Last week, the House and Senate passed more than a dozen bills in their first round of full floor action this session. The topics included composting of human remains, state unemployment compensation for federal workers during government shutdowns, mandatory insurance for motorcycles, workmen’s comp for Hanford workers who have cancer, ballot drop boxes on Native American reservations, and clarifying the types of child passenger restraints required by law.
On Feb. 5, Anacortes City Council Member Liz Lovelett was appointed to the 40th District seat left vacant by Sen. Kevin Ranker’s resignation earlier this session. This brought the Senate up to the full membership of 49.
How local lawmakers voted:
Senate Bill 5001, Concerning human remains
Passed the Senate on Feb. 6 by a vote of 36-11 (two members excused)
This has been called the “Human Composting” bill, because it would include natural organic reduction as an allowable means of disposing of human remains. Natural organic reduction is the contained, accelerated conversion of human remains to soil, i.e. composting. Washington would be the first state to allow composting of human remains. The bill would also legalize alkaline hydrolysis, which uses water, heat, and chemicals to produce a result that is similar to cremation without fire. SB 5001 was sent to the House, where similar legislation (HB 1162) is pending.
Sen. Kevin Van De Wege, D-Sequim, Yes
Senate Bill 5716, Defining when federal government employees are unemployed for purposes of unemployment insurance
Passed the Senate on Feb. 6 by a vote of 39-8 (two members excused)
This bill would provide that an employee of the federal government is considered unemployed in any week the individual is not receiving wages due to a government shutdown. This would make the employee eligible for state unemployment payments regardless of whether the individual is performing any services for federal government at any time during the week. These provisions would apply retroactively to Dec. 22, 2018. The bill is now before the House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee.
Sen. Van De Wege Yes
Senate Bill 5079, Enacting the Native American voting rights act of Washington
Passed the Senate on Feb. 6 by a vote of 34-13 (two members excused)
This bill would expand voter services on tribal lands in Washington. It would require county election officials to provide at least one ballot drop box on any Native American reservation, if requested by a tribe. It would also allow tribal members to use tribal identification cards and non-traditional addresses to register to vote. Non-traditional addresses could include a verbal description of a voter’s residence. The bill was sent to the House State Government, Tribal Relations, and Elections Committee.
Sen. Van De Wege Yes
House Bill 1490, Amending the application of the occupational disease presumption for cancer for Hanford site workers
Passed the House on Feb. 7 by a vote of 67-29 (two members excused)
This bill clarifies that the presumption established for certain cancers as an occupational disease would apply to an active or former U. S. Department of Energy Hanford site worker, even when he or she was not given a qualifying medical examination. This would assure the worker is eligible for workmen’s compensation under state industrial insurance laws. The bill is headed to the Senate for further consideration.
Rep. Mike Chapman, D-Port Angeles, Yes
Rep. Steve Tharinger, D-Port Townsend, Yes
House Bill 1014, Concerning financial responsibility of motorcycle operators
Passed the House on Feb. 7 by a vote of 70-26 (two members excused)
This bill would require that persons operating a motorcycle must meet the insurance or equivalent requirements for registered motor vehicles under current law. During hearings on the bill some people expressed concerns about the impact to motorcyclists who have never had insurance. They said it may be more difficult for younger or newer riders to obtain an insurance policy. They also pointed out that some of these riders are using a motorcycle as inexpensive transportation, and requiring insurance may create a financial hardship. New riders should be phased in to the insurance market, they said. The bill is headed to the Senate for further consideration.
Rep. Chapman Yes
Rep. Tharinger Yes
WashingtonVotes.org is a project of the Washington Policy Center. Visit www.WashingtonVotes.org.
