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Weekly Summary
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As the fifth week of the 2017 legislative session ends, the first major deadline of the session looms on Friday, Feb. 17. All bills must have passed their assigned policy committee by the 17th or they will be considered dead. The only exception to this are bills necessary to implement the budget. And, while unlikely, even dead bills can be brought back to life through either extraordinary procedural maneuvers or creative amendments to other bills moving through the process. This issue of the Advocacy Bulletin reports on those bills that are priorities for the WSCC and are already scheduled for some action next week. However, bills can be scheduled for action with as little as 24 hours' notice, and often are scheduled as the Feb. 17th cutoff date approaches. |
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** ACTION ALERT **
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Repeal the Death Penalty - HB 1935: The House Judiciary Committee will hear a bill that would abolish the death penalty in Washington State. The hearing is scheduled for 8:00 am, on Wed., Feb. 15, in House Hearing Rm A, John L. O'Brien Building. The U.S. Bishops have called for abolition for over 35 years. The House Judiciary Committee has not yet scheduled a vote on the bill. Please contact your State Representatives to let them know you support repeal of the death penalty and want the committee to pass HB 1935 out of committee by Feb. 17.
Click here to send a message to your Representatives. |
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Legislation WSCC Supports
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Cesar Chavez Day - HB 1939: This bill 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 that worked to improve the treatment, pay, and working conditions of farm workers. The House State Government, Elections & Information Technology Committee will hear HB 1939 on Tues., Feb. 14, at 8:00 am, with a possible committee vote later in the week. |
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Update on Previously Heard Bills WSCC Supports
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In this update section, we are including only those bills that are scheduled for action in the next week.
Fair Chance Act - SB 5312 & HB 1298: Now in the Senate Rules Committee, SB 5312 would prohibit employers from asking about arrests or convictions before an applicant is determined otherwise qualified for a position. Many job applications have a check box on the initial application form concerning arrests and/or convictions. SB 5312 would prohibit use of this check box so that applicants could have a fair chance at being considered for a position based on their qualifications. This bill is similar to HB 1298 which will be heard by the House Appropriations Committee on Thurs., Feb 16, at 3:30 pm. This legislation used to be referred to as "ban the box" but is now called "fair chance."
Homeless Housing and Assistance - HB 1570: The House Community Development, Housing & Tribal Affairs Committee has scheduled a vote on HB 1570 for Feb. 14, after being postponed from the previous week. This bill would make the temporary $40 local Homeless Housing and Assistance surcharge permanent while increasing the local Housing and Assistance surcharge from $40 to $90. Without extending the surcharge, thousands of people would likely become homeless.
Legal Financial Obligations (LFOs) - HB 1783: Most people convicted of a crime receive at sentencing a notice of their Legal Financial Obligations (LFOs). These obligations include victim restitution, crime victims' compensation fees, etc. Upon completion of their sentence, the court-imposed debt, plus the very high interest rate (imagine the burden if your mortgage rate was at 12%) and sanctions, often presents a formidable barrier to persons integrating successfully back into their communities. HB 1783 would eliminate the interest on most of the debt and limit the sanctions for those who prove an inability to pay. The House Judiciary Committee will vote on HB 1783 on Thurs., Feb. 16.
Parental Notification - SB 5320: This bill would require parental notification prior to abortions performed on girls who are unemancipated and under 18. Unless the parent or guardian has waived their right to notice, or there is a medical emergency, the abortion practitioner must give notice to one of the minor's parents or legal guardian at least 48 hours before the procedure. An exemption, known as a judicial bypass, would allow minors to undergo an abortion without parental notification. Petitions for judicial bypass are confidential and free. On Feb. 8, the Senate Law & Justice Committee passed SB 5320.
REAL ID Act - SB 5008: Currently, non-enhanced Washington driver's licenses do not meet the federal REAL ID Act regulations. SB 5008 would require the Department of Licensing (DOL) to mark standard (or non-enhanced) driver's licenses and identicards as not being in compliance with the federal REAL ID Act regulations. These noncompliant driver's licenses and identicards could not be used for:
- accessing federal facilities, including military bases,
- entering nuclear power plants, and
- boarding federally regulated commercial aircraft, beginning January 22, 2018.
SB 5008 passed out of the Senate Transportation Committee last month and is now in the Senate Rules Committee.
Right to Counsel and Dependency Hearings - SB 5363 & HB 1251: This legislation would give children, who have been removed from their homes and are at risk of entering the foster care system, the right to be represented by counsel. It would also require the court to appoint an attorney for a child before the initial shelter care hearing. On Feb. 9 the House Judiciary Committee voted on HB 1251. The Senate Human Services, Mental Health, and Housing Committee held a hearing on SB 5363, but no vote is scheduled.
