Legislative Digest No. 43

	WASHINGTON STATE LEGISLATURE
Legislative Digest No. 43

SIXTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE
Thursday, March 12, 2015		60th Day - 2015 Regular Session

SENATE

SB 5091

HOUSE

HB 1187	HB 1320-S2	HB 1420-S	HB 1546-S2	HB 1807-S2	HB 1808-S	HB 1844-S
HB 1850-S2	HB 2084	HB 2192

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=2015.

House Bills

HB 1187

by Representatives Chandler, Blake, Buys, Stanford, Hayes, and Parker

Concerning best practices for water banks.

(AS OF HOUSE 2ND READING 3/10/15)

Establishes the Yakima basin water banking best practices act to establish standards for water banking in the Yakima basin.

-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Jan 15	First reading, referred to Agriculture & Natural Resources (Not Officially read and referred until adoption of Introduction report).
Feb 17	AGNR - Majority; do pass.
Feb 18	Referred to Rules 2 Review.
Mar 4	Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
Mar 10	Floor amendment(s) adopted.
	Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
	Third reading, passed; yeas, 76; nays, 21; absent, 0; excused, 1.

HB 1320-S2

by House Committee on General Government & Information Technology (originally sponsored by Representatives Goodman and Moscoso; by request of Department of Corrections)

Creating an identicard program for certain incarcerated offenders.

(AS OF HOUSE 2ND READING 3/10/15)

Requires the department of corrections, in conjunction with the department of licensing, to provide offenders with a state-issued identicard.

Requires an offender receiving a state-issued identicard to pay a fee, as established by the department of licensing, to the department of corrections to offset the cost of obtaining the identicard.

Allows the department of licensing to charge the department of corrections a fee for the amount appropriate to cover the cost of production of an identicard issued to an eligible offender.

-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 13	GGIT - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
Feb 18	Referred to Rules 2 Review.
Mar 10	Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.
	2nd substitute bill substituted.
	Floor amendment(s) adopted.
	Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
	Third reading, passed; yeas, 97; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 1.

HB 1420-S

by House Committee on Local Government (originally sponsored by Representatives Wilcox, Springer, Magendanz, G. Hunt, Muri, Kirby, Takko, Kilduff, and Hargrove)

Establishing a legislative task force on school siting.

(AS OF HOUSE 2ND READING 3/10/15)

Creates the legislative task force on school siting and requires the task force to review the issue of siting schools inside and outside of urban growth areas.

Requires staff from the office of the superintendent of public instruction, affected school districts, counties, and cities to support the task force by providing local information as needed.

Expires January 1, 2016.

-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 18	LG - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
	Minority; do not pass.
Feb 20	Referred to Rules 2 Review.
Mar 4	Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
Mar 10	1st substitute bill substituted.
	Floor amendment(s) adopted.
	Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
	Third reading, passed; yeas, 82; nays, 16; absent, 0; excused, 0.

HB 1546-S2

by House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Reykdal, Pollet, Springer, Bergquist, S. Hunt, Lytton, Tarleton, Wylie, and McBride; by request of Office of Financial Management)

Concerning dual credit opportunities provided by Washington state's public institutions of higher education.

(AS OF HOUSE 2ND READING 3/10/15)

Provides students with more dual credit opportunities and financial aid to low-income students to increase their participation in dual credit opportunities.

Clarifies the running start program and the college in the high school program.

Provides that sections 1 through 3 of this act are null and void if appropriations are not approved.

-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 27	APP - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
	Minority; do not pass.
	Minority; without recommendation.
	Referred to Rules 2 Review.
Mar 9	Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.
Mar 10	2nd substitute bill substituted.
	Floor amendment(s) adopted.
	Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
	Third reading, passed; yeas, 53; nays, 45; absent, 0; excused, 0.

HB 1807-S2

by House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Condotta and Hurst)

Assisting small businesses licensed to sell spirits in Washington state.

(AS OF HOUSE 2ND READING 3/10/15)

Allows a group of individual retailers authorized to sell spirits for consumption off the licensed premises to, for purposes of negotiating volume discounts, accept delivery of spirits at their individual licensed premises or at any one of the individual licensee's premises, or at a warehouse facility registered with the state liquor control board.

Authorizes the state liquor control board to assess a penalty at a rate no higher than one percent per month on the balance of an unpaid license issuance fee if a licensee, subject to license issuance fee requirements, fails to submit its quarterly reports or payment to the board.

Provides that this act is null and void if appropriations are not approved.

-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 27	APP - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
	Minority; do not pass.
	Referred to Rules 2 Review.
Mar 3	Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
Mar 10	2nd substitute bill substituted.
	Floor amendment(s) adopted.
	Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
	Third reading, passed; yeas, 98; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 0.

HB 1808-S

by House Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives Stanford, Manweller, Blake, Orcutt, Ryu, Zeiger, Moscoso, Harris, Appleton, Wilcox, Takko, Haler, Pollet, Kochmar, Ormsby, Holy, Vick, Fey, Sells, Dunshee, Hayes, Farrell, S. Hunt, Reykdal, and Van De Wege)

Concerning passenger-carrying vehicles for railroad employees.

