WHEREAS, The state of Washington is widely regarded as the most trade intensive state in the nation, with one out of every three or four jobs dependent on international trade; and

      WHEREAS, The volume of Washington's trade continues to increase greatly, with exports of $38 billion in 2005 and exports valued at $45 billion estimated in 2006; and

      WHEREAS, The state of Washington trades with nations all over the world and new markets continue to emerge constantly; and

      WHEREAS, The benefit from Washington's interactions with the rest of the world is much more than economic, but also provides great cultural and educational enrichment to our citizens; and

      WHEREAS, The residents of the state of Washington's primary formal connection to other nations and economies is through the foreign official representatives serving in the state; and

      WHEREAS, The foreign official representatives work tirelessly to act as a conduit between the state of Washington and the region they represent: Educating and assisting Washington constituents and promoting the two regions to each other; and

      WHEREAS, The foreign consuls in the state of Washington, who are accredited by the United States Department of State, are members of the Consular Corps, as defined under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 1963, and is currently composed of 36 head of post members; and

      WHEREAS, The Consular Association of Washington was formed in 1997 as a voluntary membership organization for members of the Consular Corps of Washington, foreign trade organizations, and others; and

      WHEREAS, The membership of the Consular Association is currently the 36-member countries of the Consular Corps plus the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, in addition to emeritus and ex officio members; and

      WHEREAS, The Consular Association facilitates its membership to meet to discuss questions of mutual interest, develop and maintain friendships, fosters contact with regional United States authorities at the federal, state, and city levels, with other local organizations, and with the community at large; and

      WHEREAS, The foreign official representatives in the state of Washington build strong connections between the communities of Washington state and the communities in their regions by developing educational, medical, and cultural exchange programs, increased tourism, and trade and goodwill missions; and

      WHEREAS, The foreign official representatives provide great benefit to the citizens and businesses of the state of Washington with their unflagging efforts to strengthen the bonds between our regions;

      NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize and honor the economic, cultural, and other contributions of the foreign official representatives in the state of Washington and the unique and beneficial nature of the functions they serve; and

      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the members of the Consular Association of Washington state.

      Senators Kastama, Delvin, Shin, Franklin, Rasmussen and Roach spoke in favor of adoption of the resolution.

      The President declared the question before the Senate to be the adoption of Senate Resolution No. 8671.

      The motion by Senator Kastama carried and the resolution was adopted by voice vote.

INTRODUCTION OF SPECIAL GUESTS

      The President welcomed and introduced members of the Consular Association of Washington who were seated in the gallery.

MOTION

      On motion of Senator Eide, the Senate reverted to the first order of business.

REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES

March 23, 2007

SHB 1041          Prime Sponsor, Committee on Judiciary: Modifying plurality voting for directors. Reported by Committee on Judiciary

MAJORITY recommendation: Do pass as amended. Signed by Senators Kline, Chair; Tom, Vice Chair; Carrell, Hargrove, McCaslin, Murray and Weinstein

Passed to Committee on Rules for second reading.

March 26, 2007

ESHB 1052        Prime Sponsor, Committee on State Government & Tribal Affairs: Modifying the legislative youth advisory council. Reported by Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education

MAJORITY recommendation: Do pass as amended. Signed by Senators McAuliffe, Chair; Tom, Vice Chair; Brandland, Clements, Eide, Hewitt, Hobbs, Holmquist, Kauffman, Oemig and Rasmussen

Passed to Committee on Ways & Means.

March 27, 2007

HB 1231            Prime Sponsor, Kirby: Modifying provisions concerning pawnbrokers. Reported by Committee on Financial Institutions & Insurance

MAJORITY recommendation: Do pass. Signed by Senators Berkey, Chair; Hobbs, Vice Chair; Franklin, Hatfield, Parlette and Schoesler

Passed to Committee on Rules for second reading.

