive session in committee. | |
| Mar 5 | TRAN - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | ||
| Mar 6 | Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. | |
| Mar 7 | 1st substitute bill substituted. | |
| Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. | ||
| Third reading, passed; yeas, 49; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 0. | ||
| Mar 9 | First reading, referred to Transportation. | |
SB 5188-S2
by Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Haugen, Jacobsen, Prentice, Fairley, Kline, Marr, Kohl-Welles, Tom, Murray, Keiser, and Rasmussen)
Establishing a wildlife rehabilitation program.
Requires the director to establish a wildlife rehabilitation program to help support the critical role licensed wildlife rehabilitators play in protecting the public by capturing, testing for disease, and caring for sick, injured, and orphaned wildlife in Washington state. The director shall contract for wildlife rehabilitation services with up to four people in each of the department's six administrative regions. Applicants may submit only one request every two years and must reside in the administrative region for which they have applied. The contracts must be for a term of two years.Provides that, in order to receive funding, the wildlife rehabilitator must: (1) Be properly licensed in wildlife rehabilitation under state and federal law; and(2) Furnish information concerning his or her identity, including fingerprints for submission to the Washington state patrol to include a national criminal background check.Requires the department to develop a process for renewing wildlife rehabilitation licenses. All wildlife rehabilitation licenses issued by the department prior to January 1, 2006, must be renewed by January 1, 2010. The department may adopt rules as necessary to implement this provision.
| Feb 7 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 26 | Executive session in committee. | |
| Feb 28 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Mar 1 | Executive session in committee. | |
| Mar 5 | TRAN - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| Minority; without recommendation. | ||
| Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | ||
| Mar 6 | Made eligible to be placed on second reading. | |
SB 5207-S
by Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Haugen, Murray, and Spanel)
Concerning a study to evaluate the imposition of a fee on the processing of shipping containers, port-related user fees, and other funding mechanisms to improve freight corridors; creating the freight congestion relief account.
Provides for a study to evaluate the imposition of a fee on the processing of shipping containers, port-related user fees, and other funding mechanisms to improve freight corridors.Creates the freight congestion relief account.
| Jan 24 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Mar 1 | Executive session in committee. | |
| Mar 5 | TRAN - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| Minority; do not pass. | ||
| Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | ||
SB 5305-S
by Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Franklin, Hargrove, Brandland, Eide, Hobbs, Spanel, Swecker, McAuliffe, Regala, Kauffman, Kohl-Welles, Fairley, Tom, Murray, Zarelli, Jacobsen, Keiser, Shin, Honeyford, Parlette, Rasmussen, Roach, Kline, and Marr)
Extending medicaid coverage for foster youth.
Provides that individuals eligible for medical assistance under RCW 74.09.510(3) shall be transitioned into coverage under that subsection immediately upon their termination from coverage under RCW 74.09.510(2)(a). The department shall use income eligibility standards and eligibility determinations applicable to children placed in foster care. The department, in consultation with the health care authority, shall provide information regarding basic health plan enrollment and shall offer assistance with the application and enrollment process to individuals covered under RCW 74.09.510(3) who are approaching their twenty-first birthday.
| Jan 22 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Jan 29 | Executive session in committee. | |
| Feb 7 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 28 | Executive session in committee. | |
| Mar 2 | WM - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | ||
| Mar 6 | Made eligible to be placed on second reading. | |
| Mar 7 | Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. | |
| Mar 8 | 1st substitute bill substituted. | |
| Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. | ||
| Third reading, passed; yeas, 47; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 2. | ||
SB 5312-S
by Senate Committee on Judiciary (originally sponsored by Senators Tom, Holmquist, Kline, Roach, Kilmer, Marr, Sheldon, Morton, Pridemore, McCaslin, Berkey, Delvin, Shin, Rasmussen, Parlette, and Stevens)
Addressing the issue of stolen metal property.
Establishes provisions relating to protecting and recovering property owned by utilities, telecommunications companies, railroads, state agencies, political subdivisions of the state, construction firms, and other parties.Repeals RCW 9.91.110.
| Jan 31 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 28 | Executive session in committee. | |
| JUD - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | ||
| Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | ||
| Mar 1 | Made eligible to be placed on second reading. | |
| Mar 8 | Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. | |
SB 5333-S
by Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Murray, Eide, Jacobsen, Marr, Spanel, and Shin)
Modifying driver's license and training provisions that affect teenage drivers.
Revises driver's license and training provisions that affect teenage drivers.
| Feb 14 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Mar 1 | Executive session in committee. | |
| Mar 5 | TRAN - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| Minority; do not pass. | ||
| Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | ||
| Mar 6 | Made eligible to be placed on second reading. | |
SB 5372-S
by Senate Committee on Water, Energy & Telecommunications (originally sponsored by Senators Rockefeller, Swecker, Poulsen, Marr, Keiser, Shin, Kline, McAuliffe, Fraser, Kilmer, and Murray; by request of Governor Gregoire)
Creating the Puget Sound partnership.
