Olympia, WA - Bills of Interest - 1/25/07

House Bill 1566 (Modifying the rural county tax credit.):

Introduced by Rep. Kevin Van de Wege on January 23, 2007, to amend the rural county tax credit by modifying several technical definitions. The bill also adds the equivalent of a full-time employee in work hours for four consecutive calendar quarters to the definition of seasonal employers. The bill also clarifies a full time position as working at least 35 hours per week. See companion SB 5573.

Details and Comments: http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=49794



House Bill 1599 (Allowing raffles by state employees. ):

Introduced by Rep. Sam Hunt on January 24, 2007, to allow public employees to solicit gifts, grants, or donations through a raffle. The raffle must solely support the charitable activities of state employees.

Details and Comments: http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=49940



House Bill 1603 (Enhancing enforcement of liquor and tobacco laws.):

Introduced by Rep. Steve Conway on January 24, 2007, to authorize the Liquor Control Board greater enforcement authority. Among other enhancements, the board may issue subpoenas in connection with any investigation relating to the transportation or possession of cigarettes or other tobacco products. See companion SB 5551.

Details and Comments: http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=49944



House Bill 1604 (Introducing oxygen into Hood Canal.):

Introduced by Rep. William Eickmeyer on January 24, 2007, to require the department of fish and wildlife shall implement a pilot program to test the viability and efficiency of introducing oxygen to the waters of Hood Canal for the purpose of protecting aquatic life. The bill also allocates $135k to the DFW in 2008 and $646,500 in 2009 to implement this act .

Details and Comments: http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=49945



House Bill 1627 (Creating the office of farmland preservation.):

Introduced by Rep. Kelli Linville on January 24, 2007, to create the Office of Farmland Preservation, which among other goals will ensure the state’s agricultural production is sufficient to meet the needs of our growing population. The bill also creates the rules and guidelines from which the office will operate and goes on to create a Farmland Preservation Task Force. See companion SB 5108.

Details and Comments: http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=49967



House Bill 1647 (Providing a specific funding mechanism for making community and technical college faculty salary increment awards.):

Introduced by Rep. Steve Kirby on January 24, 2007, to require the Washington State Community and Technical Colleges Board to submit in its biennial budget request an amount of funds which is sufficient to cover the projected faculty salary increment costs.  The budget request must also include savings received from faculty turnover.  The bill creates a task force comprising of members of the SBCTC board, college presidents, trustees, and faculty.  The task force must advise the SBCTC board on fair and equitable guidelines for distributing the salary increases. See companion SB 5021.

Details and Comments: http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=49987



House Bill 1653 (Modifying when a special election may be held.):

Introduced by Rep. Kathy Haigh on January 24, 2007, to modify the dates on which a special election may be held.  This bill would limit the dates on which special county elections can be held by removing the current March and April dates. See companion SB 5271.

Details and Comments: http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=49993



House Bill 1654 (Modifying canvassing provisions.):

Introduced by Rep. Sherry Appleton on January 24, 2007, to revise how counties tabulate the results of elections.  The bill requires county auditors in possession of more than ten thousand ballots to process and canvass absentee ballots on a daily basis. The bill also requires county auditors to process and canvass absentee ballots at least every third day. The bill also has exceptions for instant run-off elections and counties that vote exclusively by mail-only methods. See companion SB 5629.

Details and Comments: http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=49994



House Bill 1665 (Creating a list of and decal for veteran-owned businesses.):

Introduced by Rep. Troy Kelley on January 24, 2007, to require the State to maintain a list of businesses that are owned by veterans. The bill would also require the State to create a decal that would identify a veteran owned business. The decal would then be distributed and displayed by veteran-owned businesses. See companion SB 5253.

Details and Comments: http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=50005



House Bill 1667 (Regarding fairness and equity in health professions licensing fees.):

Introduced by Rep. Tami Green on January 24, 2007, to amend the authority for Secretary of the Department of Health to set professional license fees. The bill modifies current law and allows the Department Secretary to arrange license fees for certified health professions at a sufficient level to offset the costs of administering all related programs.

Details and Comments: http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=50007



House Bill 1672 (Clarifying the authority of the director of the Washington state department of personnel and the Washington personnel resources board.):

Introduced by Rep. Tami Green on January 24, 2007, to clarify the authorities of the state Department of Personnel and the Personnel Resources Board. The law primarily transfers certain authorities from the Personnel Resources Board to the Director of the Department of Personnel. See companion SB 5539.

Details and Comments: http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=50012



House Joint Resolution 4211 (Authorizing consolidation or merging of statutory and constitutional county functions and structures.):

Introduced by Rep. Helen Sommers on January 24, 2007, to amend the State Constitution to allow counties to consolidate or merge.

Details and Comments: http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=50028



House Joint Resolution 4212 (Authorizing additional governance options for counties.):

Introduced by Rep. Helen Sommers on January 24, 2007, to amend the State Constitution to allow voters of a county to vote on governance options for that county.

