TODAY IN THE LEGISLATURE
Testimony on seafood labeling will start at 8 a.m. today during a public hearing before the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. House Bill 1200, sponsored by Rep. Brian Blake, D-Aberdeen, would make it a misdemeanor to mislabel seafood. The public hearing will be in House Hearing Room B in the John L. O’Brien Building.
Rendering criminal assistance might get a little more serious if legislation introduced in the House is approved. House Bill 1080, introduced by Rep. Sherry Appleton, D-Poulsbo, would add language to existing law that says “it is not a defense that the person’s knowledge of the underlying crime or juvenile offense committed by the person receiving assistance was nonspecific or based upon secondhand information.” A public hearing on the bill is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. in House Hearing D of the John L. O’Brien Building.
ON CAMPUS
Dairy Day at the Legislature means farmers, dairy industry leaders and other milk-related interests will be meeting on the third floor mezzanine of the Legislative Building from noon-2 p.m. Better yet, it means free samples of ice cream. The Washington State Dairy Federation is sponsoring the event.
A kids and family advocacy group, Children’s Alliance, will be hosting the Have a Heart for Kids Day. The group will gather on the north steps of the Legislative Building from 12:30 p.m.-1 p.m. Gov. Jay Inslee is scheduled to speak to the hundreds of parents, children and community leaders.
Recently retired after 22 years in the Legislature, former Sen. Bob Morton, R-Kettle Falls, will receive the Ballard/Thompson Award from the Coalition for Open Government. The presentation will be in the Columbia Room of the Legislative Building between 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
NEW BILLS
Senate Bill 5394, sponsored by Sen. Bob Hasegawa, D-Seattle, would require public works contracts to contain a provision requiring at least 75 percent of the labor hours be performed by state residents. If not enough resident employees are available, contractors would have to apply to the Department of Labor and Industries for a waiver. Violators would face civil penalties including fines.
Legislation aimed at increasing enrollment of underrepresented students in college credit Running Start programs has been introduced. House Bill 1526 is sponsored by Rep. Tina Orwall, D-Des Moines, and would create pilot projects involving middle schools, high schools and institutes of higher education to work on closing the “opportunity gap.”
-Compiled by Jimmy Lovaas, staff writer