Creates the Puget Sound partnership.Repeals provisions of chapter 90.71 RCW.
| Jan 17 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 23 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 28 | Executive session in committee. | |
| WET - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | ||
| And refer to Ways & Means. | ||
| Minority; do not pass. | ||
| Referred to Ways & Means. | ||
| Mar 5 | Public hearing, public hearing, and executive action taken in committee. | |
| WM - Majority; do pass 1st substitute bill proposed by Water, Energy & Telecommunications. | ||
| Minority; without recommendation. | ||
| Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | ||
SB 5412-S
by Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Murray, Swecker, Marr, Clements, and Haugen)
Clarifying goals, objectives, and responsibilities of certain transportation agencies.
Declares an intent that this act serve to clarify existing goals, objectives, and responsibilities related to the operation of an efficient statewide transportation system.Provides that public investments in transportation should support achievement of these policy goals: (1) Preservation: To maintain, preserve, and extend the life and utility of prior investments in transportation systems and services;(2) Safety: To provide for and improve the safety and security of transportation customers and the transportation system;(3) Mobility: To improve the predictable movement of goods and people throughout Washington state;(4) Environment: To enhance Washington's quality of life through transportation investments that promote energy conservation, enhance healthy communities, and protect the environment; and(5) Stewardship: To be effective managers of the transportation system.
| Feb 20 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Mar 1 | Executive session in committee. | |
| Mar 5 | TRAN - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| Minority; without recommendation. | ||
| Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | ||
SB 5477-S2
by Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Kastama, Keiser, Franklin, McAuliffe, and Rasmussen)
Addressing manufactured/mobile home community registrations and dispute resolution.
Finds that there are factors unique to the relationship between a manufactured/mobile home tenant and a manufactured/mobile home community landlord. Once occupancy has commenced, the difficulty and expense in moving and relocating a manufactured/mobile home can affect the operation of market forces and lead to an inequality of the bargaining position of the parties. Once occupancy has commenced, a tenant may be subject to violations of the manufactured/mobile home landlord-tenant act or the consumer protection act without an adequate remedy at law. This act is created for the purpose of protecting the public, fostering fair and honest competition, and regulating the factors unique to the relationship between the manufactured/mobile home tenant and the manufactured/mobile home community landlord.Finds that taking legal action against a manufactured/mobile home community landlord for violations of the manufactured/mobile home landlord-tenant act can be a costly and lengthy process, and that many people cannot afford to pursue a court process to vindicate statutory rights. Manufactured/mobile home community landlords will also benefit by having access to a process that resolves disputes quickly and efficiently.Declares an intent to provide an equitable as well as a less costly and more efficient way for manufactured/mobile home tenants and manufactured/mobile home community landlords to resolve disputes, and to provide a mechanism for state authorities to quickly locate manufactured/mobile home community landlords.Declares an intent to authorize the department of licensing to register manufactured/mobile home communities and collect a registration fee.Declares an intent to authorize the attorney general to: (1) Produce and distribute educational materials regarding the manufactured/mobile home landlord-tenant act and the manufactured/mobile home dispute resolution program created in this act;(2) Administer the dispute resolution program by taking complaints, conducting investigations, making determinations, issuing fines and other penalties, and participating in administrative dispute resolutions, when necessary, when there are alleged violations of the manufactured/mobile home landlord-tenant act or the consumer protection act; and(3) Collect and annually report upon data related to disputes and violations, and make recommendations on modifying chapter 59.20 RCW, to the appropriate committees of the legislature.Requires the attorney general to administer a manufactured/mobile home dispute resolution program.
| Jan 30 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 15 | Executive session in committee. | |
| Feb 20 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 28 | Executive session and executive action taken in committee. | |
| Mar 2 | WM - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| Minority; do not pass. | ||
| Minority; without recommendation. | ||
| Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | ||
SB 5482-S
by Senate Committee on Judiciary (originally sponsored by Senators Brown and McCaslin)
Providing for reasonable attorneys' fees for dishonored checks.
Provides for reasonable attorneys' fees for dishonored checks.
| Feb 20 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 28 | Executive session in committee. | |
| JUD - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | ||
| Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | ||
SB 5517-S
by Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Berkey, Kauffman, Haugen, Eide, Kastama, Schoesler, Shin, Hatfield, Keiser, Rasmussen, Kline, and Regala)
Increasing the personal needs allowance for persons receiving state-financed care.
Finds that through the medicaid program, state and federal government fund long-term care and medical services for many elderly persons and people with disabilities, both in institutions and in community alternatives.Finds that a significant portion of these individuals' social security benefits is retained by the state to assist with the cost of their care. The legislature intends that these individuals retain for their own use a reasonable personal needs allowance which may be used to purchase clothing, postage, barber services, travel, and other personal items not covered by their care setting, in order to ensure their autonomy and dignity.Declares an intent to adjust the personal needs allowance annually to reflect cost-of-living adjustments to federal social security benefits for medicaid-eligible residents in institutions and community-based residential settings receiving long-term care, developmental disabilities, or mental health services.Requires that, effective July 1, 2007, and each fiscal year thereafter, the personal needs allowance shall be adjusted for economic trends and conditions by increasing the allowance by the percentage cost-of-living adjustment for old-age, survivors, and disability social security benefits as published by the federal social security administration. However, in no case shall the personal needs allowance exceed the maximum personal needs allowance permissible under the federal social security act.
| Feb 6 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 28 | Executive session in committee. | |
| Mar 2 | WM - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| Minority; do not pass. | ||
| Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | ||
| Mar 6 | Made eligible to be placed on second reading. | |
SB 5519-S
by Senate Committee on Water, Energy & Telecommunications (originally sponsored by Senators Delvin, Poulsen, Honeyford, McCaslin, Shin, and Rasmussen)
Regarding points of diversion under a water right.