(AS OF HOUSE 2ND READING 3/10/15)

Requires the utilities and transportation commission to: (1) Regulate persons providing contract railroad crew transportation and contract crew hauling vehicles with respect to the safety of equipment, driver qualifications, insurance levels, and safety of operations;

(2) Compile data regarding reported safety complaints, accidents, regulatory violations and fines, and corrective actions taken by the commission involving passenger-carrying vehicles; and

(3) Develop an inspection program for contract crew hauling vehicles.

-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 24	TR - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
	Minority; do not pass.
	Minority; without recommendation.
Feb 27	Referred to Rules 2 Review.
Mar 6	Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.
Mar 10	1st substitute bill substituted.
	Floor amendment(s) adopted.
	Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
	Third reading, passed; yeas, 84; nays, 14; absent, 0; excused, 0.

HB 1844-S

by House Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives Moscoso, Kochmar, Clibborn, Fey, Appleton, Ortiz-Self, and Tarleton)

Concerning work performed by state forces on ferry vessels and terminals.

(AS OF HOUSE 2ND READING 3/10/15)

Increases the threshold from one hundred twenty thousand dollars to two hundred forty thousand dollars for work performed on ferry vessels and terminals by state forces.

Requires the department of transportation, when the estimated cost of work to be performed by state forces is between one hundred twenty thousand dollars and the dollar amount set above, to first contact contractors that appear on the department's small works roster to do specific work the contractors are qualified to do to determine if any contractor is interested and capable of doing the work.

-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 16	TR - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
Feb 19	Referred to Rules 2 Review.
Mar 6	Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.
Mar 10	1st substitute bill substituted.
	Floor amendment(s) adopted.
	Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
	Third reading, passed; yeas, 98; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 0.

HB 1850-S2

by House Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives Hayes, Clibborn, Orcutt, Takko, Harmsworth, Riccelli, Rodne, Bergquist, Wilson, Robinson, Smith, Muri, and Magendanz)

Exempting certain department of transportation actions from local review or permit processes under the shoreline management act.

(AS OF HOUSE 2ND READING 3/10/15)

Exempts the following from requirements to obtain a substantial development permit, conditional use permit, variance, letter of exemption, or other review conducted by a local government to implement the shoreline management act: (1) Normal maintenance or repair of existing structures or developments by the department of transportation, including maintenance or repair of damage caused by accident, fire, or the elements; and

(2) Construction or installation of safety structures and equipment by the department of transportation, including pavement marking, freeway surveillance and control systems, railroad protective devices, grooving, glare screen, safety barriers, energy attenuators, and hazardous or dangerous tree removal.

-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 26	TR - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
	Minority; do not pass.
	Minority; without recommendation.
Feb 27	Referred to Rules 2 Review.
Mar 9	Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.
Mar 10	2nd substitute bill substituted.
	Floor amendment(s) adopted.
	Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
	Third reading, passed; yeas, 98; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 0.

HB 2084

by Representative Hunter

Imposing fines, withholding taxes, and other measures to encourage local jurisdictions to timely file state-required reports. (REVISED FOR ENGROSSED: Allowing the state treasurer to withhold taxes to encourage local jurisdictions to timely file financial reports. )

(AS OF HOUSE 2ND READING 3/10/15)

Requires the state auditor to notify the state and county treasurers of special purpose districts that have not timely filed the required annual financial report for the current year.

Prohibits the state treasurer from distributing local sales and use taxes imposed by the special purpose district to the district until the state treasurer is notified that the district is compliant.

Prohibits county treasurers from distributing regular property taxes imposed by the special purpose district, or other charges the county collects on behalf of the district, to the district until the county treasurer is notified that the district is compliant.

-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 11	First reading, referred to Local Government (Not Officially read and referred until adoption of Introduction report).
Feb 19	LG - Majority; do pass.
	Minority; do not pass.
Feb 20	Referred to Finance.
Feb 24	FIN - Majority; do pass.
	Minority; do not pass.
Feb 27	Referred to Rules 2 Review.
Mar 9	Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.
Mar 10	Floor amendment(s) adopted.
	Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
	Third reading, passed; yeas, 83; nays, 15; absent, 0; excused, 0.

HB 2192

by Representatives Taylor, Scott, Young, and Shea

Repealing the prescription monitoring program.

Repeals the prescription monitoring program.

-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Mar 11	First reading, referred to Health Care & Wellness (Not Officially read and referred until adoption of Introduction report).

Senate Bills

SB 5091

by Senators Brown, Hewitt, and Sheldon

Including nuclear energy in the definition of a "qualified alternative energy resource" for the purposes of RCW 19.29A.090.

(AS OF SENATE 2ND READING 3/10/15)

Revises the definition of "qualified alternative energy resource," for the purposes of RCW 19.29A.090 (voluntary option to purchase qualified alternative energy resources), to include nuclear energy.

Expands the information required on the billing statement of a retail electricity customer.

-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Jan 14	First reading, referred to Energy, Environment & Telecommunications.
Feb 3	EET - Majority; do pass.
	Minority; do not pass.
	Minority; without recommendation.
Feb 4	Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
Mar 6	Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
Mar 10	Floor amendment(s) adopted.
	Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
	Third reading, passed; yeas, 29; nays, 20; absent, 0; excused, 0.