School Nutrition Programs - HB 1508: The House Education Committee voted on HB 1508 for Feb. 9. The bill would require high-needs schools, beginning in the 2018-19 school year, to offer breakfast after the bell to each qualifying student and provide adequate time for students to eat. All public schools are encouraged to offer breakfast after the bell even if not required to do so. The bill would also direct districts with school lunch programs to begin eliminating lunch copays for qualifying students in pre-kindergarten through grade 12 and to complete the copay phase out in the 2020-21 school year. HB 1508 would authorize the OSPI and school districts to coordinate with the state's Department of Agriculture to promote new and existing farm-to-school programs and small direct marketing farm programs in districts.
Safe Surrender of Newborn Children - HB 1312 & SB 5522: The legislation would require the Department of Social And Health Services to collect and compile information concerning (1) the number and medical condition of newborns surrendered by the parent under Washington's Safety of Newborn Childrens Law; (2) the number and medical condition of newborns abandoned within the state who were not surrendered; and (3) report its findings annually, to the public, which may be on its web site. The Senate Human Services, Mental Health & Housing Committee has scheduled a vote on SB 5522 for Tues., Feb. 14. No vote is currently scheduled on HB 1312
Informed Consent for End-of-Life Decisions - SB 5433: On Tues., Feb. 14, the Senate Law & Justice Committee will vote on SB 5433. This bill would revise the state's "Death with Dignity Act" to require an attending physician to inform the patient of feasible alternatives, including the treatment for the purpose of cure and the treatment for the purpose of extending the patient's life, to ensure that the patient is making an informed decision. |
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Update on Previously Heard Legislation WSCC Opposes
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Preventive Health Services (Mandating Contraceptives) - HB 1523: The House Health Care & Wellness Committee heard this bill on Feb. 7. It would require all health plans in the state to provide contraceptives at no cost. The contraceptives covered include those that are abortifacients. This constitutes a direct threat to the life and dignity of the human person. The WSCC opposes this bill. No vote on the bill has been scheduled. |
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Welcome the Needy
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The February Pope Video asks us to pray "For those who are weighed down, especially the poor, refugees and marginalized, that they might find welcome and support in our communities." View the video and join Pope Francis in prayer. This effort is part of the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network - Apostleship of Prayer. |
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Lent 2017 Resources on Abolishing the Death Penalty
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The Lenten season is fast approaching, and Catholic Mobilizing Network (CMN) has developed personal, community, and parish tools for prayer and reflection. These resources can serve as a way to reflect on the call to live with mercy and uphold the dignity of all life by working to end the death penalty.
These resources include:
An Intergenerational Lenten Workshop
A Good Friday Reflection to End the Use of the Death Penalty
"Jesus, Remember Me" a Lenten Workshop for Youth
CMN will soon have additional liturgical tools and weekly reflections for this 2017 Lenten season coming soon - including an Ash Wednesday Reflection by Fr. George Williams S.J. that is available now! To view all of CMN's Lenten resources catalogue, click here. |
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Earth Day 2017
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Will your parish, school, or religious community celebrate Earth Day this year? Many parishes and schools are already making plans for celebrating Earth Day around April 22nd. Register to receive the 2017 Earth Day Program Guide from the Catholic Climate Covenant.
The Covenant's Earth Day theme of "Know the Creator Through Creation" complements the Earth Day Networks' 2017 focus on climate literacy. The program will help your community understand how the fullness of God is reflected in all of creation and how we are responsible for safeguarding the Creator's handiwork. The 2017 Earth Day program guide is being prepared now. It will include lesson plans for various age groups, and will be emailed to you by early March if you are registered. |
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Quotation of the Week
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Adapted from the Consistent Life Network
- Scott Arbeiter
"I'm Pro-Life, and Pro-Refugee," New York Times, February 7, 2017
"But in recent years, I have come to realize that being pro-life requires more of me . . . I need to be ready to stand against every form of economic injustice, racism and individual or corporate greed that destroys the life of a family and a community ...
"My maturing pro-life views have also caused me to examine how I grapple with the question of war, nuclear proliferation and other causes I never used to consider pro-life. ...
"Or take another issue ... our country's response to the global refugee crisis. I understand the concern that many of my neighbors have about security. But how can I demand absolute security for myself (which I do not expect or demand in any other part of my life) while 65 million people are fleeing the very terrorism, war and persecution that are the antithesis of life?"
Did a relative or friend forward this WSCC Catholic Advocacy Bulletin to you? Sign up for your own free subscription here.
Click here to view WSCC bulletins on our website. |
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