Declares that the requirement in RCW 90.03.395 that a change in point of diversion of a water right permit must provide environmental benefits shall not apply for a change of point of diversion that is located in the same pool of the mainstem of the Columbia and Snake rivers.
| Feb 6 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 28 | Executive session in committee. | |
| WET - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | ||
| Minority; do not pass. | ||
| Minority; without recommendation. | ||
| Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | ||
SB 5586-S
by Senate Committee on Water, Energy & Telecommunications (originally sponsored by Senators Murray, Poulsen, Rockefeller, Kline, Kilmer, Regala, Marr, Weinstein, Oemig, Hargrove, Keiser, Fairley, Tom, Kohl-Welles, and McAuliffe)
Encouraging the use of cleaner energy.
Provides that, to reduce fossil fuel dependence and build our clean energy economy, the state should develop policies and incentives that help businesses, consumers, and farmers gain greater access to affordable clean fuels and vehicles and to produce clean fuels in the state. These policies and incentives should include: (1) Incentives for replacement of the most polluting diesel engines, especially in school buses;(2) Transitional incentives for development of the most promising in-state clean fuels and fuel feedstocks, including biodiesel crops and ethanol from plant waste;(3) Reduced fossil fuel consumption by state fleets;(4) Development of promising new technologies for displacing petroleum with electricity, such as "plug-in hybrids"; and(5) Impact analysis and emission accounting procedures that prepare Washington to respond and prosper as global warming impacts occur and as policies and markets to reduce global warming pollution are developed.Makes appropriations to carry out the purposes of the act.
| Feb 13 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 28 | Executive session in committee. | |
| WET - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | ||
| And refer to Ways & Means. | ||
| Minority; do not pass. | ||
| Referred to Ways & Means. | ||
| Mar 5 | Public hearing, public hearing, and executive action taken in committee. | |
| WM - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | ||
| Minority; without recommendation. | ||
| Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | ||
SB 5592-S
by Senate Committee on Water, Energy & Telecommunications (originally sponsored by Senators Berkey, Poulsen, Honeyford, Shin, Morton, Kilmer, Stevens, Pridemore, Haugen, Hatfield, and Rasmussen)
Creating a joint task force to develop reforms to statutes regulating telecommunications companies and services.
Finds as follows: (1) The competitiveness of the telecommunications marketplace has created consumer choice and strengthened the state's position as a national leader in the area of technology services and infrastructure;(2) Traditional regulated intrastate wireline telecommunications services are part of a larger and broadening market and industry that includes voice, data, video, and other services that use fixed and mobile wireless, satellite, coaxial cable, fiber optic, internet, power line, and other converging technologies largely provided by a variety of unregulated or minimally regulated private and public entities;(3) New telecommunications technologies and service providers continue to emerge;(4) Encouraging investment in such technologies and services is vital to the economic future of the state and to family wage jobs for its citizens; and(5) Unlike competing companies, traditional wireline telecommunications companies are subject to legacy regulations that were created a century ago to regulate in a monopoly environment.Declares an intent to review the state's statutes and rules and make recommendations that level the competitive playing field, encourage investment in new technologies and services, and enhance consumer choice, economic development, and job preservation and creation.
| Feb 21 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 28 | Executive session in committee. | |
| WET - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | ||
| Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | ||
SB 5662-S2
by Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Weinstein, Honeyford, McCaslin, Delvin, Tom, Kline, Keiser, Shin, and Rasmussen; by request of Secretary of State)
Regulating charitable organizations that solicit contributions from the public.
Regulates charitable organizations that solicit contributions from the public.Repeals RCW 19.09.095.
| Feb 8 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 20 | Executive session in committee. | |
| Feb 26 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 28 | Executive session and executive action taken in committee. | |
| Mar 2 | WM - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | ||
| Mar 6 | Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. | |
SB 5706-S
by Senate Committee on Judiciary (originally sponsored by Senators Benton, Roach, Schoesler, Stevens, Swecker, Clements, and Holmquist)
Adding murders where the victim was eight years of age or younger to aggravated murder.
Pertains to if the victim was eight years of age or younger and the person who committed the murder was twenty-one years of age or older at the time of the murder.
| Feb 21 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 28 | Executive session in committee. | |
| JUD - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | ||
| Minority; do not pass. | ||
| Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | ||
SB 5797-S
by Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Clements, Haugen, Holmquist, Murray, Delvin, Sheldon, Shin, Benton, and Tom)
Requiring motorcycle endorsement verification before registration renewal.
