Washington State Bill Watch - Jan. 20, 2006

House Bill 1226 (Applying campaign contribution limits):
Substitute offered to the House State Government Operations and
Accountability Committee on January 18, 2006, to remove contribution limits
for candidates for special purpose district offices. It also makes
technical changes to update the monetary limits.
Details and Comments:
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=31529

House Bill 2416 (Establishing an optional state parks vehicle
registration fee):
Substitute offered to the House Natural Resources, Ecology, and Parks
Committee on January 17, 2006, to remove provisions authorizing the
Department of Licensing to collect an additional $5 fee from persons at the
time of vehicle registration to be used for the operation and
maintenance of the state parks system.
Details and Comments:
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=42587

House Bill 2661 (Discrimination based on sexual orientation):
Amendment offered by Rep. Lynn Schindler on January 20, 2006, to change
the threshold number of employees needed to exempt an employer from the
law against discrimination from 8 to 40 employees. H AMD 648. The
amendment failed in the House by voice vote on January 20, 2006, to change
the threshold number of employees needed to exempt an employer from the
law against discrimination from 8 to 40 employees. H AMD 648.
Details and Comments:
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=43129

House Bill 2661 (Discrimination based on sexual orientation):
Amendment offered by Rep. John Ahern on January 20, 2006, to exclude
from the definition of employer any
organization sponsored by a religious or sectarian organization. H AMD
649. The amendment failed in the House by voice vote on January 20,
2006, to exclude from the definition of employer any
organization sponsored by a religious or sectarian organization. H AMD
649.
Details and Comments:
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=43129

House Bill 2661 (Discrimination based on sexual orientation):
Amendment offered by Rep. Fred Jarrett on January 20, 2006, to provide
that a religious or sectarian organization is the employer of every
individual on the payroll of the organization. H AMD 650. The amendment
failed in the House by voice vote on January 20, 2006, to provide that a
religious or sectarian organization is the employer of every individual
on the payroll of the organization. H AMD 650.
Details and Comments:
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=43129

House Bill 2661 (Discrimination based on sexual orientation):
Amendment offered by Rep. Gigi Talcott on January 20, 2006, to state
that the inclusion of sexual orientation among the bases for prohibiting
discrimination under the Law Against
Discrimination does not create any precedent, basis, or right to
same-sex marriage, and that the law must not be construed as creating any
precedent, basis, or right to same-sex marriage. H AMD 651. The amendment
passed in the House by voice vote on January 20, 2006, to state that
the inclusion of sexual orientation among the bases for prohibiting
discrimination under the Law Against
Discrimination does not create any precedent, basis, or right to
same-sex marriage, and that the law must not be construed as creating any
precedent, basis, or right to same-sex marriage. H AMD 651.
Details and Comments:
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=43129

House Bill 2661 (Discrimination based on sexual orientation):
Amendment offered by Rep. John Serben on January 20, 2006, to add a
referendum clause, requiring a vote of the public at the next general
election. H AMD 652. The amendment failed in the House by voice vote on
January 20, 2006, to add a referendum clause, requiring a vote of the
public at the next general election. H AMD 652.
Details and Comments:
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=43129

House Bill 2661 (Discrimination based on sexual orientation):
Amendment offered by Rep. Kathy Haigh on January 20, 2006, to add a
statement to the Law Against Discrimination that inclusion of sexual
orientation will not be construed to modify or supersede state law
relating to marriage. H AMD 653. The amendment passed in the House by voice
vote on January 20, 2006, to add a statement to the Law Against
Discrimination that inclusion of sexual
orientation will not be construed to modify or supersede state law
relating to marriage. H AMD 653.
Details and Comments:
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=43129

House Bill 2661 (Discrimination based on sexual orientation):
Introduced by Rep. Edward Murray on January 11, 2006. Passed in the
House (60 to 37) on January 20, 2006, to prohibit discrimination against a
person based on their sexual orientation.
Details and Comments:
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=182949

