SSB 5236 - Providing additional funding to the prevailing wage program of the department of labor and industries by discontinuing the transfer of moneys from the public works administration account to the general fund-state account

• To increase funds available for the administration of previous wage programs on public works construction projects, this bill discontinues the transfer of funds from the Public Works Administration Account to the state general fund.

ESB 6169 - Authorizing removal of discriminatory provisions in the governing documents of homeowners' associations

• A homeowners' association may amend its governing documents for the purpose of removing a statutorily discriminating covenant, condition, or restriction, e.g., based on race, by a simple majority vote of its board. Any board officer may move for the board to vote on amendments for this purpose. A vote or approval by homeowners' association owners, who are non-board members, is not required.

SB 6264 - Allowing an injured worker to change total permanent disability pension options under certain circumstances

• Allows an injured worker entitled to an industrial insurance permanent total disability pension to change his or her pension option if the worker's designated beneficiary dies or the worker becomes divorced from the designated beneficiary.

SSB 6359 - Ensuring employers do not evade their contribution rate

• This bill brings Washington into federal compliance by increasing the penalties applicable to employers and other persons who intend to knowingly evade the employer successorship provisions. The purpose of evading such provisions is to pay lower unemployment contribution rates.

SSB 6362 - Modifying voter registration provisions

• SB 6362 clarifies and strengthens laws related to challenging voter registrations, creates earlier deadlines to prevent large numbers of "last second" challenges, prevents challenges not based on the personal knowledge or investigation of the challenger, and allows use of a mailing address other than the voter's residence.

ESSB 6396 - Modifying the accumulation and use of sick leave accrued by part-time faculty

• It’s a matter of both equity and respect that part-time faculty at our public community and technical colleges earn benefits proportional to those earned by their full-time colleagues. We standardized how much sick leave may be accrued and whether leave may be used when part-time faculty members transfer among public institutions.

E2SSB 6480 - Modifying public works apprenticeship utilization requirements

• This bill removes the WSDOT exemption from participating in the apprenticeship utilization program which was established in SSB 5097 which was enacted into law in the 2005 legislative session.
• Our public transportation projects are critical to keeping Washington’s economy moving. We expanded our work force by putting more apprentices to work in the “helmets to hardhats” law that requires DOT to phase in their use over three years.

ESB 6537 - Modifying requirements for the direct sale of wine to Washington state consumers.

• To bring Washington into compliance with the U.S. Supreme Court Granholm ruling, the bill allows the direct shipment of wine from any producer in- or out-of-state directly to consumers.

SB 6539 - Changing the formula cap on spirits, beer, and wine restaurant licenses

• As our state grows, so do businesses such as restaurants and bars. But with a cap on the number of available liquor licenses, many cannot offer spirits, beer and wine to their customers. To increase the number of available licenses, the bill allows a license per 1,450 residents, down from the current level of 1,500.

SSB 6540 - Concerning the processing of liquor licenses

• The bill authorizes the Liquor Control Board to extend the time period within which a city, town or county may file a written objection to an application. The Board is required to send notice of an application using receipt verification to: all churches, schools and public institutions, which the Board determines to be appropriate to receive written notice, within 500 feet of the premises to be licensed. No liquor license shall issue to a retail premises within 500 feet of a public elementary or secondary school. The Board is authorized to issue a temporary license for use on a premises not previously licensed to sell alcohol, and to renew temporary licenses at its discretion for periods of 60 days. A person must reside in the state for at least one month prior to receiving a license. The Board may process an application, but not issue a license, for an applicant who has not resided in the state for at least one month.

SSB 6717 - Extending the joint task force on criminal background check processes

• The Joint Task Force on Criminal Background Check Processes (Task Force) was originally created by the passage of Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2556 during the 2004 (and extended during the 2005) legislative session. The legislation required the Task Force to review and make recommendations regarding how to improve the state's criminal background check processes and to report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature.
• Extends the Joint Task Force on Criminal Background Check Processes (Task Force) one additional year and adds a representative from the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers to the Task Force. I serve as Co-Chair of the Task Force.

2SSB 6823 - Modifying provisions relating to the distribution of beer and wine

• To stave off further legal action in a lawsuit before a federal court, the so-called “Costco bill” gives out-of-state wineries and breweries the same three options for getting their products to retailers that in-state producers have:
  • Take the product directly to the retailer;
  • Use a distributor; or
  • Require a retailer to arrange with a common carrier, such as FedEx or UPS, the pickup and delivery of the product.

ESSB 6885 - Modifying unemployment insurance provisions

• Employees will find their benefits increasing while employers will see their unemployment insurance taxes reduced under this law that puts two-quarter averaging into place for the former and four-quarter averaging for the latter. Laid-off workers are no longer at risk of drastic reductions of their benefits, and businesses are projected to save $300 million during the next eight years.