Provides that, before renewing registration for a motorcycle under chapter 46.16 RCW, the department shall verify that the registered owner of the motorcycle has a special endorsement to operate the motorcycle under RCW 46.20.500.Provides that every person applying for a special endorsement of a driver's license under this act shall pay an additional surcharge of ten dollars on initial endorsements and renewals to be distributed as follows: Five dollars and ninety cents to the motorcycle safety education account; three dollars and ten cents to the highway safety account; and one dollar to the motor vehicle account.
| Feb 12 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Mar 1 | Executive session in committee. | |
| Mar 5 | TRAN - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| Minority; without recommendation. | ||
| Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | ||
SB 5803-S
by Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Murray, Haugen, Swecker, Kastama, and Kohl-Welles)
Creating regional transportation commissions.
Establishes regional transportation commissions.
| Feb 22 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Mar 1 | Executive session in committee. | |
| Mar 5 | TRAN - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| Minority; do not pass. | ||
| Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | ||
| Mar 6 | Made eligible to be placed on second reading. | |
| Mar 8 | Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. | |
SB 5882-S
by Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Fraser, Honeyford, Regala, Swecker, Rockefeller, Parlette, Kohl-Welles, Rasmussen, and Kastama; by request of Secretary of State)
Funding the Washington state heritage center.
Establishes fees to be used for financing the Washington state heritage center.Creates the Washington state heritage center account.
| Feb 19 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 28 | Executive session in committee. | |
| Mar 2 | WM - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| Minority; without recommendation. | ||
| Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | ||
| Mar 6 | Made eligible to be placed on second reading. | |
SB 5910-S
by Senate Committee on Judiciary (originally sponsored by Senators Brandland, Kline, Weinstein, and Parlette)
Modifying the notice requirement of intent to file a medical malpractice claim.
Declares that the notice of intent to commence a medical malpractice action shall be given by regular mail, registered mail, or certified mail with return receipt requested, by depositing the notice, with postage prepaid, in the post office addressed to the defendant.Provides that if the defendant is a health care provider entity or, at the time of the alleged professional negligence, was acting as an actual agent or employee of such a health care provider entity, the notice may be addressed to the chief executive officer, administrator, office of risk management, if any, or registered agent for service of process, if any, of such health care provider entity. Notice for a claim against a local government entity shall be filed with the agent as identified in RCW 4.96.020(2).Allows the claimant to have an additional five court days to commence the action when the ninety-day extension expires.
| Feb 20 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 28 | Executive session in committee. | |
| JUD - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | ||
| Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | ||
SB 5929-S
by Senate Committee on Judiciary (originally sponsored by Senator Delvin)
Making a false or misleading material statement that results in an Amber alert.
Provides that a person who with the intent of causing an activation of the voluntary broadcast notification system commonly known as the "Amber alert," or as the same system may otherwise be known, which is used to notify the public of abducted children, knowingly makes a false or misleading material statement to a public servant that a child has been abducted and which statement causes an activation, is guilty of a class C felony.Declares that "material statement" means a written or oral statement reasonably likely to be relied upon by a public servant in the discharge of his or her official powers or duties.
| Feb 20 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 28 | Executive session in committee. | |
| JUD - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | ||
| Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | ||
SB 5937-S
by Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Haugen, Swecker, Murray, and Kauffman)
Providing for additional patrols along high-accident corridors.
Creates and distributes funds for additional patrols along high-accident corridors.
| Feb 19 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 27 | Executive session in committee. | |
| Mar 5 | TRAN - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| Minority; do not pass. | ||
| Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | ||
SB 5964-S
by Senate Committee on Judiciary (originally sponsored by Senators Kline and Hargrove)
Revising the definition of "most serious offense" and creating a task force to study crimes included in "most serious offense."
Creates the task force on sentencing of persistent offenders for the purpose of conducting a review of the crimes considered a most serious offense. The objectives of the task force are to: (1) Examine existing evidence concerning the types of offenses committed by individuals convicted only of the crimes of assault in the second degree and robbery in the second degree and sentenced to life in prison as a persistent offender;(2) Evaluate whether the inclusion of assault in the second degree and robbery in the second degree as crimes classified as most serious offenses has resulted in disproportionate sentencing of individuals; and(3) Assess the objectives of the three-strikes law and evaluate whether the crimes of assault in the second degree and robbery in the second degree should continue to be classified as most serious offenses.Requires the task force to make a report, together with any recommendations, to the legislature not later than December 31, 2007.
| Feb 23 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 28 | Executive session in committee. | |
| JUD - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | ||
| Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | ||
| Mar 6 | Made eligible to be placed on second reading. | |
| Mar 8 | Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. | |
| Mar 9 | 1st substitute bill substituted. | |
| Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. | ||
| Third reading, passed; yeas, 48; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 1. | ||
SB 5987-S
by Senate Committee on Judiciary (originally sponsored by Senators Clements, Carrell, Marr, Holmquist, Schoesler, and Rasmussen; by request of Attorney General)
Increasing penalties for gang-related offenses.
Directs the office of the attorney general to establish a work group to evaluate the problem of gang-related crime in Washington state.Requires the office of the attorney general to report back to the legislature on its findings and the recommendations of the work group or groups on or before January 1, 2008.
| Feb 28 | Public hearing and executive action taken in committee. | |
| JUD - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | ||
| Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | ||
| Mar 6 | Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. | |
SB 6001-S
by Senate Committee on Water, Energy & Telecommunications (originally sponsored by Senators Pridemore, Poulsen, Rockefeller, Brown, Eide, Oemig, Hargrove, Marr, Fraser, Kohl-Welles, Keiser, Regala, Franklin, Fairley, Jacobsen, Shin, Haugen, Berkey, Spanel, Kline, and Weinstein)
Mitigating the impacts of climate change.
