 | WASHINGTON STATE LEGISLATURE | |
| Legislative Digest No. 15 | ||
| SIXTIETH LEGISLATURE | ||
| Monday, February 4, 2008 | 22nd Day - 2008 Regular Session | |
| SENATE |
|
This publication includes digest and history for bills, joint memorials, joint resolutions, concurrent resolutions, initiatives, and substitutes. Engrossed measures may be republished if the amendment makes a substantive change.
Electronic versions of Legislative Digests are available at http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/digests.aspx?year=2008.
HB 1551
by Representatives McDermott, Miloscia, McIntire, Fromhold, Dunshee, Cody, Green, Ormsby, Appleton, Hunt, Chase, Schual-Berke, Sells, Roberts, Hasegawa, Kagi, Moeller, Pedersen, and Rolfes
Allowing public funding of local office campaigns. (REVISED FOR ENGROSSED: Concerning the public funding of political campaigns for certain offices. )
Prohibits public funds, from being used to finance political campaigns for state school district office. Provides that a county, city, town, or district that establishes a program to publicly finance local political campaigns may only use funds derived from local sources to fund the program.Requires a local government to submit any proposal for public financing of local political campaigns to voters for their adoption and approval or rejection.
| Jan 22 | First reading, referred to State Government & Tribal Affairs. | |
| Feb 7 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 20 | Executive session in committee. | |
| SGTA - Executive action taken by committee. | ||
| SGTA - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | ||
| Minority; do not pass. | ||
| Feb 22 | Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | |
| Feb 23 | Made eligible to be placed on second reading. | |
| Mar 6 | Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading. | |
| Mar 15 | Returned to Rules Committee for second reading. | |
| Jan 14 | By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status. | |
| Jan 22 | Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. | |
| Jan 25 | 1st substitute bill not substituted. | |
| Floor amendment(s) adopted. | ||
| Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. | ||
| Third reading, passed; yeas, 56; nays, 38; absent, 0; excused, 4. | ||
| Jan 29 | First reading, referred to Government Operations & Elections. | |
HB 2426-S
by House Committee on Technology, Energy & Communications (originally sponsored by Representatives Chase, Williams, Morrell, Hasegawa, Hudgins, Campbell, Kagi, and Upthegrove)
Creating a preference for high-efficiency lighting in state government.
Declares that the use of high-efficiency lighting in facilities owned or leased by state government is strongly encouraged.Defines "fluorescent lamp," "high-efficiency lighting," and "solid-state lighting."States that the goal of state agencies for the percentage of purchased indoor lamps that are high-efficiency lighting shall be one hundred percent by January 1, 2009.Calls for the department of general administration to prepare an annual report to the legislature on the state's progress in meeting the goals for the purchase of high-efficiency lighting.
| Jan 29 | TEC - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| Jan 31 | Referred to Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government & Audit Review. | |
HB 2439-S
by House Committee on Human Services (originally sponsored by Representatives Priest, Ross, Kristiansen, Pearson, Armstrong, Crouse, Haler, Condotta, Rodne, Hinkle, Hailey, Kretz, Warnick, Bailey, Sump, Roach, Orcutt, Newhouse, Ahern, Alexander, Skinner, Blake, McCune, Morrell, Hurst, Schindler, Walsh, Smith, Campbell, VanDeWege, Rolfes, Dunn, Barlow, Herrera, Kelley, Green, and McDonald)
Requiring the governing authorities of facilities where convicted sex offenders are confined to determine the offender's immigration status and to release offenders subject to deportation into the custody of federal authorities or at a federal facility used to house persons awaiting deportation.
Requires the department of corrections and governing authority of a jail to determine the immigration status of every felony sex offender serving a term of confinement on or after the effective date of this act in an institution owned, or utilized under contract, by the state. If the department or authority determines that a sex offender is unlawfully in the United States or is otherwise subject to deportation, the department or authority shall notify the appropriate federal authorities. After the offender has served his or her term of confinement, he or she shall be released into the custody of the appropriate federal authorities.
| Jan 29 | HS - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| Jan 31 | Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | |
HB 2452-S
by House Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Representatives Appleton, Campbell, Rolfes, Seaquist, Barlow, McCoy, Upthegrove, Hunt, Chase, Lantz, McIntire, Haigh, and Nelson)
Creating a wildlife rehabilitation advisory committee.
Provides that the director of fish and wildlife shall establish a wildlife rehabilitation advisory committee.
| Jan 28 | AGNR - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| Minority; do not pass. | ||
| Jan 31 | Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | |
HB 2480-S
by House Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives Clibborn, McIntire, and Simpson)
Concerning public transportation fares.
Requires persons traveling on public transportation operated by a metropolitan municipal corporation or a city-owned transit system to pay the fare established by the metropolitan municipal corporation or the city-owned transit system. Such persons shall produce proof of payment when requested by a person designated to monitor fare payment.Allows both a metropolitan municipal corporation and a city-owned transit system to establish, by resolution, a schedule of fines and penalties for civil infractions established in this act. Fines established shall not exceed those imposed for class 1 infractions under RCW 7.80.120.Requires persons traveling on public transportation operated by a public transportation benefit area to pay the fare established by the public transportation benefit area. Such persons shall produce proof of payment when requested by a person designated to monitor fare payment.Allows a public transportation benefit area to establish, by resolution, a schedule of fines and penalties for civil infractions established in this act. Fines established shall not exceed those imposed for class 1 infractions under RCW 7.80.120.
| Jan 29 | TR - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| Minority; do not pass. | ||
| Feb 1 | Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | |
HB 2525-S
by House Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Representatives Pearson, Kretz, Kristiansen, and Ross)
Mitigating flood damage.
