The House was called to order at 9:55 a.m. by the Speaker (Representative Moeller presiding).

Reading of the Journal of the previous day was dispensed with and it was ordered to stand approved.

MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE

January 9, 2012

MR. SPEAKER:

The Senate has passed HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 4407 and the same is herewith transmitted.

Thomas Hoemann, Secretary

MESSAGE FROM WASHINGTON STATE REDISTRICTING COMMISSION

January 1, 2012

The Honorable Frank Chopp

Washington State House of Representatives

PO BOX 40600

Olympia, Washington 98504

Dear Representative Chopp:

It is with great satisfaction and pride that the Washington State Redistricting Commission submits the final 2011 Washington State Redistricting Plan. The commission unanimously adopted this plan for new legislative and congressional districts on January 1, 2012.

In finalizing the plan, the 2011 Commission worked closely with the county auditors of the state to ensure that any accidental errors and omissions that could be a problem for elections administration were corrected. The resolution that we signed in adopting this report gives further instruction to the auditors for making minor adjustments to the boundaries, if necessary, when the plan is finalized.

It has been a pleasure to serve on the 2011 Commission, and an honor to take part in this truly bi-partisan process on behalf of the people of Washington State.

Respectfully submitted,

Lura Powell, Chair

Slade Gorton, Commissioner

Tim Ceis, Commissioner

Dean Foster, Commissioner

Tom Huff, Commissioner

Cc: Tom Hoemann, Secretary of the Senate

Barbara Baker, Chief Clerk, House of Representatives

Brad Hendrickson, Deputy Secretary of the Senate

Bernard Dean, Deputy Chief Clerk, House of Representatives

Executive Summary

At 9:55 p.m. on Sunday, January 1, 2012, the four voting members of the Washington State Redistricting Commission approved the final version of the Washington State Redistricting Plan (files, C-JOINTSUB_2-1 and L-JOINTSUB_3-2). The plan was transmitted to Legislative leadership at 10:35 p.m. that same day. This is the final report to the Legislature, published on Monday, January 9, 2012.

This report was prepared by the Washington State Redistricting Commission in accordance with the requirements of RCW 44.05.080 (7.) It includes a map of each congressional and legislative district; tables showing the population and percentage deviation from the average district population for each district; the criteria used in developing the plan; estimated costs incurred by counties for adjusting precinct boundaries; and copies of the final signed resolution of the Commission.

2010 Census

According to the 2010 Census, the population in Washington State grew by 14.1 percent to 6,724,540 persons over the past decade. Washington’s population growth relative to the other states’ population changes made the state eligible for a tenth congressional district.

The median age of Washington’s population in 2010 was 37.3 years and the ratio of males to females overall was near equal at 99.3 percent. Twenty-three and one half percent of the population was under 18 years of age. People 18 to 44 years of age were the largest group measured and comprise 37.1 percent of the population. Twelve and three-tenths percent of Washington’s population was 65 years old and over, an increase from 11.2 percent in 2000.

Washington’s total minority population, defined as all non-white races plus persons of Hispanic or Latino origin, now comprises 27.5 percent of the state’s population, compared with 21.1 percent ten years ago.

Washington’s Hispanic or Latino population was the fastest growing minority group, increasing 71.2 percent from a decade ago to a population of 755,790 in 2010. Persons of Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) now represent 11.2 percent of the state’s total population, and comprise more than 50% of the populations in Franklin and Adams Counties.

The racial breakdown for Washington State includes 77. 3 percent “White”, 7.8 percent “Asian and Pacific Islanders”, 3.6 percent ”Black” or “African Americans”, 1.5 percent “American Indian and Alaska Natives.” The categories “multiracial” (two or more races) and “some other race” combined, make up the remaining 9.9 percent.

Commission background and process

The 2011 decennial redistricting is just the third time in Washington’s history that redistricting has been done by an independent commission. The redistricting commission was created by a voter-approved constitutional amendment in 1983. Const. art. II § 43 assigns the responsibility for rebalancing legislative and congressional district boundaries to an independent, five-member bipartisan commission, whose voting members are appointed by the legislative leadership every ten years.

Washington is unique among states in that the commission-appointed chair does not vote on the plan. Rather, the four legislatively-appointed Commissioners must come to a bipartisan agreement to pass a plan. If they fail to pass a plan by January 1 of the year ending in “2”, the job of redistricting is assigned to the State Supreme Court.

Early in 2011 following the 2010 federal decennial census, a new commission was appointed by the majority and minority leaders in the Legislature. Former U.S. Senator Slade Gorton and Tim Ceis were appointed by the Senate Republican and Democratic leadership, respectively; Dean Foster and former State Representative Tom Huff were correspondingly appointed by the House Democratic and Republican leadership. Lura Powell, of Richland, WA, was appointed by the four commissioners to serve as chair. An executive director was appointed and staff was hired to support the Commission’s work.

The 2011 redistricting process began with a series of 18 public forums held around the state to learn what mattered most to the citizens of Washington regarding their district boundaries. At these forums, more than 250 people spoke to the commission about their shared interests and affiliation with neighboring regions, and made recommendations about their preferred district boundaries. Many more citizens submitted comments electronically or by mail and twenty groups and individuals submitted full or partial third-party plans for the Commission’s consideration.

In mid-September each Commissioner introduced their first draft plan, consisting of both a legislative and congressional proposal. The four draft legislative plans were narrowed down to two by October, one from the Democratic commissioners, and one from the Republican commissioners. The Commissioners decided that the best way to approach the next phase of discussions on the legislative plan was to divide into bipartisan working groups. The purpose of the working groups was to develop proposals and make recommendations to the full Commission. One working group represented the House appointees and the other the Senate. The Senate team (Commissioners Ceis and Gorton) began working south from the northern part of Western Washington, while the House team (Commissioners Huff and Foster) began working north from the southern part of Western Washington. On December 13, following the release of their original assignment proposals, the Commission assigned the remainder of the state legislative districts to Commissioners Huff and Foster, and the congressional districts to Commissioners Ceis and Gorton.

The first two proposals for Western Washington’s legislative districts were revealed to the opposite team and the public on December 16, 2011. The Commission then traded ideas and proposals for completing the legislative and congressional parts of the plan throughout the remainder of the month of December. Consideration was given to recommendations from county auditors and the public on how to correct boundary issues and balance the populations within the two proposals. The Final Redistricting Plan (C-JOINTSUB_2-1 and L-JOINTSUB_3-2) was adopted at 9:55 p.m. on January 1, 2012, and submitted to the legislature at 10:35 p.m. that same evening.

Public Involvement

The Commission provided many opportunities and methods to involve the public in the redistricting process. Much of the outreach effort initially focused on traveling statewide to host public “town-hall style” forums. After finishing the initial 18 forums, there was a clear shift toward utilizing technology to expand access and cut costs. Throughout the process, the Commission used live webcast and interactive blogging technology to ensure that people who were unable to attend meetings and forums in person were still able to ask questions and provide comments. In an attempt to reach out to a larger audience, the Commission utilized social media (Facebook, Twitter, Google+) tools. Social media was very helpful in distributing important information quickly and to a wide audience.

With the growth in minority populations, the Commission provided interpretation services as needed in Spanish, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, Tagalog, Oromo, Amharic, Somali, Tigrinya, and Vietnamese. These services were utilized at nearly half of the Commission’s meetings and forums. The Commission’s brochure was translated into Spanish, Korean, Chinese, and Tagalog. The Commission also focused on more traditional methods of receiving input and ideas from the public. Our GIS analysts put together a third-party plan “Do-It-Yourself” kit, which enabled anyone to draw their own district boundaries and submit them to the Commission. We also received comments and ideas over the phone, in person, through the mail and through email.

Report requirements

Districting criteria

The 2011 redistricting plan was drawn in accordance with Const. art. II, § 43, RCW 44.05.090, and the federal Voting Rights Act. Those criteria are detailed below.

(1) Districts shall have a population as nearly equal as practicable, excluding nonresident military personnel, based on the population reported in the federal decennial census.

(2) To the extent consistent with the preceding criterion, the plan should, insofar as practical, accomplish the following:

a. Districts lines should be drawn so as to coincide with the boundaries of local political subdivisions and areas recognized as communities of interest. The number of counties and municipalities divided among more than one district should be as small as possible;

b. Districts should be composed of convenient, contiguous, and compact territory. Land areas may be deemed contiguous if they share a common land border or are connected by a ferry, highway, bridge, or tunnel. Areas separated by geographical boundaries or artificial barriers that prevent transportation within a district should not be deemed contiguous; and

c. Whenever practicable, a precinct shall be wholly within a single legislative district.

(3) The commission’s plan and any plan adopted by the Supreme Court under RCW 44.05.100 (4) shall provide for forty-nine districts.

(4) The House of Representatives shall consist of ninety-eight members, two of whom shall be elected from and run at large within each legislative district. The Senate shall consist of forty-nine members, one of whom shall be elected from each legislative district.

(5) The commission shall exercise its powers to provide fair and effective representation and to encourage electoral competition. The commission’s plan shall not be drawn purposely to favor or discriminate against any political party or group.

Population and percentage deviation

Attached to this report (attachments A & B) are summary reports that provide statistical information, including population and percentage deviation from the average district population, as well as racial and ethnic information for the legislative and congressional districts adopted by the Commission. The attachments indicate that the population range (the total difference between the most and least populous districts) for the legislative districts is 101, with an absolute (per district) average deviation from the ideal district population of 21.47 persons. For congressional districts, the population range is 15, with an absolute average deviation from the ideal district population of 4.4 persons.

New features of the 2011 redistricting plan include the addition of a tenth Congressional district and the creation of two Congressional districts that include population from both eastern and western Washington. The new tenth district was merited by Washington’s population growth relative to other states over the past ten years. It is located in the South Puget Sound area, centered on Olympia, and includes most of Thurston county, and parts of Mason and Pierce Counties. Because the population has grown significantly in Eastern Washington over the past ten years and Congressional districts are required to have very low population deviations, one or more of the Congressional districts must be comprised of population from both sides of the Cascade Mountains. The 2011 redistricting plan crosses that line in the 8^th and 3^rd Congressional districts. The 3^rd District includes all of Clark, Cowlitz, Lewis, Pacific, Wahkiakum, Skamania and Klickitat Counties. The 8^th District now includes the East Wenatchee area in Douglas County, and all of Chelan and Kittitas Counties, along with the eastern portion of Pierce County and part of King County.

Plan resolution

As required by the State Constitution, the Commission adopted the final plan for legislative and Congressional districts on January 1, 2012. The decision was memorialized in a resolution signed by the Commissioners and submitted to the Legislature on that same day. Copies were also provided to the Governor, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and the Secretary of State. The resolution, which is included in this report, contains instructions to the county auditors for correcting minor errors that may occur should blocks be inadvertently counted in more than one district, or left out of a specific district assignment.

WASHINGTON STATE REDISTRICTING COMMISSION REDISTRICTING PLAN

WHEREAS, Pursuant to RCW 44.05.100 and Article II, section 43 of the state Constitution, the Washington State Redistricting Commission, on January 1, 2012, approved and submitted to the legislature a plan for the redistricting of state legislative and congressional districts, as represented by "The Resolution of Redistricting Congressional and Legislative Districts" (Z-0974.3/12); and

WHEREAS, Pursuant to RCW 44.05.100, the legislature desires to amend the boundaries of certain congressional districts as follows:

(1) Congressional district one, changing the population from 672,449 to 672,444 people; and

(2) Congressional district two, changing the population from 672,449 to 672,454 people; and

(3) Congressional district four, maintaining the population of 672,456 people; and

(4) Congressional district five, maintaining the population of 672,455 people; and

(5) Congressional district eight, maintaining the population of 672,463 people; and

(6) Congressional district ten, maintaining the population of 672,455 people; and

WHEREAS, Pursuant to RCW 44.05.100, the legislature desires to amend the boundaries of certain legislative districts as follows:

(1) Legislative district one, changing the population from 137,224 to 137,236 people; and

(2) Legislative district two, changing the population from 137,216 to 137,202 people; and

(3) Legislative district four, changing the population from 137,265 to 137,281 people; and

(4) Legislative district five, changing the population from 137,239 to 137,210 people; and

(5) Legislative district seven, changing the population from 137,267 to 137,263 people; and

(6) Legislative district eight, maintaining the population of 137,202 people; and

(7) Legislative district nine, changing the population from 137,239 to 137,223 people; and

(8) Legislative district eleven, changing the population from 137,264 to 137,278 people; and

(9) Legislative district twelve, changing the population from 137,281 people to 137,285 people; and

(10) Legislative district thirteen, changing the population from 137,287 to 137,280 people; and

(11) Legislative district fourteen, changing the population from 137,236 to 137,218 people; and

(12) Legislative district fifteen, changing the population from 137,199 to 137,224 people; and

(13) Legislative district sixteen, maintaining the population of 137,198 people; and

(14) Legislative district seventeen, changing the population from 137,248 to 137,230 people; and

(15) Legislative district eighteen, changing the population from 137,199 to 137,217 people; and

(16) Legislative district nineteen, maintaining the population of 137,232 people; and

(17) Legislative district twenty, changing the population from 137,190 to 137,204 people; and

(18) Legislative district twenty-one, changing the population from 137,268 to 137,260 people; and

(19) Legislative district twenty-three, maintaining the population of 137,217 people; and

(20) Legislative district twenty-four, maintaining the population of 137,280 people; and

(21) Legislative district twenty-five, changing the population from 137,259 to 137,235 people; and

(22) Legislative district twenty-eight, maintaining the population of 137,216 people; and

(23) Legislative district twenty-nine, maintaining the population of 137,257 people; and

(24) Legislative district thirty-one, changing the population from 137,188 to 137,214 people; and

(25) Legislative district thirty-two, changing the population from 137,245 to 137,225 people; and

(26) Legislative district thirty-three, maintaining the population of 137,237 people; and

(27) Legislative district thirty-four, maintaining the population of 137,208 people; and

(28) Legislative district thirty-five, maintaining the population of 137,219 people; and

(29) Legislative district thirty-six, maintaining the population of 137,247 people; and

(30) Legislative district thirty-seven, changing the population from 137,224 to 137,192 people; and

(31) Legislative district thirty-eight, changing the population from 137,240 to 137,242 people; and

(32) Legislative district thirty-nine, changing the population from 137,208 to 137,201 people; and

(33) Legislative district forty, changing the population from 137,243 to 137,259 people; and

(34) Legislative district forty-one, changing the population from 137,289 to 137,250 people; and

(35) Legislative district forty-two, maintaining the population of 137,231 people; and

(36) Legislative district forty-three, maintaining the population of 137,252 people; and

(37) Legislative district forty-four, changing the population from 137,229 to 137,246 people; and

(38) Legislative district forty-five, changing the population from 137,228 to 137,281 people; and

(39) Legislative district forty-seven, changing the population from 137,191 to 137,210 people; and

WHEREAS, These amendments include less than two percent of the population of each of the affected legislative districts as required by law;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the Senate of the state of Washington, the House of Representatives concurring, That the plan for legislative and congressional redistricting approved and submitted by the Washington State Redistricting Commission on January 1, 2012, be amended as follows:

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT ONE:

(1) Beginning on page 9, line 7, after "Tract 9512" strike all material through "Block 1215" on page 10, line 5

(2) On page 12, line 38, after "Block 1001," strike "Block 1002,"

(3) On page 14, line 29, after "Block 2003" insert ", Block 2005, Block 2013"

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT TWO:

(1) On page 16, beginning on line 9, after "Block 2087;" strike "Tract 9512: Block Group 1: Block 1177;"

(2) On page 21, line 17, after "Block Group 1:" insert "Block 1002,"

(3) On page 23, line 38, after "2004," strike "Block 2005,"

(4) On page 24, line 1, after "Block 2012," strike "Block 2013,"

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT FOUR:

(1) On page 27, line 38, after "Block Group 4:" insert "Block 4206,"

(2) On page 28, line 19, after "Block 1064," strike "Block 1065,"

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT FIVE:

(1) On page 29, line 35, after "Block 4205," strike "Block 4206,"

(2) On page 30, line 4, after "Block Group 1:" insert "Block 1065,"

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT EIGHT:

(1) On page 46, line 17, after "Block 1002," insert "Block 1003,"

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT TEN:

(1) On page 59, line 1, after "Block 1000," strike "Block 1003,"

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT ONE:

(1) On page 61, line 30, after "Block 1015" strike ", Block 1016"

(2) On page 61, line 38, after "Block 5004" insert ", Block 5007"

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT TWO:

(1) On page 64, line 36, after "Block 3015," insert "Block 3016,"

(2) On page 67, line 19, after "3021," strike "Block 3023, Block 3024,"

(3) On page 68, line 1, after "Block 3010," insert "Block 3012, Block 3013,"

(4) On page 68, line 3, after "Block Group 1:" strike "Block 1035, Block 1036, Block 1037,"

(5) On page 68, line 4, after "Block 1042," strike "Block 1043,"

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT FOUR:

(1) On page 72, line 31, after "Block 2013," insert "Block 2014,"

(2) On page 72, line 32, after "Block 2023," insert "Block 2025,"