Finds that: (1) Washington is especially vulnerable to climate change because of the state's dependence on snow pack for summer stream flows and because the expected rise in sea levels threatens our coastal communities;(2) Washington's greenhouse gas emissions are continuing to increase;(3) Washington has been a leader in actions to reduce the increase of emissions, including the adoption of clean car standards, stronger appliance energy efficiency standards, increased production and use of renewable liquid fuels, and increased renewable energy sources by electrical utilities;(4) Washington has participated with other Western states in designing regional approaches to reduce greenhouse gas emissions;(5) There is a need to assess the trend of emissions statewide over the next several decades, and to take sufficient actions so that Washington meets its responsibility to contribute to the global actions needed to reduce the impacts and the pace of global warming;(6) Actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will spur technology development and increase efficiency; and(7) Numerous states and nations have adopted emission reduction goals to assist emission sources with planning for changes in practices and technologies.Recognizes that companies that generate greenhouse gas emissions or manufacture products that generate such emissions are purchasing carbon credits from landowners and from other companies in order to provide carbon credits.Intends to establish goals for the statewide reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and reduction in petroleum use, and to adopt the governor's mechanism in Executive Order No. 07-02 to design and recommend a comprehensive set of measures to accomplish the goals.Declares that immediate actions be authorized in the electric power generation sector for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and to accelerate efficiency in the transportation sector.
| Feb 14 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 28 | Executive session in committee. | |
| WET - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | ||
| Minority; do not pass. | ||
| Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | ||
| Mar 6 | Made eligible to be placed on second reading. | |
| Mar 8 | Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. | |
SB 6004-S
by Senate Committee on Judiciary (originally sponsored by Senators Oemig, Kline, and Hargrove)
Concerning exceptional sentences.
Provides that, in any case where an exceptional sentence above the standard range was imposed prior to April 15, 2005, and where a new trial or new sentencing hearing is required, the superior court shall have the authority to impanel a jury to consider any alleged aggravating circumstances listed in RCW 9.94A.535(3) that were relied upon by the superior court in imposing the previous sentence, at either the new trial or, if no new trial is necessary, at the new sentencing hearing.
| Feb 23 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 28 | Executive session in committee. | |
| JUD - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | ||
| Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | ||
SB 6065-S
by Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education (originally sponsored by Senators Kline, Kohl-Welles, Murray, Marr, Franklin, McAuliffe, and Sheldon)
Providing school funding for various programs.
Provides that, beginning with the 2012-13 school year, the Washington state arts commission, in consultation with the office of the superintendent of public instruction, shall establish an annual competitive grant process to restore art programs in public schools.Provides that, to the maximum extent possible, the competitive grant amounts awarded will reflect the distribution of the lottery revenues generated from RCW 67.70.240(6).Authorizes cities, counties, art organizations, and school districts to apply to the Washington state arts commission, but the application process shall encourage collaboration among the various entities in order to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of the restored programs.Requires that, to the maximum extent possible, the grants awarded shall be administered using existing local city and county art organizations.Provides that, beginning with 2012-13 school year, each school district shall receive an allocation to provide world language instruction programs to develop second language acquisition skills.
| Feb 26 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 28 | Executive session in committee. | |
| EDU - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | ||
| And refer to Ways & Means. | ||
| Minority; do not pass. | ||
| Minority; without recommendation. | ||
| Referred to Ways & Means. | ||
SB 6068-S
by Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Hobbs, Stevens, Haugen, Fairley, Berkey, McAuliffe, Shin, and Kohl-Welles)
Requiring a feasibility study on providing commuter rail service from Everett east.
Requires the department of transportation to conduct a feasibility study to provide information on whether commuter rail service between Everett and Index can be a meaningful component of the region's future transportation system.Provides that the act shall be null and void if appropriations are not approved.
| Feb 27 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 28 | Executive session in committee. | |
| Mar 5 | TRAN - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | ||
SB 6078-S
by Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research & Development (originally sponsored by Senators Murray, Clements, and Kohl-Welles)
Creating hotel licenses for the sale of alcoholic beverages.
Establishes hotel licenses for the sale of alcoholic beverages.
| Feb 22 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 27 | Executive session in committee. | |
| Feb 28 | LCRD - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | ||
SB 6082-S
by Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research & Development (originally sponsored by Senators Kohl-Welles and Keiser)
Addressing unemployment insurance for employees who voluntarily quit work.