Provides that property that has experienced at least two consecutive years of flooding or erosion that has damaged or has threatened to damage a major structure, water supply system, septic system, or access to any road or highway, the county legislative authority may determine that a chronic danger exists.Directs the county legislative authority to notify the department of fish and wildlife, in writing, when it determines that a chronic danger exists. In cases of chronic danger, the department shall issue a permit, upon request, for work necessary to abate the chronic danger.
| Jan 28 | AGNR - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| Jan 31 | Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | |
HB 2589-S
by House Committee on State Government & Tribal Affairs (originally sponsored by Representatives Lantz, Seaquist, Campbell, and Chase)
Establishing a maritime historic vessel restoration and preservation program.
Establishes a competitive grant program and process to solicit proposals for a maritime historic vessel restoration and preservation program operated by the Washington state historical society.Provides that one dollar of vessel registration fees must be deposited into the maritime historic restoration and preservation account for the program.
| Jan 29 | SGTA - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| Jan 31 | Referred to Appropriations. | |
HB 2597-S
by House Committee on Early Learning & Children's Services (originally sponsored by Representatives Sullivan, Pedersen, Hasegawa, Ormsby, Haigh, Chase, Green, and Simpson)
Requiring the department of early learning and the office of the superintendent of public instruction to develop a kindergarten entry assessment.
Requires the department of early learning and the office of the superintendent of public instruction to study and make recommendations regarding implementation of a statewide kindergarten entry assessment for use by all public elementary schools.
| Jan 25 | ELCS - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| Jan 30 | Referred to Appropriations Subcommittee on Education. | |
HB 2624-S
by House Committee on State Government & Tribal Affairs (originally sponsored by Representatives McCoy, Kessler, Appleton, Ormsby, VanDeWege, Hunt, Kenney, Darneille, and Chase)
Concerning human remains.
Requires any person who discovers skeletal human remains to notify the coroner and local law enforcement in the most expeditious manner possible. Any person knowing of the existence of human remains and not having good reason to believe that the coroner and local law enforcement has notice thereof and who fails to give notice thereof is guilty of a misdemeanor.Requires the coroner to make a determination whether the skeletal human remains are forensic or nonforensic within five business days of receiving notification of a finding of such remains provided that there is sufficient evidence to make such a determination within that time period. The coroner will retain jurisdiction over forensic remains.Provides, upon determination that the remains are nonforensic, the coroner must notify the department of archaeology and historic preservation within two business days. The department will have jurisdiction over such remains until provenance of the remains is established. A determination that remains are nonforensic does not create a presumption of removal or nonremoval.Requires, upon receiving notice from a coroner of a finding of nonforensic skeletal human remains, the department to notify the appropriate local cemeteries, and all affected Indian tribes via certified mail to the head of the appropriate tribal government, and contact the appropriate tribal cultural resources staff within two business days of the finding.Provides if the remains are determined to be Indian, the department must notify all affected Indian tribes via certified mail to the head of the appropriate tribal government within two business days and contact the appropriate tribal cultural resources staff. Requires the department of archaeology and historic preservation to develop and maintain a centralized database and geographic information systems spatial layer of all known cemeteries and known sites of burials of human remains in Washington state.
| Jan 29 | SGTA - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| Minority; do not pass. | ||
| Jan 31 | Referred to Appropriations. | |
HB 2625-S
by House Committee on Housing (originally sponsored by Representatives Springer, Ericks, Williams, Liias, Ormsby, Sells, Darneille, Simpson, and Appleton)
Providing tax relief to promote employer-assisted housing.
Allows, subject to the limitations in this act, a fifty percent credit against the business and occupation tax imposed for contributions made by a person ("employer") to the Washington state housing finance commission employer-assisted housing program as described in this act.Creates within the Washington state housing finance commission the employer-assisted housing program through which the commission will assist Washington employers in providing a qualified housing benefit to qualified employees.
| Jan 28 | HOUS - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| Jan 31 | Referred to Finance. | |
HB 2661-S
by House Committee on Commerce & Labor (originally sponsored by Representatives Green and Morrell)
Allowing for reasonable self-storage facility late fees.
Provides any late fee charged by the owner shall be provided for in the rental agreement. No late fee shall be collected unless it is written in the rental agreement or as an addendum to such agreement. An owner may impose a reasonable late fee for each month an occupant does not pay rent when due. A late fee of twenty dollars or twenty percent of the monthly rental amount, whichever is greater, for each late rental payment shall be deemed reasonable, and shall not constitute a penalty.
| Jan 29 | CL - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| Minority; do not pass. | ||
| Jan 31 | Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | |
HB 2664-S
by House Committee on Health Care & Wellness (originally sponsored by Representatives Pedersen, Cody, Green, Morrell, Seaquist, Conway, Hasegawa, Hudgins, Upthegrove, Chase, Liias, Nelson, Loomis, McIntire, Barlow, Schual-Berke, and VanDeWege)
Prohibiting the sale and use of prescriber-identifiable prescription data for marketing or promotional purposes.