(3) On page 72, line 33, after "2032," strike "Block 2033, Block 2036," and insert "Block 2034, Block 2035,"

(4) Beginning on page 72, line 35, after "Tract 131" strike all material through "Block 5031" on page 73, line 4

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT FIVE:

(1) On page 73, line 35, after "Block 1011" insert ", Block 1019, Block 1020"

(2) On page 74, line 1, after "Block 2007," insert "Block 2013, Block 2014, Block 2015, Block 2017,"

(3) On page 74, line 5, after "Block 4000," strike "Block 4001,"

(4) On page 75, line 11, after "Block 1004," insert "Block 1005, Block 1006,"

(5) On page 75, beginning on line 11, after "Block 1014," strike "Block 1015, Block 1017" and insert "Block 1016"

(6) On page 75, line 25, after "2:" strike "Block 2000, Block 2001, Block 2002, Block 2003, Block 2004,"

(7) On page 75, beginning on line 26, after "Tract 318:" strike "Block Group 2: Block 2027;"

(8) On page 75, beginning on line 30, after "Block 3017," strike "Block 3018, Block 3019, Block 3027, Block 3028, Block 3029, Block 3030, Block 3031, Block 3032, Block 3033,"

(9) On page 75, line 36, after "Block 3074," strike "Block 3076,"

(10) On page 75, line 38, after "Block 1003," strike "Block 1004,"

(11) On page 76, line 10, after "Block 4018" insert ", Block 4019, Block 4021, Block 4026, Block 4027, Block 4029, Block 4030, Block 4031, Block 4038, Block 4039"

(12) On page 76, beginning on line 11, after "Block Group 1" strike all material through "Block 1062" on line 20

(13) On page 76, line 23, after "Block 3016," insert "Block 3018, Block 3019, Block 3020, Block 3021,"

(14) On page 76, beginning on line 23, after "Block 3022" strike "; Tract 319.06: Block Group 2: Block 2002, Block 2003, Block 2011, Block 2012, Block 2027" and insert ", Block 3024, Block 3026, Block 3027, Block 3028, Block 3029, Block 3030, Block 3031, Block 3032, Block 3033, Block 3034, Block 3036, Block 3037, Block 3038, Block 3039, Block 3040, Block 3041, Block 3042, Block 3043"

(15) On page 78, line 13, after "Block 1009," insert "Block 1010, Block 1011, Block 1030,"

(16) On page 78, line 13, after "Block 1032," insert "Block 1041,"

(17) On page 78, line 14, after "Block 1043," insert "Block 1044,"

(18) On page 78, line 16, after "Block 4000," strike "Block 4001, Block 4003,"

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT SEVEN:

(1) On page 84, beginning on line 22, after "Block 1008," strike "Block 1142, Block 1143, Block 1144, Block 1145, Block 1146, Block 1147, Block 1163, Block 1164,"

(2) On page 85, at the beginning of line 4, strike "Block 3084,"

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT EIGHT:

(1) On page 92, line 14, after "2012," strike "Block 2013, Block 2014,"

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT NINE:

(1) On page 95, line 29, after "Block 2001," strike "Block 2014,"

(2) On page 95, beginning on line 29, after "Block 2024," strike "Block 2025,"

(3) On page 95, beginning on line 30, after "Block 2031," strike "Block 2034, Block 2035," and insert "Block 2033, Block 2036,"

(4) On page 95, line 33, after "Block 2050;" strike "Tract 131: Block Group 5: Block 5022;"

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT ELEVEN:

(1) On page 103, line 35, after "Block 3013" insert ", Block 3025"

(2) On page 104, beginning on line 8, after "Block 1018," strike "Block 1019, Block 1020,"

(3) On page 104, beginning on line 37, after "Block 2012," strike "Block 2013, Block 2014, Block 2015,"

(4) On page 104, line 38, after "Block 2016," strike "Block 2017,"

(5) On page 106, line 29, after "Block Group 1:" insert "Block 1004,"

(6) On page 106, line 34, after "Block 4017," strike "Block 4019,"

(7) On page 106, line 34, after "Block 4020," strike "Block 4021,"

(8) On page 106, line 35, after "Block 4025," strike "Block 4026, Block 4027,"

(9) On page 106, line 36, after "4028," strike "Block 4029, Block 4030, Block 4031,"

(10) On page 106, line 37, after "Block 4037," strike "Block 4038, Block 4039,"

(11) Beginning on page 106, line 38, after "Tract 319.04:" strike "Block Group 1: Block 1031, Block 1033, Block 1034, Block 1035, Block 1037, Block 1038, Block 1039, Block 1040, Block 1041, Block 1042, Block 1043, Block 1044;" on page 107, line 2

(12) On page 107, line 3, after "Block 3017," strike "Block 3018, Block 3019, Block 3020, Block 3021,"

(13) On page 107, at the beginning of line 4, strike "Block 3024,"

(14) On page 107, beginning on line 4, after "Block 3025," strike "Block 3026, Block 3027, Block 3028, Block 3029, Block 3030, Block 3031, Block 3032, Block 3033, Block 3034,"

(15) On page 107, beginning on line 5, after "Block 3035" strike ", Block 3036, Block 3037, Block 3038, Block 3039, Block 3040, Block 3041, Block 3042, Block 3043"

(16) On page 107, line 8, after "Block 2001," insert "Block 2002, Block 2003,"

(17) On page 107, line 9, after "Block 2010," insert "Block 2011, Block 2012,"

(18) On page 107, line 10, after "Block 2026" insert ", Block 2027"

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT TWELVE:

(1) On page 108, line 9, after "Block 1211," insert "Block 1214,"

(2) On page 111, line 31, after "Block 1141," insert "Block 1142, Block 1143, Block 1144, Block 1145, Block 1146, Block 1147,"

(3) On page 111, line 33, after "Block 1162," insert "Block 1163, Block 1164,"

(4) On page 113, line 38, after "Block 3083," insert "Block 3084,"

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT THIRTEEN:

(1) On page 117, line 30, after "Block 1213," strike "Block 1214,"

(2) On page 121, line 7, after "1030," strike "Block 1031, Block 1032,"

(3) On page 121, line 7, after "Block 1033," strike "Block 1042,"

(4) On page 121, line 13, after "Block 1028," insert "Block 1029, Block 1030, Block 1036, Block 1037, Block 1038, Block 1039,"

(5) On page 121, line 18, after "Block 1067" insert ", Block 1068, Block 1069, Block 1070"

(6) On page 121, line 18, after "Block Group 3:" insert "Block 3112,"

(7) On page 121, line 20, after "Block 1018" strike ", Block 1019"

(8) On page 121, line 21, after "2000," insert "Block 2001,"

(9) On page 121, line 21, after "Block 2002" insert ", Block 2003"

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT FOURTEEN:

(1) On page 123, line 16, after "Block Group 1:" strike "Block 1029, Block 1030,"

(2) On page 123, beginning on line 17, after "Block 1035" strike ", Block 1036, Block 1037, Block 1038, Block 1039, Block 1068, Block 1069, Block 1070"

(3) On page 123, line 38, after "Block 3111," strike "Block 3112,"

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT FIFTEEN:

(1) On page 128, line 23, after "Block 1013," insert "Block 1031, Block 1032,"

(2) On page 128, line 24, after "Block 1041," insert "Block 1042,"

(3) On page 129, line 5, after "Block 1017," insert "Block 1019,"

(4) On page 129, line 12, after "Group 2:" strike "Block 2001, Block 2003,"

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT SIXTEEN:

(1) On page 132, line 25, after "Block 2011," insert "Block 2013, Block 2014,"

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT SEVENTEEN:

(1) On page 135, line 27, after "Block 2002," strike "Block 2003,"

(2) On page 135, line 29, after "Block 2016," strike "Block 2017,"

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT EIGHTEEN:

(1) On page 136, line 16, after "Block 2038," insert "Block 2039,"

(2) On page 139, line 18, after "Block Group 2:" insert "Block 2003,"

(3) On page 139, line 18, after "Block 2012" insert ", Block 2017"

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT NINETEEN:

(1) On page 142, line 14, after "Block 1084," strike "Block 1085,"

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT TWENTY:

(1) On page 146, line 14, after "Block 2035," strike "Block 2039,"

(2) On page 149, line 18, after "Block 3022," insert "Block 3023, Block 3024,"

(3) On page 149, beginning on line 37, after "Block 3011," strike "Block 3012, Block 3013,"

(4) On page 150, line 25, after "Block 1034," insert "Block 1035, Block 1036, Block 1037, Block 1043,"

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT TWENTY-ONE:

(1) On page 151, line 29, after "Block 1001," strike "Block 1002,"

(2) On page 151, at the beginning of line 31, strike "Block 1017,"

(3) On page 152, line 29, after "Block 4001," insert "Block 4006,"

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT TWENTY-THREE:

(1) On page 155, beginning on line 20, after "Tract 801.01" strike all material through "Block Group 2" on line 23

(2) On page 155, line 33, after "Group 3;" insert "Tract 807: Block Group 1: Block 1012;"

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT TWENTY-FOUR:

(1) On page 159, line 5, after "Block 1026," insert "Block 1085,"

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT TWENTY-FIVE:

(1) On page 161, line 9, after "Block 2009" insert ", Block 2023, Block 2024"

(2) On page 162, line 3, after "Block Group 1:" insert "Block 1000, Block 1004,"

(3) On page 162, line 5, after "Block 1025," insert "Block 1029,"

(4) On page 162, line 14, after "Block 1019," insert "Block 1020,"

(5) On page 163, line 12, after "Group 2:" strike "Block 2006,"

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT TWENTY-EIGHT:

(1) On page 168, line 19, after "Block 4003" strike ", Block 4007, Block 4034"

(2) On page 169, line 2, after "Block 1024," insert "Block 1025,"

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT TWENTY-NINE:

(1) On page 172, line 3, after "Block 3013," strike "Block 3016,"

(2) On page 172, line 13, after "Block 4006," insert "Block 4007,"

(3) On page 172, line 17, after "Block 4033," insert "Block 4034,"

(4) On page 173, line 18, after "Block Group 1:" strike "Block 1025,"

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT THIRTY-ONE:

(1) On page 175, line 15, after "Block Group 2" insert ": Block 2000, Block 2001, Block 2002, Block 2003, Block 2005, Block 2006, Block 2008, Block 2009, Block 2010, Block 2011, Block 2012, Block 2013, Block 2014, Block 2015, Block 2016, Block 2017, Block 2018, Block 2019, Block 2020, Block 2021, Block 2022, Block 2023, Block 2024, Block 2025, Block 2026, Block 2027, Block 2028, Block 2029, Block 2030, Block 2031, Block 2032, Block 2033, Block 2034"

(2) On page 175, line 34, after "Block Group 4:" insert "Block 4001,"

(3) On page 179, line 31, after "2022," strike "Block 2023, Block 2024,"

(4) On page 180, beginning on line 6, after "Block Group 1:" strike "Block 1000,"

(5) On page 180, line 7, after "Block 1003," strike "Block 1004,"

(6) On page 180, line 10, after "1028," strike "Block 1029,"

(7) On page 180, beginning on line 11, after "Block 1015," strike "Block 1020,"

(8) On page 180, line 31, after "Block 2005," insert "Block 2006,"

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT THIRTY-TWO:

(1) On page 181, line 38, after "Block 4005," strike "Block 4006,"

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT THIRTY-THREE:

(1) On page 182, line 24, after "4022," strike "Block 4023, Block 4024,"

(2) On page 182, line 29, after "Group 2" insert ": Block 2000, Block 2002, Block 2003, Block 2004, Block 2005, Block 2006, Block 2007, Block 2008, Block 2009, Block 2010, Block 2011, Block 2012, Block 2013"

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT THIRTY-FOUR:

(1) On page 186, line 26, after "Block 4003" insert ", Block 4023, Block 4024"

(2) On page 186, line 28, after "Tract 270:" insert "Block Group 2: Block 2001;"

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT THIRTY-FIVE:

(1) On page 187, beginning on line 18, after "Kitsap County (part):" strike "Tract 801.01: Block Group 1: Block 1010;"

(2) On page 187, line 23, after "Tract 807" insert ": Block Group 1: Block 1000, Block 1001, Block 1002, Block 1003, Block 1004, Block 1005, Block 1006, Block 1007, Block 1008, Block 1009, Block 1010, Block 1011, Block 1013, Block 1014, Block 1015, Block 1016, Block 1017; Block Group 2; Block Group 3"

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT THIRTY-SIX:

(1) On page 191, line 26, after "Block 2076," strike "Block 2078,"

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT THIRTY-SEVEN:

(1) On page 194, line 10, after "Block 3024," strike "Block 3025,"

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT THIRTY-EIGHT:

(1) On page 195, beginning on line 29, after "Block 2021," strike "Block 2022, Block 2023,"

(2) On page 195, beginning on line 31, after "Block 2031," strike "Block 2032, Block 2033, Block 2034, Block 2035,"

(3) On page 195, line 38, after "Block 4008," insert "Block 4009,"

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT THIRTY-NINE:

(1) On page 199, line 35, after "Block 1016," strike "Block 1017, Block 1018,"

(2) On page 200, line 25, after "Block 1001," insert "Block 1003,"

(3) On page 200, line 26, after "Block 1005," insert "Block 1009,"

(4) On page 200, line 29, after "Block 1010," insert "Block 1011,"

(5) On page 200, line 29, after "Block 1047," insert "Block 1048,"

(6) On page 201, line 5, after "Block Group 2:" insert "Block 2010,"

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT FORTY:

(1) On page 203, at the beginning of line 25, after "Block Group 1:" insert "Block 1017, Block 1018,"

(2) On page 204, line 38, after "Block 1002," strike "Block 1003,"

(3) On page 205, line 1, after "1008," strike "Block 1009,"

(4) On page 207, at the beginning of line 6, strike "Block 1004,"

(5) On page 207, line 18, after "Block Group 3" insert ": Block 3000, Block 3001, Block 3002, Block 3003, Block 3004, Block 3005, Block 3006, Block 3007, Block 3008, Block 3009, Block 3010, Block 3011, Block 3012, Block 3013, Block 3014, Block 3015, Block 3016, Block 3017, Block 3020, Block 3021, Block 3022, Block 3023, Block 3024, Block 3025, Block 3026, Block 3027, Block 3028, Block 3029, Block 3030, Block 3031, Block 3032, Block 3033, Block 3034, Block 3035, Block 3036, Block 3037, Block 3038, Block 3039, Block 3040, Block 3041, Block 3042, Block 3043, Block 3044, Block 3045, Block 3046, Block 3047, Block 3048, Block 3049, Block 3050, Block 3051, Block 3052, Block 3053, Block 3054, Block 3055, Block 3056, Block 3057, Block 3058, Block 3059, Block 3060, Block 3061, Block 3062, Block 3063, Block 3064, Block 3065, Block 3066, Block 3067, Block 3068, Block 3069, Block 3070, Block 3071, Block 3072"

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT FORTY-ONE:

(1) On page 209, line 32, after "Block Group 2:" strike "Block 2016,"

(2) On page 209, line 32, after "Block 2017," insert "Block 2018, Block 2019,"

(3) On page 209, line 33, after "Block 2022," strike "Block 2023,"

(4) On page 209, line 36, after "1012," strike "Block 1013, Block 1019,"

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT FORTY-TWO:

(1) On page 211, line 25, after "Block 1003" insert ", Block 1004; Block Group 3: Block 3018, Block 3019"

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT FORTY-THREE:

(1) On page 213, line 16, after "Block 2077," insert "Block 2078,"

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT FORTY-FOUR:

(1) On page 215, line 8, after "Block Group 2:" insert "Block 2022, Block 2023, Block 2032, Block 2033, Block 2034, Block 2035,"

(2) On page 215, line 18, after "4:" strike "Block 4009,"

(3) On page 215, line 29, after "Block Group 1:" insert "Block 1002,"

(4) On page 215, line 30, after "Block 1016" insert ", Block 1017"

(5) On page 216, line 21, after "Block 1008," strike "Block 1011,"

(6) On page 216, line 26, after "Block 1039," strike "Block 1048,"

(7) On page 217, beginning on line 7, after "Block 2009," strike "Block 2010,"

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT FORTY-FIVE:

(1) On page 218, line 7, after "Block 1014," insert "Block 1016,"

(2) On page 218, line 9, after "Block 5006," strike "Block 5007,"

(3) On page 219, line 18, after "2015," strike "Block 2018, Block 2019," and insert "Block 2016, Block 2023,"

(4) On page 219, line 20, after "Block 1005," insert "Block 1013,"

(5) On page 219, line 21, after "Block 1018" insert ", Block 1019"

(6) On page 220, beginning on line 28, after "Block Group 1:" strike "Block 1010, Block 1011,"

(7) On page 220, line 32, after "Block 1029," strike "Block 1030,"

(8) On page 220, line 33, after "Block 1040," strike "Block 1041, Block 1044,"

(9) On page 221, line 11, after "Block Group 4:" insert "Block 4001,"

(10) On page 221, line 12, after "Block 4002," insert "Block 4003,"

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT FORTY-SEVEN:

(1) On page 223, line 19, after "Block 1025;" insert "Block Group 2: Block 2004, Block 2007;"

(2) On page 223, line 27, after "Block Group 1:" strike "Block 1005, Block 1006,"

(3) On page 223, at the beginning of line 29, strike "Block 1016" and insert "Block 1015, Block 1017"

(4) On page 223, line 31, after "Block Group 2:" insert "Block 2000, Block 2001, Block 2002, Block 2003, Block 2004,"

(5) Beginning on page 223, line 34, after "Block Group 2" strike all material through "Block 2065" on page 224, line 7

(6) On page 224, line 8, after "3:" insert "Block 3018, Block 3019,"

(7) On page 224, line 9, after "Block 3026," insert "Block 3027, Block 3028, Block 3029, Block 3030, Block 3031, Block 3032, Block 3033,"

(8) On page 224, line 11, after "Block 3075," insert "Block 3076,"

INTRODUCTIONS AND FIRST READING

HB 2239 by Representatives Pedersen, Goodman, Rodne and Hudgins

AN ACT Relating to social purpose corporations; amending RCW 23B.01.400 and 23B.04.010; and adding a new chapter to Title 23B RCW.

Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

HB 2240 by Representatives Moscoso, Fitzgibbon and Miloscia

AN ACT Relating to public improvement contracts involving federally funded transit facility projects; and amending RCW 60.28.011.

Referred to Committee on Transportation.

HB 2241 by Representatives Moscoso, Appleton, Fitzgibbon, Jinkins, Pollet, Roberts, Dickerson and Kenney

AN ACT Relating to reducing the introduction of lead into the aquatic environment; and amending RCW 70.95M.010, 70.95M.050, 70.95M.060, 70.95M.070, and 70.95M.090.

Referred to Committee on Environment.

HB 2242 by Representatives Ryu, Jinkins and Miloscia

AN ACT Relating to requiring the department of licensing to adopt rules to allow online learning for training in the areas of cosmetology, manicuring, barbering, esthetics, and instructor-training; amending RCW 18.16.020; adding a new section to chapter 18.16 RCW; and creating a new section.

Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce & Consumer Protection.

HB 2243 by Representatives Eddy, Morris, McCoy, Moeller and Hudgins

AN ACT Relating to net metering of electricity; and amending RCW 80.60.010 and 80.60.020.

Referred to Committee on Technology, Energy & Communications.

HB 2244 by Representatives Hargrove, Sullivan and Moeller

AN ACT Relating to aircraft and ultra-light operations on public or private airstrips; and reenacting and amending RCW 4.24.210.

Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

HB 2245 by Representatives Bailey, Haler and Blake

AN ACT Relating to the preservation and conservation of agricultural resource lands; and adding a new section to chapter 43.21C RCW.

Referred to Committee on Environment.

HB 2246 by Representatives Eddy, Jinkins, Dickerson and Roberts

AN ACT Relating to medicaid fraud; amending RCW 74.09.210 and 74.09.230; reenacting and amending RCW 9A.04.080 and 43.43.830; adding new sections to chapter 74.09 RCW; adding a new chapter to Title 74 RCW; creating a new section; prescribing penalties; and declaring an emergency.

Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

HB 2247 by Representatives Green, Cody, Billig, Fitzgibbon, Reykdal, Maxwell, Jinkins, Finn, Moeller and Ryu

AN ACT Relating to expanding the types of medications that a public or private school employee may administer to include topical medication, eye drops, and ear drops; and amending RCW 28A.210.260 and 28A.210.270.

Referred to Committee on Health Care & Wellness.

HB 2248 by Representatives Pearson, Johnson, Smith, Wilcox, Schmick, Haler and Harris

AN ACT Relating to gold star license plates; amending RCW 46.18.245; and providing an effective date.

Referred to Committee on Transportation.

HB 2249 by Representatives Fitzgibbon, Kagi, Cody, Ryu and Kenney

AN ACT Relating to senior center licenses; amending RCW 66.20.300, 66.20.310, and 66.24.440; and adding a new section to chapter 66.24 RCW.

Referred to Committee on State Government & Tribal Affairs.

HB 2250 by Representatives Fitzgibbon, Pedersen, Carlyle and Reykdal

AN ACT Relating to ensuring statewide consistency in the regulation of retail store carryout bags; adding a new section to chapter 36.01 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 35.21 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 35A.70 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 82.04 RCW; adding a new chapter to Title 70 RCW; and prescribing penalties.

Referred to Committee on Environment.

HB 2251 by Representatives Fitzgibbon, Pedersen, Ladenburg, Moscoso, Ryu and Kenney

AN ACT Relating to subversive activities; amending RCW 35A.42.020; and repealing RCW 9.81.010, 9.81.020, 9.81.030, 9.81.040, 9.81.050, 9.81.060, 9.81.070, 9.81.080, 9.81.082, 9.81.083, 9.81.090, 9.81.110, and 9.81.120.

Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

HB 2252 by Representative Fitzgibbon

AN ACT Relating to proof of payment for certain transportation fares; amending RCW 35.58.580 and 81.112.220; and prescribing penalties.

Referred to Committee on Transportation.

HB 2253 by Representatives Fitzgibbon, Billig and Jinkins

AN ACT Relating to modernizing the functionality of the state environmental policy act without compromising the underlying intent of the original legislation; amending RCW 43.21C.031, 43.21C.229, 43.21C.420, 36.70A.490, 36.70A.500, 82.02.020, 43.21C.110, and 43.21C.095; adding new sections to chapter 43.21C RCW; adding a new section to chapter 82.02 RCW; adding new sections to chapter 36.70B RCW; adding a new section to chapter 36.70 RCW; creating new sections; providing expiration dates; and repealing RCW 36.70B.110.

Referred to Committee on Environment.

HB 2254 by Representatives Carlyle, Kagi, Reykdal, Darneille, Maxwell, Jinkins, Pedersen, Seaquist, Roberts, Dickerson and Kenney

AN ACT Relating to improving outcomes for youth in and alumni of foster care; amending RCW 28B.117.010, 28B.117.020, 28B.117.040, 28B.117.070, 28B.117.060, 28B.118.010, 28A.150.510, and 28A.300.525; adding a new section to chapter 28B.117 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28A.300 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28A.320 RCW; creating new sections; repealing RCW 28B.117.901; and providing an effective date.

Referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

HB 2255 by Representatives Kirby and Bailey

AN ACT Relating to making technical corrections, modernizing statutes, and streamlining enforcement authorities of nondepository institutions regulated by the department of financial institutions; amending RCW 31.04.027, 31.04.065, 31.04.093, 31.04.145, 31.04.224, 31.45.010, 31.45.070, 31.45.105, 31.45.110, 19.146.200, and 19.144.020; reenacting and amending RCW 31.04.025; adding a new section to chapter 31.45 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 19.146 RCW; adding new sections to chapter 18.44 RCW; and adding new sections to chapter 19.230 RCW.

Referred to Committee on Business & Financial Services.

HB 2256 by Representatives Kelley, Bailey, Kirby, Rivers, Ryu, Condotta, Buys and Stanford

AN ACT Relating to the licensing of escrow agents; and amending RCW 18.44.011 and 31.04.025.

Referred to Committee on Business & Financial Services.

HB 2257 by Representatives Takko, Armstrong, Clibborn, Johnson, Springer, Ryu, Kristiansen, Rivers and Billig

AN ACT Relating to changing the expiration date of the current allowable vehicle documentary service charge; and amending RCW 46.70.180.

Referred to Committee on Transportation.

HB 2258 by Representatives Zeiger, Probst, Haler, Reykdal, Seaquist, Hasegawa, Fagan, Wilcox, Moeller, Ryu and Kenney

AN ACT Relating to an online higher education transfer and student advising system; and adding a new section to chapter 28B.76 RCW.

Referred to Committee on Higher Education.

HB 2259 by Representatives Zeiger, Seaquist, Haler and Roberts

AN ACT Relating to higher education reporting requirements; amending RCW 70.235.050; creating a new section; and repealing RCW 28B.10.569.

Referred to Committee on Higher Education.

HB 2260 by Representatives Zeiger, Fitzgibbon, Jinkins, Wylie, Asay, Nealey, Rivers, Finn, Reykdal, Moeller and Miloscia

AN ACT Relating to increasing the penalties for littering; amending RCW 70.93.060; reenacting and amending RCW 7.80.120; and prescribing penalties.

Referred to Committee on Environment.

HB 2261 by Representatives Takko, Reykdal, Orcutt, Wilcox, Jinkins, Finn and Hudgins

AN ACT Relating to charitable donations of eye glasses and hearing instruments; and adding a new section to chapter 4.24 RCW.

Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

HB 2262 by Representatives Kagi, Hinkle, Darneille, Ladenburg, Walsh, Goodman, Carlyle, Fitzgibbon, Jinkins, Roberts, Ryu and Kenney

AN ACT Relating to constraints of expenditures for WorkFirst and child care programs; and amending RCW 74.08A.340.

Referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

HB 2263 by Representatives Kagi, Walsh, Carlyle, Ladenburg, Darneille, Goodman, Fitzgibbon, Jinkins, Roberts, Ryu and Kenney

AN ACT Relating to reinvesting savings resulting from improved outcomes in the child welfare system; adding a new section to chapter 74.13 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 43.135 RCW; and creating a new section.

Referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

HB 2264 by Representatives Kagi, Walsh, Hinkle, Carlyle, Darneille, Jinkins, Roberts, Dickerson and Ryu

AN ACT Relating to performance-based contracting for certain services provided to children and families in the child welfare system; amending RCW 74.13.366 and 74.13.370; reenacting and amending RCW 74.13.020; adding new sections to chapter 74.13 RCW; and repealing RCW 74.13.360, 74.13.362, 74.13.364, 74.13.368, and 74.13.372.

Referred to Committee on Early Learning & Human Services.

HB 2265 by Representatives Probst, Haler, Haigh, Rivers, Zeiger, Seaquist, Sells, Jinkins, Roberts, Hunt, Santos, Kelley, Finn and Ryu

AN ACT Relating to establishing Washington works payments to increase graduation rates, address critical skill shortages, increase student success, and narrow the educational opportunity gap; amending RCW 43.79A.040, 43.79.010, 83.100.230, 28C.18.020, and 28C.18.060; and adding a new chapter to Title 28C RCW.

Referred to Committee on Labor & Workforce Development.

HB 2266 by Representatives Dickerson, Hudgins, Lytton, Reykdal, Eddy, Dunshee, Billig, Fitzgibbon, Moscoso, McCoy, Hunt, Pollet, Maxwell, Jinkins, Pedersen, Liias, Hansen, Orwall, Ryu, Kenney, Stanford and Hunter

AN ACT Relating to children's safe products; amending RCW 70.240.010; adding new sections to chapter 70.240 RCW; and creating a new section.

Referred to Committee on Environment.

HB 2267 by Representatives Angel, Johnson, Haler, Asay, Wilcox and Bailey

AN ACT Relating to traditional and alternative sewer systems; amending RCW 36.70A.110; adding a new section to chapter 36.70A RCW; adding a new section to chapter 43.20 RCW; and creating a new section.

Referred to Committee on Local Government.

HB 2268 by Representatives Angel, Haler, Zeiger, Reykdal, Darneille, Kelley, Jinkins and Hargrove

AN ACT Relating to establishing financial literacy as a high school graduation requirement; amending RCW 28A.230.090; and creating a new section.

Referred to Committee on Education.

HB 2269 by Representatives Angel, Armstrong and Johnson

AN ACT Relating to license plate requirements; amending RCW 46.16A.200 and 46.17.200; adding a new section to chapter 46.17 RCW; and creating a new section.

Referred to Committee on Transportation.

HB 2270 by Representatives Angel, Armstrong, Johnson and Finn

AN ACT Relating to signage for automated traffic safety camera locations; amending RCW 46.63.170; and providing an effective date.

Referred to Committee on Transportation.

There being no objection, the bills listed on the day’s introduction sheet under the fourth order of business were referred to the committees so designated.

The Senate appeared at the Chamber doors and requested admission. The Sergeant at Arms of the House and the Sergeant at Arms of the Senate escorted President of the Senate Brad Owen, President Pro Tempore Margarita Prentice, Vice President Pro Tempore Paull Shin and Senator Curtis King to seats on the rostrum. The Senators were invited to sit within the Chamber.

The Speaker (Representative Moeller presiding) called upon President Owen to preside.

JOINT SESSION

The President called the Joint Session to order. The Clerk called the roll of House members. The Clerk called the roll of Senate members. A quorum of the Legislature was present.

President Owen: "The purpose of the Joint Session is to receive the state of the state message from Her Excellency, Governor Christine Gregoire.

The President appointed a special committee to escort the Supreme Court Justices to the House chamber: Representatives Ladenburg and Dammeier, and Senators Fain and Harper.

The President appointed a special committee to escort the Statewide elected officials to the House Chamber: Representatives Anderson and Moscoso and Senators Litzow and Regala.

The President appointed a special committee to advise Her Excellency, Governor Christine Gregoire, that the joint session had assembled and to escort her to the House Chamber: Representatives Clibborn and Hinkle and Senators Baumgartner and Fraser .

The Supreme Court Justices arrived, were escorted to the floor of the House Chamber and were introduced: Chief Justice Barbara A. Madsen and Justices Charles W. Johnson, Tom Chambers, Susan Owens, Mary Fairhurst, James Johnson, Debra Stephens, Charles Wiggins, Steve Gonzalez.

The Statewide elected officials arrived, were escorted to the floor of the House and were introduced: Secretary of State Sam Reed, Attorney General Rob McKenna, State Treasurer James L. McIntire, State Auditor Brian Sonntag, Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn, Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler and Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark.

The President introduced the special guests present in the Chambers: Governor Gregoire’s mother-in law Mary Gregoire, sister-in law Barb Tennis and family, Governor Mike Lowry, Vancouver Mayor Tim Leavitt and Pierce Country Executive Pat McCarthy.

Her Excellency, Governor Christine Gregoire, Mike Gregoire and Michelle Gregoire arrived, were escorted to the rostrum and were introduced.

The President introduced the officers and members of the Consular Association of Washington: Yury Gerasin, Consul General of the Russian Federation and Dean of the Consular Corps, Kiyokazu Ota, Consul General of Japan, Denis Stevens, Consul General of Canada, Young Wan Song, Consul General of the Republic of Korea, Alejandro Garcia Moreno, Consul of the United Mexican States and Vice President of the Consular Association of Washington, Jessica Maria Reyes, Consul of the Republic of El Salvador , John Gokcen, Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Turkey and President of the Consular Association of Washington, Gary Furlong, Honorary Consul General of the Republic of, Uzbekistan and Secretary of the Consular Association of Washington, Helen Szablya, Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Hungary, Miguel Velasquez, Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Peru, Ronald Masnik, Honorary Consul of the Kingdom of Belgium, Vassos M. Demetriou, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Cyprus, Matti Suokko, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Finland, Kim Nesselquist, Honorary Consul of the Kingdom of Norway, Stephen Zirschky, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Latvia, Pedro Augusto Costa, Honorary Consul of the Federative Republic of Brazil, Luis Fernando Esteban, Honorary Consul of the Kingdom of Spain, Petra Walker, Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany, Jack Cowan, Honorary Consul of the French Republic, John F. Keane, Honorary Consul of Ireland, Franco Tesorieri, Honorary Vice Consul of the Italian Republic, Daniel Liao, Director General, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office

The President also recognized distinguished guest Ambassador Murad Askarov, the permanent representative of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the United Nations and Durbek Amonov, the consul general of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The flags were escorted to the rostrum by the Washington State Patrol Color Guard. The National Anthem was performed by Sofia Smith, a student from the Seattle Academy. The President led the Chamber in the Pledge of Allegiance. Prayer was offered by Bishop Chris Boerger, Northwest Washington SYNOD Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Seattle.

Chris Boerger: “Let us pray. Gracious God you have created all that exists, you institute government to protect that creation and to preserve the common good. We thank you for these women and men who have been called to serve by your people. Give them wisdom, compassion and courage so that the decision they make will secure the inheritance we have received and steward that inheritance for those that will follow us. Bless those whose vocation is to lead us in these unique times and may the decision; they make bring honor to you and to the State of Washington. This we pray in your name, amen.”

STATE OF THE STATE

Let’s observe a moment of silence for some who served Washington so well and who passed away recently. Let us remember your colleague, Senator Scott White, who, sadly, left us in the prime of his public service. And let us remember two men who gave us so much during their time in office: Senator Alex Deccio and Senator Bob McCaslin. And let us remember always Governor Al Rosellini. Al was a mentor to me and one of the best friends this state ever had. And also please remember the nine Washingtonians who lost their lives in Afghanistan and Iraq serving our country last year. And just last week the normally idyllic Mt. Rainier National Park was witness to the loss of Park Ranger Margaret Anderson who died in the line of duty. Please join me in a moment of silence.