Finds that the changes in chapter 4, Laws of 2003 2nd sp. sess. to the voluntary quit portions of the state's unemployment compensation laws have disproportionately affected women.Finds that the December 2006 report by the employment security department on their review of unemployment claims filed from July 1, 2004, through June 30, 2005, indicates that the three categories of reasons why people who were denied benefits left their jobs was due to factors such as reduction in hours or wages; domestic or marital responsibilities; and illness or disability of the claimant or an immediate family member. Of these categories, domestic or marital responsibility showed the most significant disparity along gender lines. The legislature finds that more than seventy-one percent of all denials in this category were women.Declares that the previous changes to the voluntary quit provisions had an unexpected gender impact and that this impact should be remedied.
| Feb 22 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 27 | Executive session in committee. | |
| Feb 28 | LCRD - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| Minority; do not pass. | ||
| Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | ||
| Mar 8 | Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. | |
SB 6083-S
by Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care (originally sponsored by Senators Pflug, Keiser, Parlette, Kastama, and Rasmussen)
Providing access to medical information for health professionals.
Provides that health professionals shall pay a fee of twenty-five dollars in addition to their annual licensing fee to the department of health. This money shall be used to provide access for all health professionals in the state to critical evidence-based resources and tools online and otherwise from the University of Washington health sciences library.Requires the department of health to provide funds from the fees from health professionals under this act to the University of Washington for this purpose and shall arrange access for each licensed health professional in the mailing of his or her annual license.
| Feb 26 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 28 | Executive session in committee. | |
| HEA - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | ||
| And refer to Ways & Means. | ||
| Referred to Ways & Means. | ||
| Mar 5 | Public hearing, public hearing, and executive action taken in committee. | |
| WM - Majority; do pass 1st substitute bill proposed by Health & Long-Term Care. | ||
| Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | ||
| Mar 7 | Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. | |
SB 6100-S
by Senate Committee on Judiciary (originally sponsored by Senators Kline and Brandland)
Limiting the use of charitable donations in charging decisions.
Provides that a city attorney, county prosecutor, or other prosecuting authority may not dismiss, amend, or agree not to file a criminal charge in exchange for a contribution, donation, or payment to any person, corporation, or organization. This does not prohibit contribution, donation, or payment to any specific fund authorized by state statute, or the collection of costs associated with actual supervision, treatment, collection of restitution under a pretrial diversion program, or dismissal following payment that is authorized by any other statute.
| Jan 10 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 28 | Executive session in committee. | |
| JUD - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | ||
| Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | ||
| Mar 8 | Made eligible to be placed on second reading. | |
SB 6102-S
by Senate Committee on Water, Energy & Telecommunications (originally sponsored by Senators Poulsen, Morton, Rockefeller, and Pridemore)
Authorizing locally regulated telecommunications services to the general public and public agencies by public utility districts.
Authorizes locally regulated telecommunications services to the general public and public agencies by public utility districts.
| Feb 21 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 28 | Executive session in committee. | |
| WET - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | ||
| Minority; do not pass. | ||
| Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | ||
SB 6103-S
by Senate Committee on Judiciary (originally sponsored by Senators Kline, Roach, Weinstein, McCaslin, Brandland, Carrell, Hargrove, Delvin, Honeyford, Shin, Kohl-Welles, and Rasmussen)
Creating a pilot program for enforcement of financial fraud and identity theft laws.
Requires that three pilot enforcement areas shall be established beginning on January 1, 2008, two in the two largest counties by population west of the crest of the Cascade mountains, and one in the largest county by population east of the crest of the Cascade mountains.Appropriates the sum of one million dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, from the general fund to the department of community, trade, and economic development to be used as matching funds for the purposes of this act.
| Feb 28 | Public hearing and executive action taken in committee. | |
| JUD - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | ||
| And refer to Ways & Means. | ||
| Referred to Ways & Means. | ||
SB 6106-S
by Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research & Development (originally sponsored by Senators Spanel, Kohl-Welles, Clements, and Keiser)
Establishing guidelines for the regulation of certain trades by the department of labor and industries.
Declares that the purpose of this act is to establish guidelines for the regulation of construction trades or construction-related trades generally overseen in some capacity by the department of labor and industries. This act applies when a trade seeks legislation to substantially increase its scope of practice or the level of regulation of the trade, and for the regulation of construction trades or construction-related trades not licensed or regulated on July 1, 2007. This act also applies when a legislator or a legislative committee requests that the department determine whether a trade should be regulated by the state.Declares that this act is not intended and shall not be construed to: (1) Apply to any regulatory entity created prior to July 1, 2007, except as provided in this act;(2) Affect the powers and responsibilities of the superintendent of public instruction or Washington professional educator standards board under RCW 28A.410.210 and 28A.410.010;(3) Apply to or interfere in any way with the practice of religion or to any kind of treatment by prayer;(4) Apply to any remedial or technical amendments to any statutes that licensed or regulated activity before July 1, 2007; and(5) Apply to proposals relating solely to continuing education.Declares that all individuals should be permitted to enter into a profession unless there is an overwhelming need for the state to protect the interests of the public by restricting entry into the profession. When such a need is identified, the regulation adopted by the state should be set at the least restrictive level consistent with the public interest to be protected.Requires the department to hold a public hearing during which the department will receive public comment on whether a trade should be regulated by the state. At least twenty days before the public hearing, the department shall file a notice of hearing with the code reviser for publication in the Washington State Register. The notice must include: (1) The trades for which information is sought;(2) The information requested under this act; and(3) When, where, and how members of the general public may present information about the trade.Requires that, after the department has conducted its review under this act, it shall submit a report with the details of its review as well as its recommendations about regulating the trade to the legislative committees of reference. It shall also post the report on its web site.
| Feb 26 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 27 | Executive session in committee. | |
| Feb 28 | LCRD - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | ||
SB 6117-S
by Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Fraser, Poulsen, Rockefeller, Marr, Kohl-Welles, and Kline)
Regarding reclaimed water.