House Bill 3101 (Changing provisions for the Odessa Aquifer):
Introduced by Rep. David Buri on January 20, 2006, to protect the
nonuse of water in the Odessa subarea from relinquishment laws if certain
conditions are met and the withdrawal facilities are maintained in good
operating condition and no superseding standby or reserve water right
permit has been issued from the Columbia basin project. Conditions that
excuse nonuse include: conservation practice; change in types or
rotations of crops; economic hardship; pumping or system infrastructure cost;
unavailability or unsuitability of water; or participation in
cooperative efforts to reduce aquifer depletion
Water protected from relinquishment cannot be transferred outside of
the Odessa subarea
boundaries and transfers within the boundaries remain subject to the
standard water transfer
provisions of the law. The bill has an emergency clause. See companion
SB 6151.
Details and Comments:
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=44263

House Bill 3103 (Encouraging open opinion by state employees):
Introduced by Rep. Sam Hunt on January 20, 2006, to encourage open and
honest professional opinion sharing by state employees. Employees are
not required to sign documents with which they do not agree.
Details and Comments:
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=44265

House Bill 3104 (Imposing a fee on non-resident professional athletic
teams):
Introduced by Rep. Chris Strow on January 20, 2006, to impose a fee on
non-resident professional athletic team members. Fees will be reduced
120 days after the effective date of this bill. The bill also prohibits
the state parks and recreation commission from charging fees for
parking or access to state parks.
Details and Comments:
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=44266

House Bill 3109 (Performance review Citizens Advisory Board):
Introduced by Rep. Mark Miloscia on January 20, 2006, to modify the
membership and purposes of the Citizens Advisory Board created in HB 1064
during the 2005 session. Instead of overseeing performance audits of
state agencies, the board will conduct performance reviews of state
agencies and programs. The board membership is reduced from 10 to 9
members, and the JLARC chair, OFM director, and state auditor are removed
from the board. The governor will appoint 5 members instead of 3. The
bill removes appropriation limitations and allows the legislature to
appropriate as much money as may be necessary.
Details and Comments:
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=44271

House Bill 3112 (B&O tax exemption):
Introduced by Rep. Al O'Brien on January 20, 2006, to exempt $25,000 of
a person's gross income, gross proceeds of sales, value of products, or
any combination thereof from the Business and Occupation tax. A
business may be exempt from filing a return for the B&O tax if the value of
products, gross proceeds of sales, or gross income of the business, from
all business activities taxable does not exceed
$25,000 per year. The current threshold is $28,000.
Details and Comments:
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=44274

House Bill 3116 (Streamlining technology efforts):
Introduced by Rep. Zack Hudgins on January 20, 2006, to declare the
state's intent to streamline technology efforts in Washington State by
centralizing technology missions and reducing overhead and eliminating the
overlapping and confusion.
Details and Comments:
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=44278

House Bill 3120 (Tort claims against the government):
Introduced by Rep. Patricia Lantz on January 20, 2006, to expand the
provisions for tort claims against state and local governments to include
their officers, employees, and volunteers.
Details and Comments:
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=44282

House Bill 3121 (Adding a population sustainability element to growth
planning):
Introduced by Rep. Maralyn Chase on January 20, 2006, to authorize a
population sustainability element for comprehensive plans under the
growth management act. Public education and outreach includes information on
the benefits and importance of considering population sustainability in
land use decisions.
Details and Comments:
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=44283

House Bill 3122 (Reimbursing DSHS assault victims):
Introduced by Rep. Ruth Kagi on January 20, 2006, to allow the
reimbursement to Department of Social and Health Service employees who provide
child protective services, child welfare, or adult protective services
who are the victims of assault due to the nature of their role in the
DSHS. This reimbursement includes missed work equal to what they would
normally be paid had they been at work.
Details and Comments:
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=44284

House Bill 3123 (Modifying annexation requirements):
Introduced by Rep. Geoff Simpson on January 20, 2006, to allow
annexation to the town if there is more than 100 acres of land and 60% of the
boundaries are contiguous to the city or town.
Details and Comments:
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=44285

House Bill 3124 (Reimbursing localities for ferry traffic costs):
Introduced by Rep. Brian Sullivan on January 20, 2006, to direct the
Department of Transportation to certify to the state treasurer the total
number of
vehicles that have boarded Washington state ferries for each state
ferry route for the prior calendar year. The state treasurer will
distribute an amount equal to $0.25 multiplied by the total number of vehicles
loading and unloading from a state ferry for each ferry route to the
city in which each ferry terminal facility is located, or to the county if
the facility is located in an unincorporated area. A city or county
receiving a distribution under this section must use the money to defray
capital or operating costs associated with state ferry traffic impacts
on the community where the ferry terminal facility is located. The
maximum amount a city or county can receive is $500,000 per state ferry
route. See companion SB 6750.
Details and Comments:
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=44286