Finds that prescriber-identifiable prescription data are used by pharmaceutical manufacturers to track the prescribing habits of every prescriber in Washington, allowing them to target their marketing efforts toward those prescribers that they find would lead to increased prescriptions and profitability.Finds that the removal of the names and addresses of patients from prescription drug data purchased by pharmaceutical manufacturers and the physician data restriction program offered by the American medical association are not adequate remedies to protect the privacy of patients.Declares an intent to prohibit conduct involving the sale, disclosure, and use of individual prescriber prescription data for marketing or promotional purposes.
| Jan 28 | HCW - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| Minority; do not pass. | ||
| Jan 31 | Placed on second reading. | |
HB 2713-S
by House Committee on Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness (originally sponsored by Representatives Seaquist, Hurst, Lantz, Pearson, Conway, Morrell, Miloscia, Priest, Kenney, Schual-Berke, Haler, McDonald, Loomis, Smith, Bailey, Kristiansen, Hudgins, McCune, Simpson, VanDeWege, Ericks, Kelley, Ormsby, and Rolfes; by request of Governor Gregoire)
Providing for broader collection of biological samples for the DNA identification of convicted sex offenders and other persons.
Increases the number of offenses for which an offender must have a biological sample collected for purposes of DNA identification analysis.
| Jan 28 | PSEP - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| Jan 30 | Referred to Appropriations. | |
HB 2714-S
by House Committee on Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness (originally sponsored by Representatives Loomis, Hurst, Lantz, Upthegrove, Conway, Simpson, VanDeWege, and Kelley)
Making failure to register as a sex offender a class B felony.
Changes provisions concerning registration of sex offenders and kidnapping offenders.
| Jan 28 | PSEP - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| Jan 30 | Referred to Appropriations. | |
HB 2754-S
by House Committee on Housing (originally sponsored by Representatives Pettigrew, Ericks, and Santos)
Exempting certain housing developers from the real estate excise tax requirement.
Provides targeted incentives to housing developers to encourage the production and sale of homes affordable to low and moderate-income households.Provides incentives through excise tax relief on sales of homes to low-income first-time homebuyers.
| Jan 28 | HOUS - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| Minority; do not pass. | ||
| Jan 31 | Referred to Finance. | |
HB 2770-S
by House Committee on Insurance, Financial Services & Consumer Protection (originally sponsored by Representatives Kenney, Lantz, Upthegrove, Conway, Morrell, Schual-Berke, McIntire, Hudgins, Simpson, and Rolfes; by request of Governor Gregoire)
Enacting the governor's homeownership security task force recommendations regarding responsible mortgage lending and homeownership.
Provides that a residential mortgage loan may not be made unless a disclosure summary of all material terms is placed on a separate sheet of paper and has been provided by a financial institution to the borrower.Declares that a financial institution may not make or facilitate the origination of a residential mortgage loan that includes a prepayment penalty or that imposes negative amortization under certain circumstances.Provides that certain acts and omissions by any person in connection with making, brokering, or obtaining a residential mortgage loan are unlawful.
| Jan 29 | IFCP - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| Jan 31 | Placed on second reading. | |
HB 2778-S
by House Committee on Commerce & Labor (originally sponsored by Representatives Conway, Wood, Condotta, Chandler, and Williams)
Modifying provisions concerning real estate licensure law.
Modifies provisions concerning real estate licensure.Provides minimum requirements for an individual to receive a managing broker's license.Requires a designated broker to hold a license as a managing broker in accordance with this act, and may act as a designated broker for more than one firm. The department shall register designated brokers.Provides the designated broker or managing broker shall supervise the conduct of brokers and managing brokers for compliance with this act, chapter 18.235 RCW, and RCW 18.86.030.Provides the changes made by this act regarding the licensing categories do not affect the status of a complaint, investigation, or other proceeding. A rule or form adopted by the director before the effective date of this act remains in effect as a rule or form of the department until amended or changed.
| Jan 29 | CL - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| Feb 1 | Referred to Appropriations. | |
HB 2809-S
by House Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Sullivan, Haler, Kelley, and Ormsby)
Regarding mathematics and science teachers.
Provides by September 15, 2008, the professional educator standards board shall submit a report with recommendations for strengthening the state's corps of K-12 mathematics and science teachers to the governor, the superintendent of public instruction, and the education committees of the legislature.Requires the professional educator standards board to act as the lead agency to convene the various organizations and stakeholders that administer programs that include educator recruitment efforts and to develop a collaborative statewide plan for educator recruitment by September 15, 2008.
| Jan 29 | ED - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| Feb 1 | Referred to Appropriations Subcommittee on Education. | |
HB 2815-S
by House Committee on Ecology & Parks (originally sponsored by Representatives Dunshee, Priest, Linville, Upthegrove, Nelson, Goodman, Hurst, Lantz, Hunt, Cody, McCoy, Quall, Pettigrew, Fromhold, Dickerson, Darneille, Appleton, Green, Sells, Pedersen, Jarrett, Conway, Morrell, Miloscia, Sullivan, Schual-Berke, McIntire, Williams, Hudgins, Simpson, Ericks, VanDeWege, and Ormsby; by request of Governor Gregoire)
Providing a framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the Washington economy.