Declares an intent to: (1) Effectuate and reinvigorate the original intent behind the reclaimed water act to expand the use of reclaimed water for nonpotable uses throughout the state;(2) Restate and emphasize the use of reclaimed water as a matter of water resource management policy;(3) Address current barriers to the use of reclaimed water, where changes in state law will resolve such issues;(4) Develop information from the state agencies responsible for promoting the use of reclaimed water and address regulatory, financial, planning, and other barriers to the expanded use of reclaimed water, relying on state agency expertise and experience with reclaimed water;(5) Facilitate achieving state, regional, and local objectives through use of reclaimed water for water supply purposes in high priority areas of the state, and in regional and local watershed and water planning;(6) Provide planning tools to local governments to incorporate reclaimed water and related water conservation into land use plans, consistent with water planning;(7) Expand the scope of work of the advisory committee established under chapter 279, Laws of 2006 to identify other reclaimed water issues that should be addressed; and(8) Provide initial funding, and evaluate options for providing additional direct state funding, for reclaimed water projects.Provides that, by January 1, 2008, the department of health shall file a brief report with the appropriate committees of the legislature on the general status of: (1) Development of permit fees for industrial and commercial uses of reclaimed water as required by RCW 90.46.030;(2) Development of standards and guidelines for greywater use as required by RCW 90.46.140; and(3) Permitting of greywater use by local health officers and plumbing officials in accordance with standards and guidelines developed pursuant to RCW 90.46.140.Requires the report to also identify: (1) A general description of the number, type, and location of reclaimed water opportunities included in water supply and coordinated water system plans since 2003, as required by RCW 90.46.140;(2) The best information currently available regarding potential public health risks associated with reclaimed water, if any, any known occurrences of any public health incidents associated with reclaimed water use, the approaches to reclaimed water-related public health issues taken in other states, and resource needs of the department to evaluate any known public health risks; and(3) A description of a basic public information and public acceptance program necessary to generate public support for the beneficial use of reclaimed water.Finds that the state should take a lead in increasing the visibility of the use of reclaimed water.Directs the department of general administration to develop a proposal to provide a comprehensive campus-wide plan for the use of nonpotable water in lieu of the use of potable water to serve as a demonstration project for the use of reclaimed water. The department of general administration shall work with LOTT alliance to provide a report to the legislature by December 1, 2007, of the needed infrastructure, cost, and potential funding sources for the project.
| Feb 23 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 28 | Executive session in committee. | |
| WET - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | ||
| And refer to Ways & Means. | ||
| Minority; do not pass. | ||
| Minority; without recommendation. | ||
| Referred to Ways & Means. | ||
| Mar 5 | Public hearing, public hearing, and executive action taken in committee. | |
| WM - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | ||
| Minority; without recommendation. | ||
| Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | ||
| Mar 6 | Made eligible to be placed on second reading. | |
| Mar 8 | Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. | |
SB 6120-S
by Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Marr, Swecker, Oemig, Haugen, Rockefeller, Kauffman, Berkey, Murray, Spanel, Eide, Kilmer, Poulsen, Delvin, Regala, Jacobsen, Fraser, Kohl-Welles, and Rasmussen)
Addressing rail and freight infrastructure.
Provides that, to the extent that state funds are used to improve rail infrastructure, the legislature declares that it is the policy of the state of Washington to examine the cost of any rail infrastructure improvement as compared to the public benefits to be gained by making the improvement according to the following priorities, in order of relative importance: (1) Economic, safety, or environmental advantages of freight movement by rail compared to alternative modes;(2) Self-sustaining economic development that creates family-wage jobs;(3) Preservation of transportation corridors that would otherwise be lost;(4) Increased access to efficient and cost-effective transport to market for Washington's agricultural and industrial products;(5) Better integration and cooperation within the regional, national, and international systems of freight distribution; and(6) Mitigation of impacts of increased rail traffic on communities. In all cases, state investment in rail infrastructure should be allocated to leverage the greatest amount of partnership funding possible, and should only be considered when there is a demonstrably lower likelihood of obtaining the benefits specified in this act without at least some state funding of the infrastructure improvement.Requires, by December 15th each year, the transportation commission to report to the transportation committees of the house of representatives and senate the commission's concurrence or disagreement with the advisability of the actions and projects recommended by the department of transportation in the plan developed by the department under this act. The commission shall base its determinations on the priorities identified in this act, and an evaluation of each action or project according to the methodology developed as part of the statewide rail capacity and needs study finalized in December 2006. If the commission finds that certain actions or projects do not appear within the department's plan, but warrant consideration, then the commission shall report its own analysis of the action or project to the transportation committees of the house of representatives and senate.
| Feb 27 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Mar 1 | Executive session in committee. | |
| Mar 5 | TRAN - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| Minority; do not pass. | ||
| Minority; without recommendation. | ||
| Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | ||
SB 6127-S
by Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Spanel, Swecker, Kilmer, Haugen, Marr, and Kohl-Welles)
Regarding state ferries.