March 27, 2007

HB 1235            Prime Sponsor, Kirby: Providing confidentiality to certain insurance commissioner examinations. Reported by Committee on Financial Institutions & Insurance

MAJORITY recommendation: Do pass. Signed by Senators Berkey, Chair; Hobbs, Vice Chair; Franklin, Hatfield, Parlette and Schoesler

Passed to Committee on Rules for second reading.

March 27, 2007

HB 1236            Prime Sponsor, Roach: Establishing certain capital and surplus requirements necessary to transact insurance. Reported by Committee on Financial Institutions & Insurance

MAJORITY recommendation: Do pass. Signed by Senators Berkey, Chair; Hobbs, Vice Chair; Franklin, Hatfield, Parlette and Schoesler

Passed to Committee on Rules for second reading.

March 27, 2007

HB 1270            Prime Sponsor, Kirby: Modifying provisions of the consumer loan act with respect to loan restrictions. Reported by Committee on Financial Institutions & Insurance

MAJORITY recommendation: Do pass. Signed by Senators Berkey, Chair; Hobbs, Vice Chair; Franklin, Hatfield, Parlette and Schoesler

Passed to Committee on Rules for second reading.

March 26, 2007

EHB 1283          Prime Sponsor, Roach: Authorizing high school diplomas to be issued to persons who left high school before graduation to serve in the United States armed forces. Reported by Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education

MAJORITY recommendation: Do pass as amended. Signed by Senators McAuliffe, Chair; Tom, Vice Chair; Brandland, Clements, Eide, Hewitt, Hobbs, Holmquist, Kauffman, Oemig and Rasmussen

Passed to Committee on Rules for second reading.

March 26, 2007

HB 1285            Prime Sponsor, Anderson: Recodifying the basic education program. Reported by Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education

MAJORITY recommendation: Do pass as amended. Signed by Senators McAuliffe, Chair; Tom, Vice Chair; Brandland, Clements, Eide, Hewitt, Hobbs, Holmquist, Kauffman, Oemig and Rasmussen

Passed to Committee on Rules for second reading.

March 26, 2007

SHB 1407          Prime Sponsor, Committee on Commerce & Labor: Funding the administration of Title 50 RCW, unemployment compensation. Reported by Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research & Development

MAJORITY recommendation: Do pass as amended. Signed by Senators Kohl-Welles, Chair; Keiser, Vice Chair; Clements, Franklin, Holmquist, Murray and Prentice

Passed to Committee on Ways & Means.

March 26, 2007

E2SHB 1432      Prime Sponsor, Committee on Appropriations: Granting service credit to educational staff associates for nonschool employment. Reported by Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education

MAJORITY recommendation: Do pass. Signed by Senators McAuliffe, Chair; Tom, Vice Chair; Brandland, Clements, Eide, Hewitt, Hobbs, Holmquist, Kauffman, Oemig and Rasmussen

Passed to Committee on Ways & Means.

March 27, 2007

ESHB 1464        Prime Sponsor, Committee on Select Committee on Environmental Health: Reducing the environmental impact of cleaning state facilities. Reported by Committee on Water, Energy & Telecommunications

MAJORITY recommendation: Do pass as amended. Signed by Senators Poulsen, Chair; Rockefeller, Vice Chair; Delvin, Fraser, Oemig and Pridemore

MINORITY recommendation: Without recommendation. Signed by Senators Holmquist, Honeyford and Regala

Passed to Committee on Rules for second reading.

March 27, 2007

ESHB 1512        Prime Sponsor, Committee on Finance: Increasing the amount the treasurer may use for the linked deposit program. Reported by Committee on Financial Institutions & Insurance

MAJORITY recommendation: Do pass. Signed by Senators Berkey, Chair; Hobbs, Vice Chair; Franklin, Hatfield and Prentice

Passed to Committee on Ways & Means.

March 26, 2007

HB 1517            Prime Sponsor, Schual-Berke: Enhancing public school world language instruction. Reported by Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education

MAJORITY recommendation: Do pass as amended. Signed by Senators McAuliffe, Chair; Tom, Vice Chair; Brandland, Clements, Eide, Hewitt, Hobbs, Holmquist, Kauffman, Oemig and Rasmussen

Passed to Committee on Ways & Means.

March 23, 2007

HB 1520            Prime Sponsor, Williams: Concerning polygraph examinations of sexual assault victims. Reported by Committee on Judiciary

MAJORITY recommendation: Do pass as amended. Signed by Senators Kline, Chair; Tom, Vice Chair; Carrell, Hargrove, Roach and Weinstein

Passed to Committee on Rules for second reading.

March 27, 2007

SHB 1848          Prime Sponsor, Committee on Health Care & Wellness: Requiring identification from health services applicants. Revised for 1st Substitute: Requiring the department of social and health services and the health care authority to enter into data-sharing agreements with Oregon and Idaho agencies. Reported by Committee on Health & Long-Term Care

MAJORITY recommendation: Do pass. Signed by Senators Keiser, Chair; Franklin, Vice Chair; Carrell, Fairley, Kastama, Kohl-Welles, Marr and Parlette

Passed to Committee on Rules for second reading.

March 27, 2007

SHB 1953          Prime Sponsor, Committee on Insurance, Financial Services & Consumer Protection: Requiring premium reductions for older insureds completing an accident prevention course. Reported by Committee on Financial Institutions & Insurance

MAJORITY recommendation: Do pass. Signed by Senators Berkey, Chair; Hobbs, Vice Chair; Franklin, Hatfield, Parlette and Schoesler

Passed to Committee on Rules for second reading.

March 26, 2007

HB 2009            Prime Sponsor, Haigh: Modifying trench excavations on public works projects provisions. Reported by Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research & Development

MAJORITY recommendation: Do pass. Signed by Senators Kohl-Welles, Chair; Keiser, Vice Chair; Clements, Franklin, Holmquist, Murray and Prentice

Passed to Committee on Rules for second reading.

March 26, 2007

SHB 2010          Prime Sponsor, Committee on State Government & Tribal Affairs: Providing responsible bidder criteria and related requirements for public works contracts. Reported by Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research & Development

MAJORITY recommendation: Do pass. Signed by Senators Kohl-Welles, Chair; Keiser, Vice Chair; Clements, Franklin, Murray and Prentice

MINORITY recommendation: Do not pass. Signed by Senator Holmquist

Passed to Committee on Rules for second reading.

March 26, 2007

HB 2026            Prime Sponsor, Santos: Regarding recruiter access to student records. Reported by Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education

MAJORITY recommendation: Do pass as amended. Signed by Senators McAuliffe, Chair; Tom, Vice Chair; Brandland, Clements, Eide, Hewitt, Hobbs, Holmquist, Kauffman, Oemig and Rasmussen

Passed to Committee on Rules for second reading.

March 26, 2007

ESHB 2073        Prime Sponsor, Committee on Commerce & Labor: Establishing a pilot program for vocational rehabilitation services. Reported by Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research & Development

MAJORITY recommendation: Do pass. Signed by Senators Kohl-Welles, Chair; Keiser, Vice Chair; Clements, Franklin, Holmquist, Murray and Prentice

Passed to Committee on Rules for second reading.

March 26, 2007

HB 2137            Prime Sponsor, Wallace: Allowing school employees' children with disabilities to enroll in special services programs in the district where the employee is assigned. Reported by Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education

MAJORITY recommendation: Do pass. Signed by Senators McAuliffe, Chair; Tom, Vice Chair; Brandland, Clements, Eide, Hewitt, Hobbs, Holmquist, Kauffman, Oemig and Rasmussen

Passed to Committee on Rules for second reading.

March 26, 2007

HB 2154            Prime Sponsor, Fromhold: Regarding election dates for educational service district board members. Reported by Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education

MAJORITY recommendation: Do pass. Signed by Senators McAuliffe, Chair; Tom, Vice Chair; Brandland, Clements, Eide, Hobbs, Holmquist, Kauffman, Oemig and Rasmussen

Passed to Committee on Rules for second reading.