Thank you. Good afternoon. Thank you, Bishop Boerger, for starting us off with such an inspiring prayer. And thank you, Sofia, for your beautiful performance of our national anthem. Mr. President, Mr. Speaker, Madame Chief Justice, distinguished justices of the court, honored officials, members of the Washington State Legislature, former governors, tribal leaders, local government officials, members of the Consular Association of Washington, my fellow citizens: I have some of my family with me today. My daughter Courtney and son-in-law Scott aren’t here but I’m pleased to say they are moving back to this Washington. Here with me is our daughter Michelle, now a second-year law student. And my husband Mike, always a champion for our veterans. Mike is not only a great husband, my best friend and a great dad, but I’m noticing something else. As he gets older, he’s becoming even more athletic: golf on channel 60, football on channel 13, soccer on channel 32. As for me, I have a complicated relationship with growing older. First, I get carded at Hannah’s Tavern and now I’m getting hearing aid offers in the mail. But as Mike and my staff will tell you, I’m not slowing down. Not this year! And that’s because today I begin my last year as governor of my beloved great State of Washington. We are in a time of great challenge and even greater opportunity. Yes: challenge and opportunity. Like so much else in this age of the 24-hour news cycle, these words have lost a bit of their meaning, but not today, not for me, not in the year 2012. For me, if ever those two words meant anything, it’s right here, right now. While our challenges are unprecedented, so, too, are the opportunities. Here in our Washington, we turn crisis into opportunity. Why? Because we have a culture and history of both personal and shared responsibility. When things get tough, we step up. We step up individually and together to build our future. Today, we govern in a nation where some won’t even talk to each other, much less compromise, believing that compromise is just another word for surrender. But here in our Washington, we don’t say, “My way or the highway.” We say, “Let’s work together to solve our problems.” What’s best for our Washington is more important than politics. Many believe that government is the whole problem and many believe it’s the whole solution. But that’s not our Washington. Here we know that government can’t do it all, but we also know we need great schools and universities, good highways and safe communities. Many believe we should just ride out the Great Recession or use this time of economic stress to dismantle our government. But that’s not our Washington. Here we build the roads and bridges our people and businesses must have to succeed. We keep our streets safe. We help the poor and the vulnerable. We educate our children and young people. We keep our land, air and water clean for them and their children.

Many believe the whole system is broken, and there are no answers. But that’s not our Washington. Here if things don’t work, we reinvent them. We fix things, be it computer software, a better strain of wheat, a new airplane, or a better, faster, cheaper government. We’re built on innovation and we’ve always moved fast. That’s why we’re home to Boeing, Microsoft, Amazon, Starbucks, Nordstrom, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Paccar, clean-energy companies, global health, and the most inventive, dynamic people in the world. That’s why Eastern Washington, because of its agriculture, is called the Refrigerator of the World. Today, it’s our time. It’s our time to practice the courage and compassion handed down to us by our parents and grandparents. It’s our time to rebuild our highways and bridges. It’s our time to create jobs now and for the future. It’s our time to keep our streets safe. It’s our time to give our young people the education and knowledge they will need to succeed in a world economy. We must succeed! You know, I just read a great new book called “That Used to Be Us,” by Thomas Friedman and Michael Mandelbaum. The two take a critical look at where America has been, and for me, one metaphor really stood out. For generation after generation, they write, America knew how to “win in the turns.” Win ... in … the ... turns. What does that mean exactly? In short, it means the winner hits the gas pedal just when everybody else is hitting the brakes. Visualize yourself on a racetrack, racing along on a sunny day. Suddenly, without warning, you’re into a sharp, high-speed turn. When and if you make it through, you find the world around you has utterly changed. The winner of that race — the one with the determination to thrive in that changed world — is the one who sees that sudden turn as an opportunity. The winner takes the risk to pass everybody in the turn and is now leading the pack. That’s “winning in the turn!” In the great economic turn we’re in now, some question if our country or state will win this time.

When the recession ends, will we be out ahead of the competition in education, infrastructure, economic development? Will we come out of this turn in front of the pack and ready to go? Or will we be stuck back there fighting for position with the also-rans? Also ran? Not in our Washington! We must — we can — and we will be out ahead! We know how to “win in the turn.” We know how to come out ahead. We’ve done it time and time again. There was a recession in the early ’70s, so bad that somebody put up a billboard asking the last person in Seattle to turn out the lights. But Governor Dan Evans worked with a Legislature controlled by Democrats to carry out his “Washington Futures,” and sent five ballot measures to the voters. The result was new community colleges; water systems for homes, industry and irrigation; new and refurbished recreational properties; and expanded public health facilities. A Democratic Legislature, a Republican governor — and the people of Washington won in the turn. There was a scary turn in 1983, the worst recession before this one. Governor John Spellman, a Democratic Senate and House had the courage to protect the future of our children. They approved a penny increase in the sales tax focused on education. Again, we won in the turn. And by the way, each time Washington survived an economic crisis and rebuilt its future, it has not been about political party. It has been about the future of Washington State. And now it’s up to us. This is our time — our time to win in the turn. Our time to build a better future for our children and grandchildren. So in the next 60 days, I ask you to do four things:

1. Use the early start you got in December and quickly pass a budget;

2. Ask the voters this spring to approve a temporary, half-penny sales tax increase for students and their future;

3. Pass my school reforms; and

4. Pass a major transportation and jobs package.

First, let’s solve the budget problem. You made a down payment in December. I know these will be some of the most difficult decisions of your career. But I ask you to finish quickly because every day the problem gets bigger and the choices harder. Since Wall Street handed us this mess nearly four years ago, we have cut and cut and cut a projected $10.5 billion, and we are still not done. We have cut K-12 education by 26 percent, four-year colleges by 46 percent and community colleges by 26 percent. Our social safety net is frayed. We have closed five major institutions, including three prisons and one juvenile facility. The last time we shut down even one was nearly 40 years ago. Some states are talking about reforms. We’re not just talking, we’re reforming. We’ve made our pension system one of the five most sustainable in the nation. Our state workforce is down nearly 10 percent and falling. Those employees left are working harder with lower salaries and paying more for benefits. I thank them for serving, particularly in these uncertain times. We’ve made the biggest reset of state government in decades. Today we’re more cost-efficient, smaller, faster and effective. We’re working toward a more sustainable budget in the long term. Historic reform brought flat workers’ compensation rates this year and historic lows in unemployment insurance rates. And that’s good news for our small businesses, which have been hurt the most during this recession and which are key to our recovery.

One of the fastest growing, biggest and most complicated drivers of our budget is health care. We are reining it in with significant results. We have cut Medicaid inflation to 2.3 percent, one of the lowest in the country. And, unlike other states, we haven’t used the recession to undermine the environmental protections that provide what we value: clean air, clean water and healthy natural resources. But all that doesn’t mean our work is done. No one comes to public service thinking the status quo is good enough. No one comes to public service saying that we shouldn’t find a better, more efficient way to do something. It’s the whole reason we serve. And while these times amplify the need, this year is no different. While we must cut, we must also find real reforms that preserve our ability to serve our citizens while modernizing our practices. And while we must cut and reform again, we must also realize that this problem demands a courageous solution. We must look for new revenue as well. Close tax loopholes to save vital services like the Basic Health Program for the working poor. It’s a matter of fairness.

And that brings me to my second request. We must protect our vulnerable seniors and the developmentally disabled, educate our students and provide public safety for our families. I ask you to send to voters a temporary, three-year, half-cent sales tax increase to save those services. Ladies and gentlemen, we are about to shred very core services, and it is time to stand up for Washingtonians. While I know the sales tax is regressive, you know what I find even more regressive? It’s cuts in education that will hit our low-income students the hardest. It’s more cuts in our social safety net to poor seniors and people with developmental disabilities. And it’s cuts to public safety that will impact our poor neighborhoods the most. Now that’s regressive! Remember, the last time we raised the state sales tax was in 1983, under a Republican governor during the worst recession until this one. I ask you to listen to your hearts as well as your heads. Will that 85-year-old woman with failing health who needs help to live in dignity at home find it regressive? Will that student who faces the difference between a mediocre education or a great one find it regressive? Will that family living in fear of a criminal getting out of prison five months early with little supervision find it regressive? No. They will say it’s the right thing to do, because it is. And they will remember we didn’t wait for things to get better. We made them better. Without the half penny, we lose far more than we gain. We lose our future, our values and our way. Like governors and Legislatures in the past, it’s our time to do something very hard. It’s our time to ask for sacrifice from everyone, to ask everyone to contribute to our future so everybody wins in the turn.

And how do we win? How do we lead the rest of the world and the rest of the country? We out-pace, we out-educate and we out-perform. Our businesses, our state, our children and our grandchildren can’t afford any more deep cuts to education. About $411 million of the $494 million sales tax revenue would go to K-12 and higher education. We need the school year to be 180 days and longer, not 176. We need to help our property-poor districts. And we need to stop raising college tuition. It comes down to four simple words. No education, no job. This is our time to value a high-quality education, just as our parents and grandparents did.

