Eliminating the office of the superintendent of public instruction.

Proposes an amendment to the state Constitution to eliminate the office of the superintendent of public instruction.

-- 2016 REGULAR SESSION --
Jan 29	First reading, referred to General Government & Information Technology (Not Officially read and referred until adoption of Introduction report).

by Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Baumgartner and Dansel)

Creating a new traffic offense of aggravated left lane driving.

Concerning notice against trespass.

Adds the definition of "posting in a conspicuous manner," for purposes of chapter 9A.52 RCW (burglary and trespass), which includes: (1) Posting a sign reasonably likely to come to the attention of intruders indicating that entry is restricted; or

(2) If the property is located outside of urban growth areas and incorporated cities or towns, the placement of identifying fluorescent orange paint marks on trees or posts on property.

Providing a registration exemption for certain vessels.

Regulating the manufacture, sale, distribution, and installation of motor vehicle air bags.

Including certain residents who do not have a high school diploma or credential and the number of students expected to enroll in basic education for adults courses at community and technical colleges in caseload forecast council forecasting.

Requires the caseload forecast council to forecast: (1) The number of state residents ages twenty-five to forty-four who do not have a high school diploma or credential; and

(2) The number of students expected to enroll in basic education for adults courses at community and technical colleges.

Enhancing regulatory agency coordination.

Changes the name of the office of regulatory assistance to the office for regulatory innovation and assistance.

Requires the office to develop a long-term strategy for identifying and prioritizing multiagency regulatory processes that can be streamlined through better coordination.

Streamlining foster care licensing.

Requires the department of social and health services, in order to streamline the foster care application process for child-placing agencies when processing a child-placing agency application, to: (1) Accept scanned foster care parent applications that include an original signature electronically;

(2) Complete and return background authorization forms within thirty days or provide explanation to either the prospective parent, the child-placing agency, or both about why there is a delay;

(3) Ensure that the forms required across the state are uniform and consistent between regions;

(4) If related department forms change after the foster care application has been received by the department, not require the applicant to resubmit information on a substantially similar form;

(5) Ensure that foster care parent applications are processed in a timely manner; and

Authorizing the issuance of Purple Heart license plates for more than one motor vehicle.

Enacting the cybersecurity jobs act.

Establishes the cybersecurity jobs act.

Requires the office of the state chief information officer to: (1) Implement a process for detecting, reporting, and responding to security incidents consistent with the information security standards, policies, and guidelines adopted by the state chief information officer;

(2) Develop plans and procedures to ensure the continuity of commerce for information resources that support the operations and assets of state agencies in the event of a security incident; and

Ensuring that solid waste management requirements prevent the spread of disease, plant pathogens, and pests.

Requires a local government that prohibits the disposal of food waste and compostable paper as garbage to: (1) Ensure that a solid waste management plan it prepares, under chapter 70.95 RCW (solid waste management--reduction and recycling), prevents the spread of disease, plant pathogens, and pests to areas that are not under a quarantine; and

(2) Consult with the department of agriculture to determine if the plan complies with this act before submitting the plan to the department of ecology for approval.

Requires certain standards set by the department of ecology, for counties or cities siting a solid waste disposal facility, to include information relating to preventing the spread of disease, plant pathogens, and pests to areas that are not under a quarantine.

Concerning wholesale vehicle dealers.

Removing state route number 276 from the state highway system.

Providing employers with a business and occupation tax credit for providing employees with student loan repayment assistance.

Provides a business and occupation tax credit on the amount paid for student loan repayment of principal and interest by an employer directly to a student loan lender on behalf of a qualified employee of the employer.

Requiring a study concerning a state loan program for graduate students.

Requires the student achievement council to conduct a study of the feasibility of and alternatives to a state loan program for graduate students.

Encourages the student achievement council to seek out technical advice from the housing finance commission, the consumer financial protection bureau, the national conference of state legislatures, and other state loan-granting agencies.

Establishing a student loan bill of rights.

Requires the student achievement council to designate a student loan ombuds within the office of student financial assistance to provide timely assistance to student loan borrowers of student education loans.