Directs the commission to, with the involvement of the department, conduct a market survey to gather information on ferry users to help inform level of service, operational, pricing, planning, and investment decisions. The survey must include, but is not limited to: (1) Recreational use;(2) Vehicle customer use;(3) Freight and goods movement demand; and(4) Reactions to potential operational and pricing strategies described under this act and RCW 47.60.290.Requires the market survey to be updated at least every two years.Requires the department to develop, and the commission to review, operational strategies to ensure existing assets are fully utilized and to guide future investment decisions.Requires the department to annually review fares and pricing strategies applicable to the operation of the Washington state ferries.Provides that fares and pricing strategies must be adopted by rule, under chapter 34.05 RCW, by the commission, according to the following schedule: (1) Each year the department shall provide the commission a report of its review of fares and pricing strategies, with recommendations for the revision of fares for the ensuing year;(2) By October 1st of each year, beginning in 2007, the commission shall adopt as a rule, a schedule of fares for the ensuing year.Requires the department to maintain a life-cycle cost model on capital assets such that: (1) Available industry standards are used for estimated life;(2) Standard estimated life is adjusted for asset condition when inspections are made; and(3) Systems and structures that do not have standard life cycles are not included.Requires the joint legislative audit and review committee to assess and report as follows: (1) Audit the implementation of the cost allocation methodology evaluated under chapter . . . (House Bill No. 1094), Laws of 2007, as it exists on the effective date of this act, assessing whether actual costs are allocated consistently with the methodology, whether there are sufficient internal controls to ensure proper allocation, and the adequacy of staff training; and(2) Review the assignment of preservation costs and improvement costs for fiscal year 2009 to determine whether: (a) the costs are capital costs; (b) the costs meet the statutory requirements for preservation activities and for improvement activities; and (c) improvement costs are within the scope of legislative appropriations.Provides that the report on the evaluations in this act is due by January 31, 2010.Repeals RCW 47.60.150 and 47.60.326.
| Feb 27 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Mar 1 | Executive session in committee. | |
| Mar 5 | TRAN - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| Minority; without recommendation. | ||
| Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | ||
| Mar 6 | Made eligible to be placed on second reading. | |
SB 6141-S
by Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation (originally sponsored by Senators Jacobsen and Morton)
Regarding forest health.
Finds as follows: (1) Washington faces serious forest health problems, primarily in eastern Washington, where forests are overcrowded or trees lack sufficient resilience to insects, diseases, wind, ice storms, and fire. The causes of and contributions to these conditions include fire suppression, past timber harvesting and silvicultural practices, altered species composition and stand structure, and the amplified risks that occur when the urban interface penetrates forest land.(2) There is a private and public interest in addressing uncharacteristic outbreaks of native, naturalized, and nonnative insects and diseases, and reducing the risk of significant loss due to ice storms, wind storms, and uncharacteristic fire. The public interest is in protecting forest productivity on forests managed for commodity production; restoring and maintaining forest ecosystem vitality and natural forest processes and functions; reducing the cost of fire suppression and the resulting public expenditures; protecting, restoring, and enhancing fish and wildlife habitat, including the habitat of threatened or endangered species; and protecting drinking water supplies and water quality.(3) Well managed forests are the first line of defense in reducing the likelihood of uncharacteristic fire, insect, and disease events, and supporting conservation and restoration of desired plants and animals. Active management of forests, consistent with landowner objectives and the protection of public resources, is the most economical and effective way to promote forest health and protect communities. Fire, native insects, and diseases perform important ecological functions when their occurrence does not present a material threat to long-term forest productivity and increase the likelihood of uncharacteristic fire.(4) Forest health problems may exist on forest land regardless of ownership, and the state should pursue collaboration with the federal government to address common health deficiencies.Repeals RCW 76.06.050, 76.06.060, 76.06.070, 76.06.080, 76.06.090, and 76.06.110.
| Feb 28 | Executive session in committee. | |
| NROR - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | ||
| Referred to Ways & Means. | ||
| Mar 5 | Public hearing, public hearing, and executive action taken in committee. | |
| WM - Majority; do pass 1st substitute bill proposed by Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation. | ||
| Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | ||
SJM 8020
by Senators Jacobsen and Spanel
Seeking congressional action to limit credit card interchange fees and to develop clear and concise consumer disclosure on such fees.
Requests congressional action to limit credit card interchange fees and to develop clear and concise consumer disclosure on such fees.
| Mar 9 | First reading, referred to Financial Institutions & Insurance. | |
SCR 8405-S
by Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Haugen, Swecker, Murray, and Rasmussen)
Providing for the study of legislative and financial issues regarding the Columbia River Crossing Project.
Resolves that the Senate and House of Representatives standing committees on transportation shall study any outstanding legislative issues, including financial issues, that may apply regarding the Columbia River Crossing Project, and work cooperatively with interested legislators from Oregon's Legislative Assembly to work towards a common project.
| Feb 26 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Mar 1 | Executive session in committee. | |
| Mar 5 | TRAN - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | ||