| |
Preview of Week 9 of 2016 Session
|
|
| |
Friday, March 4, is the last major cutoff ... policy bills not related to the budget must pass the opposite chamber before 5:00 pm. As of this writing, there are several bills described below whose fate is pending. The budget negotiators are still meeting and the results of their efforts will be released next week. The regular session of the 2016 Legislature is scheduled to adjourn next Thursday, March 10.
More details than you may wish to know about the legislative process ...
If both chambers have passed a bill without any changes or amendments, then the bill goes to the Governor. However, if one chamber has modified a bill after it passed its house of origin, then the amended bills need to go back to the house of origin. The house of origin has two options: to concur or not to concur with the amendments. If the house of origin concurs, then the amended bill goes to the Governor. If the house of origin does not concur, then negotiators from both chambers try to reach a compromise. If a compromise is not reached, the bill dies. If a compromise is reached, then both chambers may need to vote on the compromise. If the compromise passes both chambers, it goes to the Governor. |
|
|
Top
|
| |
Bills WSCC Supports
|
|
| |
Cesar Chavez Day
HB 1560 would recognize March 31 as Cesar Chavez Day. Cesar Chavez, a Mexican-American born March 31, 1927, was an American farm worker, labor leader, and civil rights activist who worked to improve the treatment, pay, and working conditions of farm workers. The bill passed the House by a vote of 67-29. HB 1560 was heard and passed by the Senate Government Operations & Security Committee. As of this writing, the bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.
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 and was heard and passed by the Senate Government Operations & Security Committee. The House version would exempt any town with a population under 1,000. The Senate committee's amended version would exempt any town under 2,000 and also adds a section that limits liability. As of this writing, the amended bill is on the Senate floor calendar.
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 passed the House 89-7. The Senate Human Services, Mental Health & Housing Committee heard the bill and passed a significantly different version. The amended bill passed the Senate unanimously on Mar. 4. Advocates will work to remove the amendment in the House.
Mental Health
HB 2439 would establish the Children's Mental Health Work Group to identify barriers to access of mental health services for children and families. The bill passed the House on a 77-20 vote. HB 2439 was heard by the Senate Human Services, Mental Health & Housing Committee which passed an amended version. During the Senate floor debate, new amendments was adopted and the Senate unanimously passed the amended bill. The bill now returns to the House for a vote on the amended version.
Toxic Flame Retardants
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. The House passed HB 2545 by a 76-21 vote. The bill was heard by the Senate Health Care Committee which passed an amended version. Currently, the bill is on the Senate floor calendar.
Statewide Reentry Council
HB 2791 would create the Washington Statewide Reentry Council for the purpose of promoting successful reentry of offenders by recommending funding for housing, employment, and education programs. The House passed HB 2791 by a margin of 94-3. The bill was heard and passed by the Senate Human Services, Mental Health & Housing Committee and amended in the Senate Ways & Means Committee. As of this writing, the amended bill is on the Senate floor calendar.
Temporary Homeless Housing by Religious Organizations
HB 2929 would mandate that local governments liberally construe state building and energy codes to allow religious organizations to offer shelter to the homeless on church property. The bill passed the House unanimously. HB 2929 was heard and passed by the Senate Human Services, Mental Health & Housing Committee. On Mar. 4, the bill was amended on the floor and unanimously passed the Senate. Advocates will work to remove the amendment in the House.
Bills on Human Trafficking
HB 1651 would adjust certain legal definitions concerning human trafficking to protect foreign workers. Earlier this week, HB 1651 unanimously passed the full House and was referred to the Senate Commerce & Labor Committee which voted it out of committee. As of this writing, the bill is on the Senate floor calendar. A very similar bill, SB 5342, unanimously passed the full Senate (49-0). It was referred to the House Labor & Workplace Standards Committee which voted it out of committee. The House unanimously passed SB 5342. It will be sent to the Governor.
SB 6376 would recognize January 11 as Human Trafficking Awareness Day in Washington State. The bill unanimously passed the Senate. The bill was heard and passed by the House State Government Committee. SB 6376 passed the House by a 96-1 margin. The bill now goes to the Governor. |
|
|
Top
|
| |
Bill WSCC is Monitoring
|
|
| |
Charter Schools
SB 6194 would address the Washington Supreme Court's concerns about charter schools by designating them as schools which are not common schools. The bill passed the Senate last month, and was heard by the House Education Committee. Even though the bill did not get out of committee before the cutoff, it is referenced in the budget and therefore still "alive." |
|
|
Top
|
| |
Bills related to the Supplemental Budget
|
|
| |
HB 1295 would have required each high-needs school to offer breakfast after the bell to qualified students. HB 1295 passed the House in January by a 69-28 margin. The bill was heard and passed by the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee. The bill was heard by the Senate Ways & Means Committee, but it did not come up for a vote. However, it is referenced in the House supplemental budget, and therefore still "alive'.
Most people convicted of a crime must pay Legal Financial Obligations (LFOs) that include victim restitution, crime victims' compensation fees, etc. The interest rate on repayment is about 12 percent. As it passed the House on Feb. 3 by a 97-0 vote, HB 1390 would eliminate the interest on most of the debt. The bill was heard and passed by the Senate Law & Justice Committee, after being amended not to eliminate the interest rate, but to reduce the interest rate from twelve percent to four percent. The bill was heard and passed by the Senate Ways and Means Committee. As of this writing, HB 1390 is on the Senate floor calendar. The bill is referenced in the budget.
HB 2518 would establish the Intergenerational Poverty Reduction Commission to develop two-generation strategies to reduce intergenerational poverty and welfare dependence in Washington State. The bill passed the House by a 75-22 margin. HB 2518 was heard by the Senate Human Services, Mental Health & Housing Committee which passed a significantly revised bill. The amended bill died in the Senate Ways & Means Committee. However, it may be included in the budget.
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. |
|
|
Top
|
|
|