Requires the department of ecology to develop and implement a program to limit greenhouse gas emissions to achieve emission reductions for Washington state established by this act.Requires the director to develop, in coordination with the western climate initiative, a design for a regional multisector market-based system to limit and reduce emissions of greenhouse gas consistent with the emission reductions established in this act.Requires the department of ecology and the department of revenue to provide a report to the legislature on the potential design and implementation of other strategies to achieve the greenhouse gas emission reductions required in this act.Requires the department to adopt rules requiring annual reporting of total greenhouse gas emissions.Establishes the clean energy jobs growth initiative in support of a clean energy sector jobs goal of, by 2020, increasing the number of clean energy sector jobs to twenty-five thousand from the eight thousand four hundred jobs the state had in 2004.
| Jan 29 | EPAR - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| Minority; do not pass. | ||
| Jan 31 | Referred to Appropriations. | |
HB 2844-S
by House Committee on Ecology & Parks (originally sponsored by Representatives Kagi, Priest, Upthegrove, Campbell, Simpson, Hunt, Blake, Jarrett, Nelson, Rolfes, Dickerson, Appleton, Takko, Loomis, Lantz, Pettigrew, Hunter, Moeller, Hudgins, Quall, O'Brien, Anderson, Kenney, Pedersen, McIntire, and Roberts)
Regarding urban forestry.
Supports city efforts to conserve, protect, improve, and expand Washington's urban forest in order to reduce storm water pollution in Puget Sound, flooding, energy consumption and greenhouse gases emissions, air pollution, and storm impacts to utility infrastructure.Requires a prioritized statewide inventory and assessment of community and urban forests.Requires the department, with the advice of the evergreen cities partnership task force created in this act, to develop the criteria for an evergreen cities recognition program whereby the state can recognize cities and counties, to be designated as evergreen cities, who are developing excellent urban forest management programs that include urban forestry inventories, assessments, plans, ordinances, maintenance programs, partnerships, and community involvement.Requires the department to, subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, coordinate with the department of natural resources and the department of ecology in the development and implementation of a needs-based evergreen cities grant and competitive awards program to provide financial assistance to cities, towns, and counties for the development, adoption, or implementation of evergreen cities management plans or ordinances developed under this act.Requires the department to develop model evergreen city urban forest management plans and ordinances pursuant to this act with measurable goals and timelines to guide local government plan and ordinance adoption or development consistent with this act.Allows a local jurisdiction to adopt an evergreen cities ordinance and an evergreen cities urban forest management plan, including enforcement mechanisms and civil penalties for violations of their jurisdiction's evergreen city ordinance.
| Jan 29 | EPAR - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| Minority; do not pass. | ||
| Jan 31 | Referred to Appropriations. | |
HB 2848-S
by House Committee on Housing (originally sponsored by Representatives Ormsby, Barlow, Springer, and Simpson)
Concerning a voluntary contribution program for property owners taking the multifamily property tax exemption.
Requires cities with property owners taking the multifamily property tax exemption to establish a voluntary contribution program.Allows moneys received to be used for activities that provide housing opportunities for very low-income households with incomes at or below eighty percent of the area median income.
| Jan 28 | HOUS - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| Jan 31 | Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | |
HB 2863-S
by House Committee on Human Services (originally sponsored by Representatives Kagi, Walsh, Dickerson, Pettigrew, Haler, Roberts, Priest, Anderson, Jarrett, Darneille, Liias, Clibborn, Morrell, Simpson, Lantz, Goodman, Hurst, Conway, Kenney, Ormsby, and Wood)
Providing for intensive behavior support services for children with developmental disabilities.
Provides, upon receipt of a federal home and community-based care waiver and to the extent funding is appropriated for this purpose, intensive behavior support services may be provided by the department, directly or by contract, to children with developmental disabilities who have intense behaviors and their families.Provides intensive behavior support services under the program authorized in this act shall be provided through a core team of highly trained individuals either directly or by contract.Appropriates two million eight hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009, from the general fund to the department of social and health services to serve up to one hundred children under this act.
| Jan 29 | HS - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| Minority; do not pass. | ||
| Jan 31 | Referred to Appropriations. | |
HB 2902-S
by House Committee on Commerce & Labor (originally sponsored by Representative Wood)
Conditioning the collection of the lemon law arbitration fee upon registration of new motor vehicles in Washington state.
Provides if the new motor vehicle will be registered in the state of Washington, a three-dollar arbitration fee shall be collected by either the new motor vehicle dealer or vehicle lessor from the consumer upon execution of a retail sale or lease agreement.
| Jan 29 | CL - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| Feb 1 | Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | |
HB 3104-S
by House Committee on Judiciary (originally sponsored by Representatives Pedersen, Hankins, Moeller, Walsh, Linville, Takko, Upthegrove, Kessler, Jarrett, Ericks, Wallace, Grant, Eickmeyer, Quall, Clibborn, Dunshee, Lantz, Sullivan, Simpson, Blake, Hunter, Roberts, Rolfes, Williams, Sells, Schual-Berke, Springer, Eddy, Hunt, Hudgins, Santos, Cody, Seaquist, Fromhold, Nelson, McIntire, Chase, Hasegawa, Appleton, Darneille, Haigh, Sommers, Dickerson, Kirby, Wood, Flannigan, Conway, Goodman, Kenney, Kagi, Ormsby, Loomis, McCoy, Barlow, O'Brien, Pettigrew, Morris, Liias, and VanDeWege)
Expanding rights and responsibilities for domestic partnerships.
Expands the rights and responsibilities for domestic partnerships, including provisions that address notice, public officials, public assistance, judicial process, veterans, community property, taxes, guardianship, probate and trusts, dissolution, and reciprocity.
| Jan 30 | JUDI - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| Minority; do not pass. | ||
| Feb 1 | Referred to Finance. | |
HB 3144-S
by House Committee on Technology, Energy & Communications (originally sponsored by Representatives Liias, Loomis, Hunt, Miloscia, Rolfes, Upthegrove, Linville, Green, VanDeWege, Morrell, Conway, Kelley, Nelson, Santos, and Ormsby)
Creating a consumer protection web site.
Requires the department of information services to coordinate among state agencies to develop a consumer protection web site. The web site shall serve as a one-stop web site for consumer information.Requires, by July 1, 2008, state agencies to report to the department on whether they maintain resources for consumers that could be made available through the consumer protection web site.Provides, by September 1, 2008, the department shall make the consumer protection web site available to the public.Provides, after September 1, 2008, the department, in coordination with other state agencies, shall develop a plan on how to build upon the consumer protection web site to create a consumer protection portal. The plan must also include an examination of the feasibility of developing a toll-free information line to support the consumer protection portal. The plan must be submitted to the governor and the appropriate committees of the legislature by December 1, 2008.
| Jan 30 | TEC - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| Jan 31 | Placed on second reading. | |
HB 3328
by Representatives VanDeWege, Kessler, Blake, and Dunn
Providing sales and use tax exemptions for certain organic biomass.
Provides that tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 does not apply to sales of organic biomass to a qualified business.Provides the provisions of chapter 82.12 RCW do not apply in respect to the use of organic biomass, if used by a qualified business.
| Feb 1 | First reading, referred to Finance. | |
HB 3329
by Representatives Fromhold, McDonald, Ormsby, Wallace, Alexander, and Sells
Prioritizing four-year higher education institutions' capital project requests.
Requires, by November 1st of each even-numbered year, beginning in 2008, the office of financial management to complete an objective analysis and scoring of all capital budget projects proposed by the public four-year institutions of higher education and submit the results of the scoring process to the legislative fiscal committees, the higher education coordinating board, and the four-year institutions. Each project must be reviewed and scored within one of the categories listed in the act, according to the project's principal purpose. Each project may be scored in only one category.Requires, by August 15th of each even-numbered year, beginning in 2008, each public four-year higher education institution to prepare and submit a single prioritized list of the individual projects proposed by the institution, except for research institutions which shall prepare two separate prioritized lists, one for the main campus, and one covering all of the institution's branch campuses, to the office of financial management and the legislative fiscal committees.Requires the higher education coordinating board and the state board for community and technical colleges to submit a higher education capital facility financing study to the governor and the appropriate legislative fiscal committees by December 1, 2008.
| Feb 1 | First reading, referred to Capital Budget. | |
HB 3330
by Representatives Fromhold, Ormsby, Priest, Sullivan, McCune, and Wood
Providing for the sale of bonds for facilities for career and technical education.
Provides for the purpose of providing needed capital improvements consisting of the predesign, design, acquisition, construction, modification, renovation, expansion, equipping, and other improvements of skill centers facilities, including capital improvements to support satellite or branch campus programs for underserved rural areas or high-density areas, the state finance committee is authorized to issue general obligation bonds of the state of Washington in the sum of one hundred three million dollars, or as much thereof as may be required, to finance all or a part of these projects and all costs incidental thereto.Creates the skill centers building account in the state treasury. Proceeds from the bonds issued under this act shall be deposited in the account. The account shall be used for purposes stated in this act. Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation.
| Feb 1 | First reading, referred to Capital Budget. | |
HB 3331
by Representatives Conway, Darneille, Simpson, and Wallace
Identifying methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus as a presumptive occupational disease affecting firefighters.
Provides the presumption established in RCW 51.32.185(1)(d) shall be extended to any firefighter who has contracted methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus.
| Feb 1 | First reading, referred to Commerce & Labor. | |
HB 3332
by Representatives Conway, Green, Grant, Pettigrew, Sullivan, Fromhold, Priest, Simpson, and Kenney
Regarding financial negotiations between civil service unions and institutions of higher education following October 1st.
