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WSCC 2016 Catholic Advocacy Bulletin, No. 5
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February 6 concludes the fourth week of the 2016 legislative session, and next week marks the midpoint of this 60-day session. Feb. 5, is the cutoff for all bills to pass out of their policy committee in their house of origin or be considered "dead." Next Tuesday, Feb. 9, is the cutoff for all budget-related bills to be passed by the fiscal committee in their house of origin. The fiscal committees include the House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
Monday, Feb. 8, is Catholic Advocacy Day - we look forward to seeing you there.
A big "Thank you" to all of you who have contacted your legislators this session - your efforts are having an impact as most of the bills WSCC supports are moving through the legislative process.
ACTION NEEDED: Please take action on the five bills below that need to be passed by a fiscal committee by Feb. 9. |
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Toxic Flame Retardants
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HB 2545 would prohibit a manufacturer, wholesaler, or retailer from manufacturing, selling, or distributing for sale or for use in this state children's products or residential upholstered furniture containing any of five flame retardants. On Feb. 3, the House Health Care & Wellness Committee passed HB 2545 out of committee and the bill was referred to the House Appropriations Committee. The Senate Health Care Committee heard a similar bill, SB 6440, but passed it out of committee with an amendment that significantly changed it. WSCC supports HB 2545.
Please call the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000 and ask your Representatives to support HB 2545. |
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Intergenerational Poverty
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Addressing poverty from a generational approach requires a shift in analyzing data and making decisions regarding public policy and funding. A child's wellbeing is inextricably linked to the wellbeing of the family. HB 2518 would establish the Intergenerational Poverty Reduction Commission to develop two-generation strategies to reduce intergenerational poverty and welfare dependence in Washington. The bill would require the Commission to develop recommendations on how the state should act to address issues relating to breaking the cycle of poverty. Catholic Community Services (CCS) staff testified on behalf of WSCC in support of HB 2518. The bill passed the House Early Learning & Human Services Committee and was referred to the House Appropriations Committee.
Please call the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000 and ask your Representatives to support HB 2518. |
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Homeless Students
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SB 6298 would seek to stabilize students who are homeless by creating a grant program for school districts to increase identification of homeless students and establish another grant program to link homeless students and their families with stable housing. The bill passed the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee and is in the Senate Ways & Means Committee. WSCC supports SB 6298.
Please call the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000 and ask your Senator to support SB 6298. |
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Mental Health
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HB 2439, supported by WSCC, would establish the Children's Mental Health Work Group to identify barriers to access of mental health services for children and families and provide for depression screening for children ages 11 to 21. The bill passed the House Early Learning & Human Services Committee and was referred to the House Appropriations Committee.
Please call the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000 and ask your Representatives to support HB 2439. |
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Statewide Reentry Council
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After people who have been convicted of crimes are released from jail or prison, they find many obstacles to reentering the community. Some of them fail and land back in jail. This problem is known as recidivism. HB 2791 would create the Washington Statewide Reentry Council for the purpose of promoting successful reentry of offenders after incarceration, and to recommend funding for programs in state and local correctional facilities; as well as for housing; employment; education; and other issues contributing to recidivism. The House Public Safety Committee voted unanimously to pass HB 2791 out of committee on Feb. 3, and the bill was referred to the House Appropriations Committee. WSCC supports HB 2791.
Please call the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000 and ask your Representatives to support HB 2791. |
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Bills under Active Consideration
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Legal Financial Obligations (LFOs)
Most people convicted of a crime must pay Legal Financial Obligations (LFOs) that include victim restitution, crime victims' compensation fees, etc. HB 1390 would eliminate the interest on most of the debt and limit the sanctions. On Feb. 3, the full House passed HB 1390 by a 97-0 vote and the bill was referred to the Senate Law & Justice Committee. WSCC supports HB 1390.
WorkFirst
The Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program is called WorkFirst in Washington State. This program provides eligible adults assistance to find work. HB 1875 would increase the amount of vocational training for WorkFirst recipients from 12 to 24 months, subject to the amount appropriated. HB 1875 is on the Floor Calendar, awaiting a vote by the entire House. WSCC supports HB 1875.
Parental Notification
SB 5289 would require parental notification for a minor considering an abortion. WSCC supports SB 5289 which remains in the Senate Rules Committee.
Transgender Facilities
SB 6443 would require the Human Rights Commission to repeal its recent rule allowing individuals the use of gender segregated facilities "consistent with their gender expression." WSCC supports SB 6443, which is in the Senate Rules Committee.
Another bill addressing gender-segregated facilities is SB 6548. The bill would allow public or private entities to limit the use of gender-segregated facilities. On Feb. 4, the Senate Law & Justice Committee voted SB 6548 out of committee.
Human Trafficking
SB 6376 would recognize January 11 as Human Trafficking Awareness Day in Washington State. The bill was heard on Feb. 3 by the Senate Law & Justice Committee which voted it out of committee on Feb. 4. WSCC supports SB 6376.