SB 5226

by Senators Becker, Braun, Warnick, Dammeier, and Benton

Protecting public sector workers' rights through public disclosure of public sector unions' finances.

(AS OF SENATE 2ND READING 3/10/15)

Increases transparency and financial disclosure of public sector unions' finances.

Provides that this act is null and void if appropriations are not approved.

-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Jan 15	First reading, referred to Commerce & Labor.
Jan 29	CL - Majority; do pass.
	Minority; do not pass.
	On motion, referred to Ways & Means.
Feb 25	WM - Majority; do pass.
	Minority; do not pass.
	Minority; without recommendation.
Feb 26	Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
Mar 6	Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
Mar 10	Floor amendment(s) adopted.
	Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
	Third reading, passed; yeas, 26; nays, 22; absent, 0; excused, 1.

SB 5510

by Senators Braun, Baumgartner, Rivers, and Angel

Simplifying and adding certainty to the calculation of workers' compensation benefits. (REVISED FOR ENGROSSED: Simplifying and adding certainty to the calculation of workers' compensation benefits by creating a working group to develop recommendations. )

(AS OF SENATE 2ND READING 3/10/15)

Requires the department of labor and industries to convene a benefit accuracy working group to develop recommendations to improve the calculation of wages under the industrial insurance program.

Requires the working group to focus on improving the accuracy, simplicity, fairness, and consistency of calculating and providing wage replacement benefits.

Prohibits the working group from considering overall reductions in existing worker benefit levels.

-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Jan 22	First reading, referred to Commerce & Labor.
Feb 12	CL - Majority; do pass.
	Minority; do not pass.
	Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
Mar 6	Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
Mar 10	Floor amendment(s) adopted.
	Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
	Third reading, passed; yeas, 41; nays, 8; absent, 0; excused, 0.

SB 5513

by Senators Braun, Baumgartner, Dammeier, Rivers, Bailey, Sheldon, Schoesler, Warnick, and Honeyford

Creating the workers' recovery act by amending provisions governing structured settlements by lowering age barriers and clarifying legislative intent. (REVISED FOR ENGROSSED: Creating the workers' recovery act by amending provisions governing structured settlements by lowering age barriers. )

(AS OF SENATE 2ND READING 3/10/15)

Establishes the workers' recovery act.

Revises structured settlement provisions and lowers age barriers.

-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Jan 22	First reading, referred to Commerce & Labor.
Feb 19	CL - Majority; do pass.
	Minority; do not pass.
	Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
Mar 6	Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
Mar 10	Floor amendment(s) adopted.
	Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
	Third reading, passed; yeas, 28; nays, 21; absent, 0; excused, 0.

SB 5577

by Senators Braun and Cleveland

Concerning pharmaceutical waste.

(AS OF SENATE 2ND READING 3/10/15)

Requires the department of ecology to convene a work group to identify the problems of properly managing pharmaceutical wastes and recommend solutions to improve management of these wastes at the site of generation through treatment or disposal by commercial waste management facilities.

-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Jan 26	First reading, referred to Health Care.
Feb 2	HLTH - Majority; without recommendation.
	And refer to Energy, Environment & Telecommunications.
Feb 3	Referred to Energy, Environment & Telecommunications.
Feb 13	EET - Majority; do pass.
	Minority; do not pass.
	Minority; without recommendation.
	Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
Mar 6	Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
Mar 10	Floor amendment(s) adopted.
	Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
	Third reading, passed; yeas, 48; nays, 1; absent, 0; excused, 0.

SB 5871

by Senators Angel, Liias, Roach, McCoy, and Chase

Creating appeal procedures for single-family homeowners with failing septic systems required to connect to public sewer systems.

(AS OF SENATE 2ND READING 3/10/15)

Requires a local government with an ordinance or resolution requiring connection to a public sewer system to, upon the failure of an on-site septic system, provide an administrative appeals process to consider denials of permit applications to repair or replace the septic system.

-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Feb 6	First reading, referred to Government Operations & Security.
Feb 12	GOS - Majority; do pass.
Feb 13	Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
Mar 6	Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
Mar 10	Floor amendment(s) adopted.
	Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
	Third reading, passed; yeas, 49; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 0.

Senate Joint Resolutions

SJR 8204

by Senators Keiser, Honeyford, and Conway

Amending the Constitution to allow the state to guarantee debt issued on behalf of a political subdivision for essential public infrastructure.

(AS OF SENATE 2ND READING 3/10/15)

Proposes an amendment to the state Constitution to allow the state to guarantee the obligations incurred to finance or refinance essential public infrastructure by or on behalf of a local government entity as authorized by the legislature.

-- 2015 REGULAR SESSION --
Jan 26	First reading, referred to Ways & Means.
Feb 13	WM - Majority; do pass.
	Minority; do not pass.
	Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
Mar 6	Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
Mar 10	Floor amendment(s) adopted.
	Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
	Third reading, passed; yeas, 47; nays, 2; absent, 0; excused, 0.