House Bill 3128 (Liquor licensing):
Introduced by Rep. Phyllis Gutierrez Kenney on January 20, 2006, to
allow an organization or society (as defined in state law) to serve wine
as long as it is consistent with the organization's liquor license.
Details and Comments:
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=44290

Senate Bill 5329 (Establishing an industry cluster-based approach to
economic development):
Received to the House on February 28, 2005. Passed in the Senate (36 to
0) on January 20, 2006, establishing an industry cluster-based approach
to economic development.
Details and Comments:
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=182940

Senate Bill 5535 (Modifying optometry licensing requirements):
Amendment offered by Sen. Rosa Franklin on January 20, 2006, to update
the dates in the bill. The amendment passed in the Senate by voice vote
on January 20, 2006, to update the dates in the bill.
Details and Comments:
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=32763

Senate Bill 5535 (Modifying optometry licensing requirements):
Received in the Senate on January 9, 2006. Passed in the Senate (40 to
0) on January 20, 2006, to revise optometry licensing requirements.
Details and Comments:
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=182939

Senate Bill 5913 (Regulating tattooing and body piercing):
Amendment offered by Sen. Jim Kastama on January 20, 2006, S AMD 4.
Details and Comments:
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=34973

Senate Bill 6010 (Concerning state employees who serve in the Peace
Corps):
Amendment offered by Sen. Darlene Fairley on January 20, 2006, to make
technical corrections and clarify employee benefit rights. S AMD 11.
Details and Comments:
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=35729

Senate Bill 6086 (Concerning the retrofitting of wells during drought
conditions):
Amendment offered by Sen. Erik Poulsen on January 20, 2006, to remove
the emergency clause. S AMD 12.
Details and Comments:
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=37320

Senate Bill 6193 (Gathering data on health care providers):
Substitute offered to the Senate Health & Long-Term Care Committee on
January 20, 2006, to limit the survey to licensed health care providers.
The original bill included all health professionals who are
credentialed by a disciplining board, as well as students enrolled in a training
program to become credentialed by a disciplining board.
Details and Comments:
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=42606

Senate Bill 6236 (Changing election dates and deadlines):
Amendment offered by Sen. Jim Kastama on January 20, 2006, S AMD 8.
Details and Comments:
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=42833

Senate Bill 6713 (Creating a self-employment assistance program):
Introduced by Sen. Tracey Eide on January 19, 2006, to establish a
self-employment assistance program designed to create new businesses and
job opportunities within Washington State. People likely to exhaust their
unemployment benefits will be contacted. People enrolled in this
program may still receive their regular unemployment benefits.
Details and Comments:
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=44154

Senate Bill 6714 (Creating a microenterprise development program):
Introduced by Sen. Lisa Brown on January 19, 2006, to create the
microenterprise development program under the Department of Community, Trade,
and Economic development, where the department will assist with
organizational support, provide funds and grants, identify private sources of
funding, etc. This program is designed to help with job creation by
enhancing access to money.
Details and Comments:
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=44155

Senate Bill 6715 (Expanding duties of the Work Force Training and
Education board):
Introduced by Sen. Lisa Brown on January 19, 2006, to expand the duties
of the Work Force Training and Education Board to include developing
policy objectives for the Work Force Investment Act, ensure that
entrepreneurial training opportunities are available, and include in planning
requirements for local work force investment boards a requirement that
they specify how the entrepreneurial training is offered.
Details and Comments:
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=44156

Senate Bill 6741 (Changing membership of the joint task force on
administration and delivery of services to children and families):
Introduced by Sen. Val Stevens on January 20, 2006, to include in the
membership on the joint task force on the administration and delivery of
services to children and families a representative of the
superintendent of public instruction, a representative from the office of public
defender, and a representative from the governor's office.
Details and Comments:
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=44292

Senate Bill 6746 (Creating a privilege tax on oil companies):
Introduced by Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles on January 20, 2006, to create a
privilege tax imposed on petroleum businesses for the privilege of
doing business in Washington State. The tax is exempt if the corporation
does not do their own refining. There are taxable income modifications.
Details and Comments:
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=44298

