HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2884

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

As Reported by House Committee On:

Housing, Community Development & Veterans

Title: An act relating to establishing a Travis alert outreach demonstration campaign.

Brief Description: Establishing a Travis alert outreach demonstration campaign.

Sponsors: Representatives Mosbrucker, Pettigrew, Harris and Maycumber.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Housing, Community Development & Veterans: 2/4/20, 2/7/20 [DPS].

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

  • Directs the Military Department to initiate a pilot program to assess the benefits and availability of making medical or disability information available to first responders in advance of arrival at an emergency.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HOUSING, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT & VETERANS

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 9 members: Representatives Ryu, Chair; Morgan, Vice Chair; Jenkin, Ranking Minority Member; Gildon, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Barkis, Frame, Johnson, J., Leavitt and Ramel.

Staff: Serena Dolly (786-7150).

Background:

Washington Military Department and Enhanced 911.

The phone number 911 is the national emergency phone number in the United States. The Enhanced 911 (E911) system is the result of a 1991 voter referendum directing E911 emergency communications systems to be available statewide. The office coordinating the E911 system is located within the Emergency Management Division of the Washington Military Department (MIL).

The Adjutant General, commander of all Washington Army and Air National Guard forces, is the Director of the MIL. The E911 Advisory Committee, established in 2010, assists the state E911 coordinator in facilitating the operation of E911. Its members are appointed by the Adjutant General and include individuals from the Washington State Association of Fire Chiefs, Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, and the Washington State Patrol, among others.

Travis Alert Act.

The ability to make medical or disability information available to first responders in advance of arrival at an emergency is possible in some areas of the state. The information may be connected to a person's address, phone number, or both.

The Travis Alert Act was enacted in 2017 and required the Adjutant General, in collaboration with other entities, to assess:

The MIL issued a report with its assessment in November 2018. The assessment found that collecting and displaying disability information as part of the E911 system may be feasible, but requires additional legislation to:

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Summary of Substitute Bill:

By July 31, 2020, the MIL, in coordination with local jurisdictions, must initiate a pilot program to assess the benefits and availability of making medical or disability information available to first responders in advance of arrival at an emergency. As part of the pilot program, the MIL must work with two jurisdictions, one in Eastern Washington and one in Western Washington, capable of providing first responders with medical or disability information previously submitted. The pilot program must include an outreach campaign of no longer than one month per jurisdiction. By January 1, 2021, the MIL must submit a report to the appropriate committees of the Legislature summarizing the results of the pilot program.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

The substitute bill establishes a pilot program to assess the benefits and availability of making medical or disability information available to first responders in advance of arrival at an emergency. The pilot program must include an outreach campaign. The original bill required the MIL to initiate an outreach demonstration campaign only.

The substitute bill requires the MIL to initiate the pilot program by July 31, 2020. The original bill required the MIL to initiate the outreach demonstration campaign by December 1, 2020.

The substitute bill requires the MIL to submit a report to the appropriate committees of the Legislature by January 1, 2021, summarizing the results of the pilot program.

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Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) This bill makes the Travis Alert System go live and will save lives. This bill will protect people with all types of disabilities. It will allow first responders to have access to information voluntarily submitted by a person with a disability. Last session there was not enough time to secure funding. Training and information are critical tools for law enforcement and other first responders. The training portion of the Travis Alert System has been implemented. Now the state needs to move forward with making notification available to first responders. The bill may also protect first responders from a person with an unexpected reaction to being approached, such as a person with post-traumatic stress disorder. This approach is compatible with other efforts, such as attaching disability information to license plates and home addresses.

(Opposed) None.

(Other) The MIL is supportive of the policy and worked to clarify an approach that was more than outreach. The proposed substitute bill allows for data collection and assessment.

Persons Testifying: (In support) Representative Mosbrucker, prime sponsor; Travis King; Theresa King; and Diana Stadden.

(Other) Adam Wasserman, Washington Military Department.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.