Provides, with respect to institutions of higher education only, if the parties to a collective bargaining agreement have not reached agreement by October 1st, and they have engaged the mediation or fact-finding services of the public employment relations commission, the governor shall submit a request for funds equivalent to the employer's last pre-October 1 offer. If the eventual settlement exceeds the request for funds, the governor shall submit a supplementary request for the balance to the legislature in conjunction with the governor's supplementary budget request for the following legislative session.Provides in the case of a bargaining unit of employees in which the exclusive bargaining representative is certified during or after the conclusion of a legislative session, the legislature may act upon the compensation and fringe benefit provisions of the unit's initial collective bargaining agreement if those provisions are agreed upon and submitted to the office of financial management and legislative budget committees prior to final legislative action on the budget or supplementary budget by the sitting legislature or the succeeding legislature as the case may be.
| Feb 1 | First reading, referred to Commerce & Labor. | |
HB 3333
by Representatives McCune and Campbell
Excluding a portion of state route number 7 from the scenic system.
Provides the section beginning on state route number 7 at the junction with 276th street east south of Spanaway, thence north to the junction with 224th street east is excluded from the scenic system.
| Feb 1 | First reading, referred to Transportation. | |
HB 3334
by Representatives Herrera, Moeller, Chandler, Haigh, Kretz, Orcutt, McCune, Haler, and Bailey
Modifying when a special election may be held.
Modifies the dates on which a special election may be held.
| Feb 1 | First reading, referred to State Government & Tribal Affairs. | |
HB 3335
by Representatives Herrera, Chandler, Condotta, Kretz, Orcutt, Warnick, McCune, Ahern, Haler, Dunn, and Bailey
Reducing the regulatory burden for Washington businesses.
Revises rule-making requirements to assure that the legislature can carefully review rules that impose significant requirements on citizens before the rules take effect.Clarifies that certain agencies may adopt only rules derived from a specific grant of legislative authority. The rules must include the specific statutory section or sections from which the grant of authority is derived, and may not rely solely on a section of law stating a statute's intent or purpose or the general enabling provisions establishing the agency.
| Feb 1 | First reading, referred to State Government & Tribal Affairs. | |
SB 5043-S2
by Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation (originally sponsored by Senators Haugen, Jacobsen, Fairley, Keiser, Regala, Hatfield, Berkey, Fraser, Sheldon, Poulsen, Rasmussen, and Kohl-Welles)
Creating a state property tax levy dedicated to parks.
Creates a state property tax levy dedicated to parks.Provides that in each year the state shall levy for collection in the following year for the support of the state parks a tax of one cent per thousand dollars of assessed value upon the assessed valuation of all taxable property within the state adjusted to the state equalized value in accordance with the indicated ratio fixed by the state department of revenue. Revenue from the state parks levy shall be deposited into the state parks renewal and stewardship account, and the revenue from the levy may only be used for deferred and preventive maintenance, historical preservation, renovation, and repair of existing state park facilities and land.
| Jan 24 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 7 | Executive session in committee. | |
| Feb 19 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Jan 31 | NROR - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| And refer to Ways & Means. | ||
| Minority; without recommendation. | ||
| Referred to Ways & Means. | ||
SB 5256-S
by Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Prentice, Roach, Fairley, Kastama, Eide, Hobbs, Fraser, Rockefeller, Kohl-Welles, Rasmussen, Franklin, Kilmer, Honeyford, and Keiser)
Providing for the exclusion of veterans benefits from the income calculation for the retired person property tax relief program.
Provides for the exclusion of specified veterans benefits from the income calculation for the retired person property tax relief program.Applies to taxes levied for collection in 2009 and thereafter.
| Jan 29 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Jan 30 | Executive session in committee. | |
| Feb 19 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Jan 31 | WM - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | ||
SB 5642-S2
by Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Kohl-Welles, Rockefeller, Franklin, and Tom)
Addressing cigarette ignition propensity.
Declares that cigarettes may not be sold or offered for sale in this state or offered for sale or sold to persons located in this state unless the cigarettes have been tested in accordance with the test method and meet the performance standard specified in this act, a written certification has been filed by the manufacturer with the state director of fire protection in accordance with this act, and the cigarettes have been marked in accordance with this act.Provides that a manufacturer, wholesale dealer, agent, or any other person or entity who knowingly sells or offers to sell cigarettes, other than through retail sale, in violation of this act, for a first offense is liable to a civil penalty not to exceed ten thousand dollars per each sale of the cigarettes, and for a subsequent offense is liable to a civil penalty not to exceed twenty-five thousand dollars per each sale of the cigarettes. However, in no case may the penalty against such a person or entity exceed one hundred thousand dollars during any thirty-day period.Provides that the implementation and substance of the New York fire safety standards for cigarettes, New York Executive Law section 156-c, Fire Safety Standards for Cigarettes, shall be persuasive authority in the implementation of this act.
| Feb 19 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 26 | Executive session in committee. | |
| Jan 31 | WM - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | ||
SB 6203-S
by Senate Committee on Water, Energy & Telecommunications (originally sponsored by Senators Sheldon and Shin)
Authorizing a local sales tax deducted from the state portion of the sales tax for purposes of implementing water quality and water quantity projects.
Authorizes a local sales and use tax deducted from the state portion of the sales and use tax for purposes of implementing water quality and water quantity projects, including but not limited to an on-site program management plan for a marine recovery area under chapter 70.118A RCW, a water quality project consistent with the Puget Sound action agenda under RCW 90.71.260, a water quality or water quantity component of a watershed plan approved under chapter 90.82 RCW, a groundwater management area plan, or a water quality project consistent with objectives determined by a total maximum daily load analysis.
| Jan 31 | WET - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| Minority; without recommendation. | ||
| On motion, referred to Ways & Means. | ||
SB 6232-S
by Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation (originally sponsored by Senator Jacobsen)
Requiring a specialized forest products permit to sell raw or unprocessed huckleberries.