Details and Comments: http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=50029



Senate Bill 5556 (Making the state treasurer a nonpartisan office.):

Introduced by Sen. Paull Shin on January 24, 2007, to require the office of the state treasurer nonpartisan. Currently, a candidate for state treasurer must declare a party affiliation .

Details and Comments: http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=49900



Senate Bill 5557 (Authorizing additional sales and use taxation by counties for economic development facilities.):

Introduced by Sen. Jim Hargrove on January 24, 2007, to grant additional sales and use tax authority to counties. The bill defines the new tax authority rates based on the population density of a county. Moneys collected under this section shall only be used to finance the construction of, or improvements to, facilities intended to further economic development in the county.

Details and Comments: http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=49901



Senate Bill 5561 (Allowing voter registration up to and on election day.):

Introduced by Sen. Eric Oemig on January 24, 2007, to allow a person to register to vote prior to and on election day. Current law prevents people from registering for the purpose of voting in the next election, 15 days prior to the election.

Details and Comments: http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=49905



Senate Bill 5562 (Modifying procedures on candidates filing for office.):

Introduced by Sen. Eric Oemig on January 24, 2007, to require that candidates with similar names and filing for the same office, have differentiating information included on the ballot. The bill suggests such information may include each candidate's occupation, status as incumbent or challenger, or by any other means which, in the judgment of the filing officer, fairly and impartially distinguishes the candidates. The filing officer may solicit suggestions and input from the candidates to resolve the situation.

Details and Comments: http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=49906



Senate Bill 5566 (Providing for privacy protection for certain voter registration information.):

Introduced by Sen. Rosa Franklin on January 24, 2007, to remove a person’s date of birth from the information that is public on voter registrations. The bill also requires the signature and phone number provided on the return envelope by the voter is not available for copying but is available for public inspection in the county auditor's office.

Details and Comments: http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=49910



Senate Bill 5573 (Modifying the rural county tax credit.):

Introduced by Sen. Brian   Hatfield on January 24, 2007, to amend the rural county tax credit by modifying several technical definitions. The bill also adds the equivalent of a full-time employee in work hours for four consecutive calendar quarters to the definition of seasonal employers. The bill also clarifies a full time position as working at least 35 hours per week. See companion HB 1566.

Details and Comments: http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=49917



Senate Bill 5576 (Prohibiting the condemnation of unblighted private property for private use.):

Introduced by Sen. Pam Roach on January 24, 2007, to prohibit the condemnation of private property for private use if the property is unblighted. The bill is in response to the Supreme Court decision of Kelo v. City of New London. The bill contains an emergency clause, which requires it to take effect immediately .

Details and Comments: http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=49920



Senate Bill 5577 (Creating the private property rights protection act.):

Introduced by Sen. Pam Roach on January 24, 2007, to create the private property rights protection act. The act would prevent the state and its political subdivisions from exercising the power of eminent domain for economic development purposes. The bill contains an emergency clause, which requires it to take effect immediately .

Details and Comments: http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=49921



Senate Bill 5579 (Modifying credentialing standards for counselors.):

Introduced by Sen. Karen Keiser on January 24, 2007, to amend the standards for certain counselors to be credentialed. The bill makes several definitional changes and prevents a person that is not registered to practice hypnotherapy in Washington. The bill also requires all registered counselors to obtain another health profession credential by July 1, 2009.

Details and Comments: http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=49923



Senate Bill 5580 (Requiring tanning facility businesses to post cancer warning signs.):

Introduced by Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles on January 24, 2007, to requires tanning facilities to post a cancer warning sign. The sign must contain “DANGER: ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION, Repeated exposure may cause skin cancer”.

Details and Comments: http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=49924



Senate Bill 5582 (Modifying provisions concerning the uniform regulation of business and professions.):

Introduced by Sen. Jim Clements on January 24, 2007, to modify the uniform regulation of business and professions. The bill makes several technical changes including adding to the list of unprofessional conduct that could trigger disciplinary action. The bill generally expands the disciplinary authority of the department. See companion HB 1574.

Details and Comments: http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=49926



Senate Bill 5583 (Changing provisions concerning boxing, mixed martial arts, and wrestling events.):

Introduced by Sen. Jim Clements on January 24, 2007, to modify the rules and guidelines for allowing boxing, mixed martial arts and wrestling events in Washington State. Among other conditions, the bill requires the Department of Licensing to direct, supervise and control the events. The bill also prohibits amateur or professional no holds barred fighting or combative fighting, exhibition, match, or similar type of events, or any elimination tournament. See companion HB 1575.

Details and Comments: http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=49927



Senate Bill 5589 (Addressing law enforcement officer and firefighter retirement system plan 2 retiree medical.):

Introduced by Sen. Karen Keiser on January 24, 2007, to clarify technical definitions and requirements for law enforcement officers, firefighters and beneficiaries that use the state retirement system plan 2 benefits. See companion HB 1678.

Details and Comments: http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=49933