I urge you today to act on my third request and approve school reform. I’ve been to many schools as governor, and I’ve never seen a great classroom without a great teacher, or a great school without a great principal. We have a new evaluation system built from the bottom up. Now we must ensure every classroom has a good teacher and every school has a good principal. Our state deserves nothing less. And we must turn around our failing schools once and for all. We will do that by asking our public universities to use bold, innovative programs and partner with low-performing schools. The universities will innovate, research and teach. They will give our students the educational advantage they need. We will take their successful work to scale all across Washington. Like so many of our reforms, I predict this, too, could become a model for the nation. We can’t address the education gap we have with the rest of the world until we address the one we have within our own state. And speaking of education gaps: Thank you for acting quickly to make certain we have trained workers and engineers for our growing aerospace sector. And I’m counting on you to fund those educational opportunities. All our students, not just those who can afford it, must have more skills and more knowledge to compete in this century. In business, they find cracks in the system and fix them. In government, we find cracks in the system and then study them. With an Office of Student Achievement, we can move to action and fix the gaps from high school through college to ensure our students enter the workplace not behind, but ahead. That’s winning in the turn. When we ask voters to invest in education, let’s show them they’ll be getting their money’s worth: good teachers, good principals, good schools and the most knowledgeable graduates in the world.

Speaking of innovation and competition, let’s celebrate our work on early childhood education, resulting in a Race to the Top award of $60 million! The federal government found out what we know. If we invest in early learning and make certain a child is really ready to learn by kindergarten, that child will succeed in school and life. We started the Department of Early Learning in 2006 and created a public-private partnership, Thrive by Five. That small investment will bring returns throughout the life of a child and our state will be better for it. If we invest $411 million in our schools and colleges, if we implement these innovative reforms and if we use our can-do spirit, we can give our children the best education in the United States.

The fourth thing I ask you to do is create jobs now and for the future by investing in our transportation infrastructure. We have to step up to proper maintenance of our very valuable transportation system, from highways and bridges to ferries and city streets. When we build roads, they don’t take care of themselves. When you buy a car, you pay for it and you then maintain it by changing the oil, rotating the tires and making repairs. It’s the same with our roads, bridges and ferries. We bought them new, but unfortunately, we didn’t put money aside for maintenance. The consequences are a wake-up call. We are facing a $1.6 billion shortfall over the next 10 years just to maintain our state highways. Without maintenance, that means bad roads, more potholes, more congestion. Further, we are facing a $1.3 billion deficit in ferry system maintenance. As I sounded the alarm bell last year: Without new funding, our ferry system will not survive as we know it. We would need to completely eliminate five routes, and reduce service and runs throughout the system. Just to maintain where we are today, we have to act. Today, I propose a $3.6 billion, 10-year package to create about 5,500 jobs a year to maintain our transportation infrastructure across the state. In addition to small fee increases, I will ask the Legislature to pass a modest $1.50 fee on every barrel of oil produced in Washington. Our oil companies are getting all the profit and leaving us with the bill. We can do better. This package will also get money to our cities and counties to fill potholes, repair roads, update bridges and keep buses running. It will give them the option to raise additional money for maintenance and transit. We can’t wait until roads, bridges and ferries are falling apart to fix them. We can’t kick the can down the road and saddle our future generations with the repairs we failed to make. This is our year to act and approve a jobs package and invest in our future. Our own Bill Gates says the way you get ahead and stay ahead is by educating more people, attracting more talent, and maintaining and building better infrastructure than the other guys. We’re better than the other guys. If we aren’t, businesses and workers will go elsewhere. Our transportation system is the lifeblood of our economy. It moves people to work and goods to market, and supports our tourism industry. If we don’t maintain and grow, we come to a standstill. This summer, I convened the Connecting Washington Task Force to look at how we build our economic corridors. This 30-member group realized that our challenge is big and our time short. It is time for all of us to have a serious conversation with Washingtonians about the importance of building new infrastructure that our businesses and employees need. Even in these hard times, Connecting Washington recommended a minimum $21 billion in investments for our vital economic corridors. These projects — and more — demand serious attention: the Columbia River Crossing, Spokane’s North-South Corridor, Snoqualmie Pass, Route 167 between Tacoma and Puyallup, the 40-mile I-405 corridor, a new 144-car ferry and Interstate 5 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Consider this: The old and failing Columbia River Crossing supports $40 billion in commerce a year, and 130,000 jobs in warehouses and distribution centers near the ports of Vancouver and Portland alone. Yet the northbound bridge was built in 1917 to accommodate the horse and buggy and still has the last stoplight on I-5. And this: Snoqualmie Pass is the only direct route for products flowing from Eastern Washington farms to our Puget Sound ports, and for products flowing from those ports to Eastern Washington and beyond. That’s $80 billion in cargo through that critical corridor every year. Our record of success with transportation projects is strong. From the 2005 voter-approved gas tax, we are close to completing all 421 statewide projects. So far, 88 percent have been completed early or on time, and 91 percent were on or under budget. We can do it again: Educate ourselves and educate the public, and then build a better transportation infrastructure than the other guys. People often ask me if we can come back from the Great Recession. I tell them: We can. We will. We are.

Our ports and their good-paying jobs are booming. International trade is surging, with year-over-year exports up nearly 30 percent. And our second biggest export, after transportation, is agriculture. New free trade agreements with South Korea, Panama and Colombia will open new markets for Washington. Our exciting global health and life sciences sectors are spreading not only beyond Puget Sound to Tri-Cities, Spokane and Vancouver. They are spreading around the globe. Our software and IT industries are thriving, including a double-digit jump in Microsoft earnings just last quarter, and an 8-percent jump in software jobs. And how about the backbone of our manufacturing sector — aerospace — with its 650 companies in Washington? 2011 was a historic year for one of Washington’s signature industries, and it took a village to make it happen. It started last February when Boeing won the $35 billion contract to build a new generation of 200 Air Force refueling tankers. All of us — labor, management, Democrats, Republicans — worked together to bring that contract home with its 11,000 jobs. In September, the first Boeing 787, the game-changing composites airplane — 20 percent more fuel efficient and as high tech as they come — was delivered to All Nippon Airways. The 787 is the future, and it’s built right here in Washington State. In December, The Boeing Company and the Machinists Union agreed to a historic five-year contract, assuring the 737 MAX will be built here with a projected 20,000 jobs and $500 million in tax revenue. That was followed by the largest order ever for Boeing — 208 airplanes — all of them current 737s or the 737 MAX. We’re winning in the turn in the aerospace industry. But for us, for state government, what we saw in 2011 reminds us that when the economy comes out of this turn, we must already be down the track while our competition hangs back. It’s our turn to win in the turn. And it’s our responsibility. I’ve asked you to pass the budget, send a revenue proposal to voters, reform education, and invest in our transportation infrastructure to create jobs now and into the future. That’s a bold agenda, and it involves risk and courage.

But I have one more very important request. It’s about our values. Our Washington has always fought discrimination. It is time to do it again. It is time for marriage equality. Let’s all stand together to make it happen. Let’s tell the children of same-sex couples that their parents’ relationship is equal to all others in the state. Let’s pass a marriage equality bill. Ladies and gentlemen, as you labor in the next 60 days, I respectfully ask you to take a minute each day to stop and reflect. Take time to look back and see how we came to be the great state we are. Take time to understand and appreciate what our courageous and visionary parents and grandparents did for us, what governors, legislators and voters did for us, when it was their time to act. And remember, this is our time. Our time to give our children what we were given: a good education. Our time to modernize transportation to put people to work and make sure they have jobs in the future. Our time to leave no one behind, and our time to protect our communities. The future of our state is in our hands now. We have to do what is very hard, but do it we must, and together. Let’s show the people that in our Washington we work together: Democrats, Republicans and Independents. And let history reflect that we took the risks, that we were courageous. We were determined. And we were bold. Let’s win in the turn and leave an even greater state to our children and grandchildren. Thank you. God bless you. And God bless the great State of Washington.

The President thanked the Governor for her remarks and asked the special committee to escort Governor Gregoire and her family from the House Chamber.

The President asked the special committee to escort the Statewide elected officials from the House Chamber.

The President asked the special committee to escort the Supreme Court Justices from the House Chamber.

On motion of Representative Sullivan, the Joint Session was dissolved. The Speaker Pro Tem (Representative Moeller presiding) assumed the chair.

The Sergeant at Arms of the House and the Sergeant at Arms of the Senate escorted President of the Senate Owen, and members of the Washington State Senate from the House Chamber.

There being no objection, the House advanced to the eleventh order of business.

MOTION

On motion of Representative Sullivan, the House adjorned until 9:55 a.m., Wednesday January 11, 2012 the 3^rd day of the Regular Session.

FRANK CHOPP, Speaker

BARBARA BAKER, Chief Clerk