Requires a specialized forest products permit to sell raw or unprocessed huckleberries.Requires that the specialized forest practices permit for the sale of huckleberries: (1) May be obtained from the department of natural resources or the sheriff of any county in the state;(2) Must contain information relating to where the huckleberries were, or plan to be, harvested, and the approximate amount of huckleberries that are going to be offered for sale; and(3) Must include a statement designed to inform the possessor that permission from the landowner is still required prior to the harvesting of huckleberries. Provides that possession of a specialized forest products permit does not create a right or privilege to harvest huckleberries. Huckleberries may be harvested only with the permission of the landowner and under the terms and conditions established between the landowner and the harvester.
| Jan 31 | NROR - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | ||
SB 6282-S
by Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care (originally sponsored by Senators Keiser, Franklin, Kohl-Welles, and Marr)
Establishing patient-centered primary care pilots.
Establishes a pilot project program to provide funding and technical assistance to primary care providers willing and able to adopt and maintain medical home models.Limits the program to practices that agree to see a reasonable number of medicaid and medicare clients.Requires a report to the health care committees of legislature on the progress and outcome of the pilot project program.
| Jan 31 | HEA - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| And refer to Ways & Means. | ||
| Referred to Ways & Means. | ||
SB 6307-S
by Senate Committee on Water, Energy & Telecommunications (originally sponsored by Senators Rockefeller, Kilmer, Jacobsen, and Kohl-Welles)
Regarding marine managed areas.
Requires the Puget Sound partnership to prepare a Puget Sound marine managed areas plan to coordinate and strengthen all of the marine managed areas programs managed by state agencies and local governments.Establishes the aquatic reserve system. The aquatic reserve system is comprised of those areas of state-owned aquatic lands designated by the department prior to the effective date of this act and any areas added to the system by order of the commissioner thereafter.Allows the fish and wildlife commission to adopt rules governing the taking of fish, shellfish, or wildlife within or adjacent to a designated aquatic reserve, or other marine managed areas.
| Jan 31 | WET - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| And refer to Ways & Means. | ||
| Minority; do not pass. | ||
| Referred to Ways & Means. | ||
SB 6324-S
by Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Sheldon, Haugen, and Shin)
Providing liability immunity for aerial search and rescue activities managed by the department of transportation.
Provides that an act or omission by any person registered with the aviation division of the department of transportation for the purpose of engaging in aerial search and rescue activities, while engaged in such activities, shall not impose any liability on the department or the person for civil damages resulting from the act or omission.Provides that the immunity provided under this act shall not apply to an act or omission that constitutes gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct.
| Jan 31 | TRAN - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | ||
SB 6468-S
by Senate Committee on Agriculture & Rural Economic Development (originally sponsored by Senators King, Rasmussen, Roach, Hobbs, Honeyford, Hewitt, and Sheldon)
Concerning the taxation of honey beekeepers.
Provides that sales and use tax does not apply to the sale of honey bees to, or use of by, an eligible apiarist.Provides that the business and occupation tax shall not apply to amounts derived from the pollination services or wholesale sale of honey bee products by a person who owns or keeps bee colonies.
| Jan 31 | ARED - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| And refer to Ways & Means. | ||
| Referred to Ways & Means. | ||
SB 6503-S
by Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education (originally sponsored by Senators McDermott, Brandland, McAuliffe, and Rasmussen; by request of Superintendent of Public Instruction)
Approving the segmented mathematics assessment as an alternative assessment.
Provides that, beginning in the 2011-12 school year, a student may use an objective alternative assessment option for mathematics developed by the superintendent of public instruction that: Presents the mathematics essential academic learning requirements in segments; is comparable in content and rigor to the high school mathematics assessment when all segments are considered together; is reliable and valid; is administered in conjunction with a segmented mathematics course; and can be used to determine whether a student has met the high school mathematics standard.Orders the office of the superintendent of public instruction to report annually through December 1, 2011, to the appropriate committees of the legislature the number of students who enroll in the segmented mathematics course, the number of students who successfully complete the course, and the number of students who enroll or complete the course and also meet the state standard on the high school level mathematics content area of the Washington assessment of student learning.
| Jan 31 | EDU - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | ||
SB 6794-S
by Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Haugen, Spanel, Shin, and Rockefeller; by request of Governor Gregoire)
Requiring the procurement of new ferry vessels that carry no more than one hundred motor vehicles.
Requires the department of transportation to construct one or more new ferry vessels for service on routes that require a vessel that carries no more than one hundred motor vehicles.Requires that the vessels be constructed within the state of Washington.
| Jan 31 | TRAN - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | |
| Minority; do not pass. | ||
| Minority; without recommendation. | ||
| Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | ||
SB 6899
by Senators Rockefeller, Haugen, Oemig, Shin, Kilmer, and Rasmussen
Limiting the rate of increase of property valuations.