SSB 6652 – Protecting victims of human trafficking

• SSB 6652, though not passed by the Legislature, was included as a proviso in the Supplemental Operating Budget. The bill extends the state’s Task Force on Human Trafficking through June 30, 2011, to provide guidance to state leaders in responding to the crime of human trafficking and provide services to human trafficking victims.
• The task force is required to measure the state's progress in preventing human trafficking; identify programs that provide services to victims of human trafficking; make recommendations for a coordinated support system for victims; examine model state legislation; oversee the ongoing efforts of state agencies to develop human trafficking protocols; review mandatory reporting laws; and consider other relevant topics.

SSB 6397 - Providing for academic employee salary increments for community and technical colleges

• SSB 6397, though not passed by the Legislature, was included as a proviso in the Supplemental Operating Budget. $1.5 million was appropriated for salary increments for community and technical college faculty.

House Companion Bills that Passed the Legislature

4SHB 1483 - Establishing a reinvesting in youth program (Rep. Dickerson)

• This bill permanently establishes a Reinvesting in Youth grant program in the Department of Social and Health Services' Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration (JRA) and expands eligibility to all counties. It specifies minimum eligibility criteria for counties that participate in the grant program, and requires the JRA to establish a distribution formula and quality assurance program for the grant program.

HB 2475 - Requiring collective bargaining regarding hours of work for individual providers (Rep. Conway)

• Requires, at the bargaining representative's request, collective bargaining over how Department of Social and Health Services' core responsibility for long-term in-home care affects hours of work for individual providers.

SHB 2537 - Establishing a pilot program to allow employers to assist employees in completing applications for industrial insurance benefits (Rep. Conway)

• Creates an industrial insurance pilot project administered by the Department of Labor and Industries allowing participating employers to assist workers in filing industrial insurance claims.

SHB 2538 - Authorizing the department to request and superior court to grant warrants pursuant to chapter 49.17 RCW (Rep. Conway)

• Provides that the Department of Labor and Industries (Department) must obtain consent when entering a worksite under the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act. Authorizes the Department to request a court to issue and authorizes a court to grant a search warrant for inspection under the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act.

HB 2562 - Regulating flavored malt beverage (Rep. Wood)

• Allows "flavored malt beverages" to be marketed, distributed, sold, and taxed as beer, not as spirits. Defines "flavored malt beverage" in a manner similar to a new federal standard.

SHB 2776 - Regulating home heating fuel service contracts (Rep. Dickerson)

• Creates a new regulatory structure for home heating fuel service contracts. The structure is approximately parallel to the structure for service contracts. Reduces the minimum amount of the financial security deposit.

SHB 2778 - Exempting certain amounts received by nonprofit convention and tourism promotion corporations from business and occupation tax (Rep. Murray)

• Exempts from the Business and Occupation tax amounts received by nonprofit entities from governments for the purpose of promoting conventions and tourism.

2SHB 2789 - Expanding apprenticeship opportunities for high school graduates (Rep. Quall)

• Authorizes existing Centers of Excellence and other colleges identified by the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, in consultation with the Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council, to act as brokers of relevant information and resources. Requires the Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council to lead an educational outreach program about apprenticeships for middle and secondary school students, educators, and parents. Requires the Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council to oversee and approve direct-entry programs, including awarding up to10 incentive grants to school districts for personnel to negotiate and implement agreements with local apprenticeships. Establishes four pilot programs to expand student enrollment in pre-apprenticeship programs. Requires the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to convene a workgroup to identify barriers and opportunities for further expansion and scale-up of pre-apprenticeship programs.

2SHB 2964 - Creating the department of early learning (Rep. Kagi)

• This bill, which came out of the Washington Learns Early Learning Council, of which I am a member, establishes the Department of Early Learning as an executive branch agency.

Other Significant Bills (Selected)

Unfortunately, time ran out prior to these bills being considered by the Legislature:

• SSB 5126 - Sexual Harassment Policies
• ESSB 5849 - Cyberbullying
• SSB 5943 - Medical Marijuana
• SB 6074 - State Income Tax
• SSB 6164 - Fire-Safe Cigarettes
• SSB 6292 - Performing Arts/Unemployment
• SSB 6356 - Fair Share Health Care
• SSB 6523 - Minimum Age for Gambling
• SB 6607 - Pesticide Application
• SB 6681 - Recruiters/ Student Directory Information
• SSB 6780 - Math and science education
• SJM 8028 - Medical Marijuana
• SSCR 8417 - Gambling Task Force

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