Senate Bill 6748 (Imposing tax on severance of gas or oil):
Introduced by Sen. Ken Jacobsen on January 20, 2006, to impose a 6% tax
on the severance of gas or oil from any lands or waters of this state.
The tax falls on the producers.
Details and Comments:
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=44300

Senate Bill 6750 (Reimbursing localities for ferry traffic costs):
Introduced by Sen. Paull Shin on January 20, 2006, to direct the
Department of Transportation to certify to the state treasurer the total
number of
vehicles that have boarded Washington state ferries for each state
ferry route for the prior calendar year. The state treasurer will
distribute an amount equal to $0.25 multiplied by the total number of vehicles
loading and unloading from a state ferry for each ferry route to the
city in which each ferry terminal facility is located, or to the county if
the facility is located in an unincorporated area. A city or county
receiving a distribution under this section must use the money to defray
capital or operating costs associated with state ferry traffic impacts
on the community where the ferry terminal facility is located. The
maximum amount a city or county can receive is $500,000 per state ferry
route. See companion HB 3124.
Details and Comments:
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=44302

Senate Bill 6753 (Implementing an intergovernmental water management
program):
Introduced by Sen. Karen Fraser on January 20, 2006, to implement an
intergovernmental water management program with federally recognized
Indian tribes.
Details and Comments:
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=44305

Senate Bill 6755 (Collective bargaining agreements for state
employees):
Introduced by Sen. Jim Honeyford on January 20, 2006, to prohibit
collective bargaining agreements from including union security provisions
requiring an agency shop fee as a condition of employment. Collective
bargaining agreements may not include any other fees as a condition of
employment.
Details and Comments:
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=44307

Senate Bill 6756 (Requiring public disclosure of public union
finances):
Introduced by Sen. Jim Honeyford on January 20, 2006, to require public
disclosure of finances if an agency shop or other union security
provision is agreed to. These financial records include assets and
liabilities, salary, income received, itemization of expenditures, and other
specific records.
Details and Comments:
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=44308

Senate Bill 6759 (Requiring an annual report for basic health plan
enrollees):
Introduced by Sen. Karen Keiser on January 20, 2006, to require an
annual report by the administrator of local health departments in
coordination with the Department of Social and Health Services on company
employees enrolled in basic health plan. The report should detail the number
of employees enrolled in the basic health plan by employer, ranked from
the most to the least number enrolled, to be submitted to appropriate
committees in the house and senate.
Details and Comments:
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=44311

Senate Bill 6760 (Exempting from mosquito control assessments):
Introduced by Sen. Linda Evans Parlette on January 20, 2006, to exempt
land which is exempt from property taxes from mosquito control
assessments.
Details and Comments:
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=44312

Senate Bill 6761 (Determining community rates for health benefit
plans):
Introduced by Sen. Linda Evans Parlette on January 20, 2006, to require
that premiums for health benefit plans for individuals who purchase the
plan as a member of a purchasing pool will be calculated using the
adjusted community rating method that spreads financial risk across the
entire purchasing pool of which the individual is a member. Pools that
fall under this regulation are pools: (a) Consisting of 500 or more
individuals affiliated with a particular industry; (b) To whom care
management services are provided as a benefit of pool membership; and (c) Which
allows contributions from more than one employer to be used towards the
purchase of an individual's health benefit plan. See companion HB 2972.
Details and Comments:
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=44313

Senate Bill 6762 (Limiting the posting of hazards to motorcycles to
paved roadways):
Introduced by Sen. Joyce Mulliken on January 20, 2006, to require that
signs must warn motorcyclists of the potential hazard in construction
areas only if the hazard or condition exists on a paved public highway,
county road, street, bridge, or other thoroughfare commonly traveled.
See companion 2765.
Details and Comments:
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=44314

Senate Bill 6765 (Clean elections act):
Introduced by Sen. Jim Kastama on January 20, 2006, to create a clean
elections act, designed to place incumbents and challengers on the same
level when running for an office. Also created is an alternative
financing program funded by donations from private individuals. This bill
contains provisions regarding attaining these funds and provides violation
consequences.
Details and Comments:
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=44317