Provides that the intent of this act is to provide property tax relief by limiting valuation increases until ownership of the property changes.Provides that all real property shall be appraised at one hundred percent of its true and fair value in money and assessed as provided in this act.
| Feb 1 | First reading, referred to Ways & Means. | |
SB 6900
by Senators Tom, Kohl-Welles, Pridemore, Keiser, and Kline
Establishing vehicle engine displacement and emissions fees.
Requires vehicle engine displacement and emissions fees for certain motor vehicles.
| Feb 1 | First reading, referred to Water, Energy & Telecommunications. | |
SB 6901
by Senator Jacobsen
Addressing the environmental impact of off-road vehicle use.
Requires the department of licensing to provide for the issuance of identification plates for off-road vehicles.Requires the department of licensing to distribute the identification plate with each ORV use permit distributed during the calendar year following the effective date of this act.Requires that prior to expending funds for ORV recreation facilities, the recreation and conservation funding board must accept applications and fund appropriate projects submitted by the department of natural resources, the department of fish and wildlife, and the parks and recreation commission to repair or mitigate for soil erosion or damage to trees, crops, riparian areas, or other vegetation resulting from unauthorized off-road vehicle use.Prohibits the operation of a nonhighway vehicle on lands not owned by the operator or owner of the nonhighway vehicle in any area or in such a manner so as to unreasonably expose the underlying soil; create an erosion condition; or injure, damage, or destroy trees, growing crops, or other vegetation.
| Feb 1 | First reading, referred to Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation. | |
SB 6902
by Senator Rockefeller
Updating the Washington clean air act.
Declares that the purpose of this act is to make technical, nonsubstantive changes to the Washington clean air act, chapter 70.94 RCW, in order to improve organization, readability, and clarity. No provision of this act may be construed as a substantive change to the Washington clean air act.
| Feb 1 | First reading, referred to Water, Energy & Telecommunications. | |
SB 6903
by Senators Fraser, Brandland, Oemig, Roach, Franklin, Spanel, Parlette, Rockefeller, and Rasmussen
Prioritizing four-year higher education institutions' capital project requests.
Requires, by November 1st of each even-numbered year, beginning in 2008, the office of financial management to complete an objective analysis and scoring of all capital budget projects proposed by the public four-year institutions of higher education and submit the results of the scoring process to the legislative fiscal committees, the higher education coordinating board, and the four-year institutions. Each project must be reviewed and scored within one of the categories listed in the act, according to the project's principal purpose. Each project may be scored in only one category.Requires, by August 15th of each even-numbered year, beginning in 2008, each public four-year higher education institution to prepare and submit a single prioritized list of the individual projects proposed by the institution, except for research institutions which shall prepare two separate prioritized lists, one for the main campus, and one covering all of the institution's branch campuses, to the office of financial management and the legislative fiscal committees.Requires the higher education coordinating board and the state board for community and technical colleges to submit a higher education capital facility financing study to the governor and the appropriate legislative fiscal committees by December 1, 2008.
| Feb 1 | First reading, referred to Ways & Means. | |
SB 6904
by Senators Swecker, Roach, and Rasmussen
Providing tax relief for property damaged as a result of a natural disaster.
Provides the tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 does not apply to sales of tangible personal property and labor and services used for constructing, repairing, decorating, or rebuilding a residence or associated structures that was owned and occupied by an eligible person as a principal place of residence during calendar year 2007, when the construction, repair, decorating, or rebuilding is as a result of flood damage occurring during December 2007.Provides chapter 82.12 RCW does not apply with respect to the use of tangible personal property and labor and services for constructing, repairing, decorating, or rebuilding a residence that was owned and occupied by an eligible person as a principal place of residence during calendar year 2007, when the construction, repair, decorating, or rebuilding is as a result of flood damage occurring during December 2007.
| Feb 1 | First reading, referred to Ways & Means. | |
SB 6905
by Senators Swecker, Roach, and Rasmussen
Extending the commencement-of-construction date for a sales and use tax for public facilities districts in national disaster counties.
Extends the commencement-of-construction date for a sales and use tax for public facilities districts in national disaster counties.
| Feb 1 | First reading, referred to Ways & Means. | |
SB 6906
by Senators Swecker, Roach, and Rasmussen
Regarding mitigation for hydraulic projects undertaken in response to a flood event.
Provides the department of fish and wildlife shall not require mitigation for emergency oral permits issued under RCW 77.55.021(8) issued in response to a flood event.
| Feb 1 | First reading, referred to Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation. | |
SB 6907
by Senators Oemig, Brandland, Weinstein, McDermott, and Hobbs
Allowing state employees to use state-owned electronic devices for limited personal use.
Authorizes a state officer or state employee to use a state-owned electronic device for personal use, as long as the use does not materially diminish the value of the device or devices, does not consume tangible resources such as paper or ink, and the use occurs during the officer's or employee's breaks and meal periods, or outside of the officer's or employee's regular work hours.
| Feb 1 | First reading, referred to Government Operations & Elections. | |
SJR 8228
by Senators Rockefeller, Haugen, Oemig, Shin, Kilmer, Sheldon, McAuliffe, and Rasmussen
Limiting property valuation increases.
Proposes an amendment to the state Constitution limiting property valuation increases.
| Feb 1 | First reading, referred to Ways & Means. | |