| |
Invitation to Catholic Advocacy Day
|
|
| |
Join Us for Virtual Catholic Advocacy Day on March 23
|
|
| |
Register for our first virtual Catholic Advocacy Day (CAD). Scheduled for March 23, CAD will include several opportunities to choose from: pray at Mass, learn about current legislation that is important to Catholics, talk with your legislators virtually alongside fellow Catholics in your district, and/or participate in a social media campaign. Participate in all or some of the day's activities as your schedule allows. Please register for this free event by March 9 if you would like to meet with your legislators during CAD. In addition to the WSCC, collaborators include the Interfaith Peace and Justice Center, Catholic Community Services and Catholic Charities of the state, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, leaders from the three dioceses of Washington state, and Jesuits West. Thank you to Jesuits West, who will be managing Zoom for the day. |
|
| |
Bills Requiring Your Action Now
|
|
| |
Action Alert: Support Civil Legal Aid Funds for Undocumented Immigrants (HB 1072)
|
|
| |
Sign in "pro" for Civil Legal Aid Funds for Undocumented Immigrants, House Bill 1072 (HB 1072). This link will be available until March 4 at 7:30 am. The link will bring you to a page titled "Committee Sign In - Remote Testimony." Please note that "Remote Testimony" in this instance only refers to selecting your position (pro or con) via the web; it does not include verbal testimony. You will also notice that a paragraph in green font explains this. HB 1072 gives undocumented immigrants access to civil legal aid funds. These funds can be used for legal matters such as domestic relations and family law, elder abuse, disability rights, and health care. In accordance with the bishops' legislative priorities to help low-income individuals, including immigrants, the WSCC supports HB 1072. |
|
| |
Action Alert: Urge Your Representatives to Support the Working Families Tax Exemption
|
|
| |
Urge your House Representatives to support the Working Families Tax Exemption, House Bill 1297 (HB 1297). Identify your district and House Representatives here. The House is expected to vote on HB 1297 soon. Also commonly known as the Working Families Tax Credit or the Recovery Rebate, HB 1297 will assist low-income, working individuals and families, including tax-paying immigrants. The HB 1297 tax credit seeks to address Washington's regressive tax system, which causes low-income Washingtonians, who are primarily Black, Native American and Alaskan Native, Latina or Latino, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, and multiracial, to pay six times more in taxes as a percentage of their household income in comparison to wealthier residents. The Working Families Tax Credit would reach 500,000 households, including one in four children; have an outsized impact on Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC); and would provide a base credit of $500 to $900. In accordance with the bishops' priorities of the state budget, economic justice, and racial justice, the WSCC supports HB 1297. |
|
| |
Action Alert: Urge Your Senator to Support the Healthy Environment For All (HEAL) Act
|
|
| |
Urge your state senator to support Senate Bill 5010 (SB 5010). Identify your district and state senator here. The Senate is expected to vote on the HEAL Act soon. Low-income and communities of color are disproportionately affected by environmental burdens. The HEAL Act addresses this by implementing the recommendations of the Environmental Justice Task Force. Among its provisions, the HEAL Act defines environmental justice and requires its application in state agencies, using a racial justice lens. The HEAL Act also incorporates tribal consultation, directs funding with environmental benefits towards communities highly impacted by pollution or climate change, and establishes the Environmental Justice Council. In accordance with Pope Francis's call to care for God's creation in Laudato Si', the WSCC supports the HEAL Act. |
|
| |
Action Alert: Urge Your House Reps To Vote For Pathways from Prison to Postsecondary Education (HB 1044)
|
|
| |
Urge your House Representatives to support House Bill 1044 (HB 1044), which provides pathways from prison to postsecondary education. Identify your district and state senator here. The House is expected to vote on the HB 1044 soon. HB 1044 permits the Department of Corrections (DOC) to implement postsecondary education certificate and degree programs at state correctional institutions. It also establishes processes for identifying, assessing and accommodating incarcerated persons with learning disabilities, traumatic brain injuries, and cognitive impairments. Related to the bishops' restorative justice priority, the WSCC supports HB 1044.
|
|
| |
Action Alert: Urge the Senate to Pass SB 5010, Concerning Credit Scores and Equity
|
|
| |
Urge your state senator to support Senate Bill 5010 (SB 5010). Identify your district and state senator here. SB 5010 prohibits the use of credit scores to determine rates for personal lines of insurance. The use of credit scoring to calculate rates for personal lines of insurance is unfair and has a disproportionately negative economic impact on women, low-income individuals, and communities of color in Washington. In accordance with the legislative priorities of economic and racial justice, the WSCC supports SB 5010. |
|
| |
Action Alert: Urge Your Senator to Support SB 5226 To End Debt-based Driver's License Suspensions
|
|
| |
Urge your state senator to support Senate Bill 5226 (SB 5226), which ends debt-based driver's license suspensions. Identify your district and state senator here. SB 5226 is eligible for a Senate vote. Current law adversely affects low-income families and individuals. When low-income individuals are unable to pay fines for civil driving infractions that are not crimes, such as failing to signal, their driving license may be suspended. When they must inevitably drive to work, the grocery store, or a medical appointment, low-income individuals then risk being charged with a crime: Driving While License Suspended in the Third Degree (DWLS3). Ultimately, inability to pay for a civil driving infraction leads to being charged with a crime with an accompanying loss of vehicle insurance coverage. SB 5226 stops the suspension of driver's licenses for financial reasons and the accompanying automatic loss of vehicle insurance coverage. Having a valid driver's license is a necessity of life for many people in Washington, for work and to provide transportation for their families. In accordance with the bishops' economic justice legislative priority, the WSCC supports SB 5226. |
|
| |
Action Alert: Urge your Reps to Pass the Clean Fuels Bill
|
|
| |
The Clean Fuels Bill, House Bill 1091 (HB 1091) is eligible for a House Floor vote. Identify your district and House Representatives here, and urge your House Representatives to vote for the Clean Fuels Bill. The Clean Fuels Bill reduces the carbon intensity of transportation fuel to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In accordance with Pope Francis's call to care for God's creation in Laudato Si', the WSCC supports HB 1091. |
|
| |
Abortion Coverage Passes House, Now in Senate Committee
|
|
| |
Action Alert: If your senator is a member of the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee, please urge your senator to oppose House Bill 1009 (HB 1009), which includes a new requirement that abortions be covered in student health plans. Identify your district and state senator here. HB 1009 was passed by the House on February 23 and has been referred to the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee. HB 1009 expands the coverage of abortion in student health plans for colleges and universities. Any student health plan that provides coverage for maternity care or services will also be required to include equivalent coverage to permit the abortion of a pregnancy. The WSCC opposes HB 1009.
|
|
| |
Additional State Legislative Updates
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
.jpg)
Senator Steele Assists Catholic Schools with Amendment to HB 1139
Thank you to Representative Mike Steele, whose amendment exempted Catholic Schools and other private schools from House Bill 1139 (HB 1139). HB 1139 creates new water testing requirements for schools. Currently Catholic schools conduct tests for lead in their water systems, and this legislation created onerous requirements. As an advocate for Catholic Schools, the WSCC is opposed to HB 1139. |
|
| |
SB 5180, Which Helps Trafficking and Domestic Violence Survivors, Passes the Senate
|
|
| |
Thank you to the Senate, who unanimously passed Senate Bill 5180 (SB 5180) on February 24. SB 5180 assists victims of sex trafficking, prostitution, commercial sexual abuse, or domestic violence by establishing a process to vacate, or cancel, convictions related to their victimization. This bill will help survivors rebuild their lives by clearing them of convictions that may hurt their chances to gain employment or benefits. SB 5180 will now move to the House. Related to the bishops' legislative priority to respect life and the dignity of all human persons, the WSCC supports SB 5180.
|
|
| |
House Passes Expansion of Assisted Suicide
|
|
| |
On February 25 the House voted 60-37 to pass House Bill 1141 (HB 1141), which expands assisted suicide. Thank you to advocates who responded to our action alert to oppose this bill. HB 1141 will now move on to the Senate. HB 1141 increases access to physician assisted suicide and accelerates the process. The bill broadens the definition of a "qualified medical provider" who can make a diagnosis and prescribe lethal medication. HB 1141 also loosens the definition of those who can provide counseling; in lieu of a psychiatrist or psychologist, a social worker, mental health counselor, or psychiatric advanced nurse practitioner may determine if a patient is suffering from a psychiatric or psychological disorder or depression causing impaired judgement. Additionally, this bill shortens the minimum amount of time from 15 days to just 72 hours that a patient is required to wait between making a request and receiving a prescription to terminate his or her life. The 72 hour wait time may even be waived if the "qualified medical provider" deems that a patient has less than 72 hours to live. HB 1141 also permits assisted suicide prescriptions to be delivered via the mail. Bishop Mueggenborg of the Archdiocese of Seattle and Washington State Catholic Conference (WSCC) Executive Director, Mario Villanueva, testified against HB 1141 on January 18. View their testimony at 1:29:02. In accordance with the bishops' legislative priority to respect life, the WSCC opposes HB 1141. |
|
| |
HB 1151, Which Bolsters Economic Recovery, Passes the House
|
|
| |
House Bill 1151 (HB 1151), which bolsters economic recovery, passed out of the House 82-16 on February 25. It will now move on to the Senate. HB 1151 aims to bolster economic recovery by providing assistance to families in need. This bill allows Consolidated Emergency Assistance to be provided more than once in a 12-month period when directed by the governor; provides a one-time cash benefit and transitional food assistance; and requires the Department of Social and Health Services to update standards of need for cash assistance programs. HB 1151 is currently on the House Floor Calendar and is eligible for a vote in the House of Representatives. In accordance with the bishops' economic justice priority, the WSCC supports HB 1151. |
|
| |
Voter Eligibility (HB 1078) Passes the House
|
|
| |
The House passed House Bill 1078 (HB 1078) 57-41 on February 24. HB 1078 will automatically restore voter eligibility to individuals convicted of a felony offense who are not serving a sentence of total confinement under the authority of the Department of Corrections. Currently, convicted persons must undergo a two-step process to regain voting eligibility. In accordance with the Washington bishops' restorative justice legislative priority, the WSCC supports HB 1078.
