Usually the 60-day, off-year session of the Legislature focuses on fine tuning the two-year budget passed the year before — but not this time. We dealt with such high-profile matters as sex predators and alternatives to the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL), to lower-profile — but no less important — issues such as biofuels and mercury-free vaccines.

These are just some of the many measures that passed:

Alternative assessments – While our current 10th-graders are the first class for which passing the WASL was scheduled to be a requirement of graduation, this session we approved several related alternatives to make sure our schools promote the success of every individual child. This is important, not only for students who struggle with traditional tests but because there’s a real love of learning many children can lose if they are forced into a one-style-fits-all assessment like the WASL. Students who fail the WASL can still graduate if they provide a portfolio of work that shows mastery of WASL-level skills, or if they achieve a required score for mathematics on other tests such as the SAT, PSAT or ACT, or if they complete a vocational program. We also authorized a pilot program under which schools can provide their own tests for third-, fourth- and fifth-graders as an alternative to WASL testing.

Educational assistance – We allocated $28 million for tutoring, before- and after-school programs and summer school for students who are unable to meet academic standards, plus another $3.4 million to help students struggling with math.

Early intervention – Long before they reach school age, children benefit from early intervention services. We’ve seen this proven by Head Start and the Early Childhood Education & Assistance Program. We know, too, that these investments reduce future costs in special education and give all children opportunities be ready for school. To make sure all kids get off to a good start, we created a Cabinet-level Department of Early Learning to consolidate the state’s child care and early learning programs. We also expanded the Birth to 3 Program, which I originally sponsored, to require all school districts to provide or contract for early intervention services for eligible children with disabilities from birth to 3 years of age by 2009. Lastly, we provided funding to expand the Early Reading Grant Program.

Biodiesel – My renewable fuels bill will make sure that Washington benefits in multiple ways from the growing biofuels market. Currently we rely on agricultural products purchased from outside our state to produce renewable fuels. My bill encourages our farmers to grow corn, mustard seed, canola oil and other agricultural products here to produce biodiesel or ethanol, which we know to be environmentally preferable to traditional fuels. Although biodiesel accounts for only a percentage of the overall fuels market, this investment can reduce our need for foreign oil, give our farmers a reliable off-season crop, and boost our economy.

Sex predators – We increased the penalties for sex predators, and we did it the right way — by consulting prosecutors and law enforcement experts on how to put the most predators behind bars without discouraging victims from coming forward. We approved minimum 25-year prison sentences for predatory and violent sex offenses against children and vulnerable adults. We increased penalties for failing to register as a sex offender. Also, we increased penalties for “precursor crimes” such as voyeurism, possession of child pornography and Internet grooming. Finally, we added $2 million to the budget to help victims and $50 million to provide additional space for incarceration.

Medical malpractice – We brought doctors and lawyers together after the failure of Initiatives 330 and 336 last fall made it clear that voters expect the state to find a solution. Negotiated by Gov. Chris Gregoire, this landmark legislation uses mediation and binding arbitration to lower the cost of litigation, lets medical professionals review malpractice claims to weed out frivolous lawsuits, and allows doctors to apologize for medical mistakes without it being used against them in court. While this is only the beginning of a solution to a very large problem, it’s a solid start. I’ve worked on this issue for many years, and my bill to reduce frivolous lawsuits was incorporated into this legislation.

Thimerosal – After a two-year effort, I was particularly pleased to see the passage of my bill to ban vaccinations containing thimerosal for pregnant women and children under the age of 3. Thimerosal is a stabilizing agent that contains 49.6 percent organic mercury. Scientists have been concerned that thimerosal might be linked to autism in children, but the use of the stabilizer in vaccinations for babies and pregnant women has continued. This bill makes Washington the seventh state in the nation to ban vaccines with thimerosal, a development that should dispel parental fears that vaccinating their babies might pose risks to their health and learning potential. That’s a choice no parent should ever have to make.

Veterans – We established the Veterans Innovations Program to assist those returning from military action. Benefits include crisis and emergency relief, education, training and employment assistance, and one-time financial hardship grants up to $500 for employment, education, housing and health care. We also created a down-payment assistance program to help veterans in purchasing homes. We increased the acreage for which a disabled veteran can defer property tax payments, from one to five acres, for a property that can’t be subdivided as long as the vet’s disposable annual income is less than $40,000. We also passed legislation to increase outreach activities and raise the number of veterans who receive tuition waivers at state colleges and universities. Those schools will make the applications process easier for veterans who need assistance and will help them access any GI Bill funds for which they may be eligible.

Identity theft –Legislation we passed increases penalties for identity theft, reduces the amount that the sentence of an identity thief can be reduced through early release, and strengthens community supervision of identity thieves upon their release. As a two-time victim of identity theft, I speak from experience when I urge you to report any case of identity theft immediately to the state attorney general’s office at 360-753-6200.

Methamphetamine epidemic – Our sweeping meth omnibus bill approves multi-jurisdictional meth task forces, establishes a pilot program to combat drug trafficking and use in three critical rural areas of the state, and gives local authorities more tools to clean up sites contaminated by meth labs. We added 100 drug treatment beds, and we made counties that impose sales and use taxes for mental health services eligible for $100,000 in meth addiction treatment funds. In separate legislation, we criminalized the possession of various substances used in the making of meth.

Heating assistance – We helped an additional 14,000 low-income people stay warm this winter by adding $7.6 million to the Low-Income Heating and Energy Assistance Program.

Breast cancer – We budgeted additional funds to provide for thousands of more women to receive screening and early diagnosis of breast cancer. Survival through early diagnosis is particularly crucial here in Washington, where women have the highest incidence of breast cancer in the nation, and at a time when federal support for the Washington Breast and Cervical Health Program has flattened out and faces the risk of reductions in the future.

Prostate cancer – To expand screening for the most common non-skin cancer in this country, we required health plans to cover prostate screenings recommended by a physician, advanced registered nurse practitioner or physician assistant. This requirement applies to disability insurers, health care service contractors, health maintenance organizations, self-funded multi-employee welfare arrangements, the Basic Health Plan, the Uniform Medical Plan for state employees and medical assistance programs provided by the Department of Social and Health Services.

In addition to the amount of legislation we were able to pass, this was a particularly remarkable session because we also were able to set aside $935 million in savings, which will allow us to avoid raising taxes or making cuts to existing programs in order to address future needs.

As always, I welcome your thoughts, concerns or questions. Please feel free to contact me during the legislative interim at 253-847-3276 or at marilyn@rainierconnect.com.

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