FLOOR ACTION
Homeowners associations would be able to send meeting notices via email, under House Bill 1259, which passed the House floor unanimously.
A measure that expands the medications that a school employee can administer to children passed the House floor unanimously. House Bill 2247 adds ear and eye drops, and topical medications to the list.
House Bill 2283, which would require disabled parking placards to be completely visible through a vehicle’s windshield, passed the House floor 95 to 1.
Bail for class A and B felonies could only be determined by a judicial officer under House Bill 1194, as opposed to a bail schedule. The proposal passed the House floor unanimously.
TUESDAY
Transportation Advocacy Day will bring an expected 200 citizens to the Capitol to ask for new transportation revenue and reform. It’s coordinated by Transportation for Washington.
It’s also the cutoff day for House policy committees to vote on bills. Any proposals not passed by the end of the day won’t see the floor or other house this session, with the exception of budget and revenue-related bills.
Requiring funding for K-12 education to become law before other appropriations will have a public hearing at 8 a.m. House Bill 2533 will be heard in Hearing Room A of the O’Brien Building by the House Education Appropriations and Oversight Committee.
Creating a system to apprehend those suspected of killing or seriously injuring police offices will have a public hearing. House Bill 1820 would form a Blue Alert system to distribute descriptions of those suspected of such crimes, similar to the Amber Alert system’s response to reported child abductions. The House General Government Appropriations and Oversight Committee will meet at 8 a.m. in Hearing Room C of the O’Brien Building.
That committee also will hear a proposal to exempt Washington State Gambling Commission special agents from prohibitions to salary increases for state employees, under House Bill 2670. The agents and commission regulate gambling in Washington, but not the state lottery or horse racing.
Adding a $10 surcharge to certain business and professional licenses to help fund Washington’s work-study program will have a public hearing. Senate Bill 6447 would add an additional 3 percent surcharge for some of these fees. It will be heard at 10 a.m. in Hearing Room 3 of the Cherberg Building by the Senate Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee.
A proposal to allow employers to pay new hires a training wage, 75 percent of minimum wage, will have a public hearing. House Bill 1258 would place restrictions on employers paying the wage, such as that the training period can be no more than 680 hours. The House Labor and Workforce Development Committee will meet at 10 a.m. in Hearing Room C of the O’Brien Building.
That committee will also hear House Bill 2497, which would let employers pay tipped employees $7.25 per hour, if they receive enough in tips to reach a total equal to minimum wage.
Implementing recommendations of the Sunshine Committee, which reviews public records exemptions, will have a public hearing. Senate Bill 5049 would make changes such as exempting information in local gang databases from public disclosure. It will be heard at 1:30 p.m. in Hearing Room 2 of the Cherberg Building by the Senate Government Operations, Tribal Relations and Elections Committee.
Prohibiting collecting petition signatures or distributing handbills near voting centers will have a public hearing. Senate Bill 6417 would not allow attempts to persuade voters within 50 feet of voting centers or ballot drop locations. The Senate Government Operations, Tribal Relations and Elections committee will meet at 6 p.m. in Hearing Room 2 of the Cherberg Building.
A proposal to publicize how ballot measures that decrease revenue would affect higher, recession-driven demand for government services also will be heard by the committee. Senate Bill 6448 would include this information in the voters’ pamphlet, for initiatives and referendum measures.
BILLS INTRODUCED
A flat rate corporate income tax would replace the state business and occupation tax, under House Bill 2744. It would also get rid of municipal business and occupation taxes.
Senate Bill 6562 would create an automated external defibrillator program for state high schools, to put one of the devices in each school.
Roll your own tobacco machines would be prohibited under Senate Bill 6564.
Compiled by Alexis Krell