Other bills regarding human trafficking, which WSCC supports, continue to progress in the Legislature. HB 1651 / SB 5342 would adjust certain legal definitions concerning human trafficking to protect foreign workers. The House Labor & Workplace Standards Committee voted it out of committee on Feb. 4. On Feb. 5, SB 5342 unanimously passed the full Senate (49-0). SB 5880 would require people who work in certain businesses to complete a minimum of one hour of training in identifying and assisting human trafficking victims. The Senate Law & Justice Committee voted this bill out of committee on Feb. 3.
Breakfast After the Bell
Passed by the House last month, HB 1295 would require each high-needs school to offer breakfast after the bell to qualified students. HB 1295 passed the House and was referred to the Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee in the Senate. WSCC supports HB 1295.
Voting Rights
HB 1745 would promote equal voting opportunity in certain political subdivisions by authorizing district-based elections, requiring redistricting and new elections in certain circumstances. The bill passed the House 50-47 on Feb. 4 and was referred to the Senate Government Operations & Security Committee. WSCC supports HB 1745.
Sex-Selection Abortions
Some abortions are done to enable the parents to select the sex of the baby. In nearly every instance, this is done to abort female babies when a couple wants a male baby. SB 6612 would prohibit intentionally performing an abortion with the knowledge that the pregnant woman is seeking the abortion solely on account of the sex of the unborn child. The bill provides sanctions for the provider of the abortion, but does not contain sanctions for the woman seeking the abortion. Some states have prohibited sex-selection abortions as has Canada. The Senate Law & Justice Committee heard SB 6612 on Feb. 2 and voted it out of committee on Feb.4.
Oil Transport Safety
HB 2575 would direct the Department of Ecology to update and improve emergency planning to better respond to oil spills and fires. On Feb. 1, the bill was referred to the House General Government & Information Technology Committee which heard HB 2575 on Feb. 5.
Charter Schools
SB 6194 would address the Washington Supreme Court's concerns by designating charter schools as schools which are not common schools. After passing the full Senate, the bill has been assigned to the House Education Committee. |
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Initiatives to the Legislature
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There are two types of initiatives:
- Initiatives to the People are submitted for a vote of the people at the next general election.
- Initiatives to the Legislature are submitted to the Legislature at its next regular session in January. Once submitted, the Legislature must take one of the following three actions:
- The Legislature can adopt the initiative as proposed, in which case it becomes law without a vote of the people;
- The Legislature can reject or refuse to act on the proposed initiative, in which case the initiative must be placed on the ballot at the next general election; or
- The Legislature can approve an alternative to the proposed initiative, in which case both the original proposal and the Legislature's alternative must be placed on the ballot at the next general election.
I-732 and I-735 are Initiatives to the Legislature:
I-732 would impose a carbon emission tax on the sale or use of certain fossil fuels and fossil-fuel-generated electricity, at $15 per metric ton of carbon dioxide in 2017, and increasing gradually to $100 per metric ton (2016 dollars adjusted for inflation), with more gradual phase-in for some users. It would reduce the sales tax rate by one percentage point over two years, increase a low-income sales tax exemption, and reduce certain manufacturing taxes. The Senate Energy and Environment & Telecommunications Committee has scheduled a hearing on I-732 for Feb. 9.
I-735 requests the state congressional delegation to propose an amendment to the U.S. Constitution regarding campaign finance law reform. The proposed Constitutional amendment would provide that:
- The judiciary may not interpret the First Amendment of the Constitution, protection of free speech, to include the spending of money.
- Government is fully empowered to regulate campaign financing to protect against undue influence over government and the political process, and that all political contributions and expenditures must be disclosed prior to an election.
The House State Government Committee heard I-735 on Feb. 2 and passed it out of committee on Feb. 3. The Senate Government Operations & Security Committee will hear I-735 on Feb. 11. |
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Bills Not Passed Out of Policy Committees
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SB 6586 would require the Dept. of Social & Health Services to collect and report information on the safe surrender of newborn children. An example of a safe surrender would be someone leaving a newborn baby at a fire station. The Senate Human Services and Mental Health & Housing Committee heard SB 6586 on Feb. 4 but no vote was taken. WSCC supports SB 6586.
SB 6418 concerns the safety of oil transport. The bill received a hearing by the Senate Energy and Environment & Telecommunications Committee last month but was not scheduled for a vote.
The House Judiciary Committee heard two gun control bills; but did not schedule them for a vote:
- HB 1747 would improve the safety of stored firearms.
- HB 2372 would revise requirements for the disposition of forfeited firearms in the custody of local law enforcement agencies and the Washington State Patrol.
Click here to view WSCC bulletins on our website.
The Washington State Catholic Conference (WSCC) is the public policy voice of the Catholic Bishops of Washington State.
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