Requires the student loan ombuds, in consultation with the attorney general and the director of the department of financial institutions, to: (1) Receive, review, and refer complaints from borrowers to the attorney general or the department of financial institutions;

(2) Compile and analyze data on borrower complaints;

(3) Assist borrowers to understand their rights and responsibilities under the terms of loans;

(4) Provide information on, and make recommendations for resolving, the problems and concerns of borrowers;

(5) Analyze and monitor the development and implementation of all laws, rules, regulations, and policies relating to borrowers and recommend changes as necessary;

(6) Review the complete loan history for a borrower who has provided written consent for the review; and

(7) Disseminate information concerning the availability of the ombuds to assist borrowers, potential borrowers, and others with student loan servicing concerns.

Concerning traditional and alternative sewer systems.

Revises the definitions of "urban governmental services" and "urban services" to include certain alternative sewer and existing on-site septic systems, for purposes of the growth management act.

Prohibiting sex-selection abortions.

Establishes the prenatal nondiscrimination act.

Concerning Down syndrome resources.

Requires the department of health to develop the following resources regarding Down syndrome: (1) Up-to-date, evidence-based, written information about Down syndrome and people born with Down syndrome that has been reviewed by medical experts and national Down syndrome organizations; and

(2) Contact information regarding support services, including information hotlines specific to Down syndrome, resource centers or clearinghouses, national and local Down syndrome organizations, and other education and support programs.

Requires the following, who provide a parent with a positive prenatal or postnatal diagnosis of Down syndrome, to provide the parent with the information prepared by the department of health: (1) A midwife;

(2) An osteopathic physician and surgeon;

(3) An osteopathic physician's assistant;

(4) A physician;

(5) A physician assistant;

(6) A nurse;

(7) A genetic counselor;

(8) A hospital; and

Concerning performance oversight of the state transportation system.

Requires the office of financial management to review and comment on, before the department of transportation submits to the legislature and the governor, a report on the progress toward the attainment by state transportation agencies of the state transportation policy goals and objectives prescribed by statute, appropriation, and governor directive.

Extending the application of prevailing wage requirements to publicly subsidized projects.

Concerning reserve studies and special assessments for homeowners' associations.

Concerning the University of Washington's alternative process for awarding contracts.

Addresses the alternative process for awarding certain contracts, by the University of Washington, with regard to the university: (1) Developing a program that provides training and support to help certified minority or certified woman-owned contractors qualify for subcontracting work on a roster project; and

(2) Reviewing postselection processes with entities for which it operates medical and hospital facilities.

Requires the University of Washington to include the following in its report to the capital projects advisory review board: A description of participation by women and minority-owned businesses as contractors or subcontractors in projects using an alternative process.

Requires the joint legislative audit and review committee to conduct an evaluation of the alternative process.

Enacting the voter fraud protection act.

Establishes the voter fraud protection act.

Revises declarations of candidacy provisions with regard to filing timelines for an incumbent officeholder who: (1) Has filed for reelection and later withdraws his or her candidacy; and

Preventing guardians from isolating incapacitated persons.

Concerning a statewide plan for funding cost-effective methods for school safety.

Requires the state institute for public policy to complete an evaluation of how this state and other states have addressed the funding of school safety and security programs and submit a report to the appropriate legislative committees, the governor, and the office of the superintendent of public instruction.

Providing for a task force on policing and the use of deadly force.

Requires the state institute for public policy to convene a task force on policing and the use of deadly force.

Requires the task force to review: (1) Laws, practices, and training programs regarding the use of deadly force in this state and all other states;

(2) The civil rights issues associated with the use of deadly force;

(3) Any disproportionate impacts on minority communities from the use of deadly force;

(4) Other issues that arise for police and prosecutors; and

(5) Research literature on policies or interventions that include de-escalation tactics and reduce the use of lethal force.

Prohibiting the assignment of retirement benefits.

Prohibits the assignment of retirement benefits.

-- 2016 REGULAR SESSION --
Jan 29	First reading, referred to Ways & Means.

by Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Hasegawa, Miloscia, Chase, Darneille, Jayapal, Cleveland, Kohl-Welles, Pedersen, Hargrove, Keiser, McCoy, Dammeier, King, and Rolfes)

Requesting that state route number 99 be named the "William P. Stewart Memorial Highway."

Concerning service standards of the United States Postal Service.

Urges congress to restore the service standards of the United States Postal Service.

-- 2016 REGULAR SESSION --
Jan 29	First reading, referred to Government Operations & Security.