March 27, 2007

SHB 2209          Prime Sponsor, Committee on Health Care & Wellness: Allowing advanced registered nurse practitioners to examine and obtain copies of autopsy reports. Reported by Committee on Health & Long-Term Care

MAJORITY recommendation: Do pass as amended. Signed by Senators Keiser, Chair; Franklin, Vice Chair; Carrell, Fairley, Kastama, Kohl-Welles, Marr and Parlette

Passed to Committee on Rules for second reading.

March 27, 2007

HB 2263            Prime Sponsor, Blake: Regarding the phosphorus content in dishwashing detergent. Reported by Committee on Water, Energy & Telecommunications

MAJORITY recommendation: Do pass. Signed by Senators Poulsen, Chair; Delvin, Fraser, Holmquist, Honeyford, Pridemore and Regala

MINORITY recommendation: Do not pass. Signed by Senators Rockefeller, Vice Chair and Oemig

Passed to Committee on Rules for second reading.

March 27, 2007

HB 2283            Prime Sponsor, Hunter: Concerning the joint legislative audit and review committee performance reviews of the home care quality authority. Reported by Committee on Health & Long-Term Care

MAJORITY recommendation: Do pass. Signed by Senators Keiser, Chair; Franklin, Vice Chair; Carrell, Fairley, Kastama, Kohl-Welles, Marr and Parlette

Passed to Committee on Rules for second reading.

March 27, 2007

SHB 2286          Prime Sponsor, Committee on Insurance, Financial Services & Consumer Protection: Regulating interstate branching. Reported by Committee on Financial Institutions & Insurance

MAJORITY recommendation: Do pass. Signed by Senators Berkey, Chair; Hobbs, Vice Chair; Franklin, Hatfield, Parlette and Schoesler

Passed to Committee on Rules for second reading.

March 26, 2007

SHB 2304          Prime Sponsor, Committee on Appropriations: Providing for the issuance of a certificate of need for certain cardiac care services. Reported by Committee on Health & Long-Term Care

MAJORITY recommendation: Do pass as amended. Signed by Senators Keiser, Chair; Franklin, Vice Chair; Carrell, Fairley, Kastama, Kohl-Welles and Parlette

MINORITY recommendation: Do not pass. Signed by Senator Marr

Passed to Committee on Ways & Means.

March 26, 2007

SHB 2361          Prime Sponsor, Committee on Commerce & Labor: Regarding collective bargaining for certain employees of institutions of higher education and related boards. Reported by Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research & Development

MAJORITY recommendation: Do pass. Signed by Senators Kohl-Welles, Chair; Keiser, Vice Chair; Franklin, Murray and Prentice

MINORITY recommendation: Do not pass. Signed by Senators Clements and Holmquist

Passed to Committee on Ways & Means.

MOTION

On motion of Senator Eide, all measures listed on the Standing Committee report were referred to the committees as designated.

MOTION

      On motion of Senator Eide, the Senate advanced to the fifth order of business.

INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING

SB 6168             by Senators Berkey, Zarelli, Stevens and Shin

AN ACT Relating to excise tax relief for aerospace product development businesses; amending RCW 82.08.981, 82.12.981, 82.04.4487, 82.32.545, and 82.04.4463; reenacting and amending RCW 82.04.440; adding a new section to chapter 82.04 RCW; providing an effective date; and providing an expiration date.

Referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

MOTION

      On motion of Senator Eide, the measure listed on the Introduction and First Reading report was referred to the committee as designated.

MOTION

At 10:25 a.m., on motion of Senator Eide, the Senate was declared to be at ease subject to the call of the President.

The Senate was called to order at 11:44 a.m. by President Owen.

MOTION

      At 11:45 p.m., on motion of Senator Eide, the Senate adjourned until 12:00 a.m. Thursday, March 29, 2007.

BRAD OWEN, President of the Senate

THOMAS HOEMANN, Secretary of the Senate