|
|
| |
Senate Passes SB 5068, Which Improves Maternal Health Outcomes
|
|
| |
On February 25 the Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 5068 (SB 5068), which improves maternal health outcomes. SB 5068 will now move to the House. SB 5068 expands postpartum maternal coverage from 60 days to one year for recipients of Apple Health. Apple Health provides health coverage for eligible families, children, low-income adults, and certain disabled individuals. Throughout Washington state and the US, maternal mortality rates are much higher than other developed countries, with stark ethnic disparities. Related to our health care and racial justice legislative priorities, the WSCC supports SB 5068. |
|
| |
HB 1342, Eliminating Copays for Student Reduced-Price Lunches, Moves to the Senate
|
|
| |
House Bill 1342 (HB 1342) eliminates lunch copays for students who qualify for reduced-price lunches under the National School Lunch Program. This program provides nutritionally balanced meals to qualifying low-income children at public schools and nonprofit private schools, including Catholic schools. HB 1342 was passed by the House and has been referred to the Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee. Related to the bishops' families and children and economic justice priorities, the WSCC supports HB 1342.
|
|
| |
Private Schools Emergency Waiver Bill (HB 1131) Awaits Governor's Signature
|
|
| |
House Bill 1131 (HB 1131) provides a waiver for private schools to maintain their approval status when they are unable to meet minimum school days or instructional hours due to a significant disruption resulting from an emergency situation. This bill is favorable to Catholic schools and allows them to be in good status with the state as schools contend with the challenges of the pandemic. Both the House and Senate passed this bill, and it has been delivered to the Governor. It awaits his signature to become law. Related to the bishops' Catholic Schools legislative priority, the WSCC supports HB 1131. |
|
| |
Legislative Cutoff Dates
|
|
| |
Monday, February 22 was the cutoff date for bills to pass out of House fiscal committees, Senate Ways and Means, and the Senate Transportation Committee. Some bills, such as those that create revenue, are exempt from this deadline. The next cutoff date is March 9, the last day to pass bills in their house of origin. Ultimately, bills must pass both the House of Representatives and the Senate and then be signed by the governor in order to become law. A full list of cutoff dates for the legislative session may be found here.
|
|
| |
WSCC Legislative Priorities
|
|
| |
Each year the bishops of Washington establish state legislative priorities based on the teachings of the Catholic Church. Details of these 11 priorities may be found on our website. These priorities are reflected in the WSCC's positions on the bills above. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
 |
|
| |
Important Dates
|
|
| |
February Black History Month
March 9 Deadline to register for Catholic Advocacy Day if you want to
meet with your legislators
March 23 Virtual Catholic Advocacy Day
March 25 Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord
March 26 Last day to pass bills out of committee from the opposite
house, except House fiscal committees and Senate Ways
and Means and Transportation committees
April 2 Last day to pass bills from the opposite house out of House
fiscal committees and Senate Ways & Means and
Transportation Committees
April 4 Easter
April 11 Last day to pass opposite house bills
April 25 Final day of the state legislative session
Did a relative or friend forward this WSCC Catholic Advocacy Bulletin to you? Sign up for your own free subscription here. The bulletin is available in both Spanish and English.
You can also find the Washington State Catholic Conference on Facebook, Twitter @wacatholics, and Instagram.
Click here to view previous WSCC bulletins on our website.
.png) |
|
|
|
