How our area legislarors voted last week:
House Bill 1843 — Fulfilling the state’s paramount duty for all children through equitable and responsible investments in the state’s basic education program
Passed the House on Feb. 22, by a vote of 50-47 (one member excused)
This is the Democratic approach to complying with the state Supreme Court’s 2012 “McCleary” decision requiring that the state must fully fund basic education needs, including teacher, administrator and other school worker salaries.
The bill would replace the state salary allocation model with statewide minimum beginning and average salaries for teachers and administrators.
It also would mandate that the state operating budget bill must specify the basis for regional adjustments, beginning in school year 2017-2018 and phased in over three years. Minimum pay for beginning teachers would be $45,500 and average salaries would be $71,000 for teachers and $117,000 for administrators statewide.
The estimated cost of this proposed plan is $7.6 billion over the next four years in addition to current state school expenditures of some $18 billion. The bill does not include any provisions on how the plan would be paid for, but Democratic leaders have said they would look at options like capital gains and carbon emission taxes.
Rep. Mike Chapman (D-Federal Way) Yes
Rep. Steve Tharinger (D-Sequim)
Yes
House Bill 1188 — Concerning the use of child passenger restraint systems
Passed the House on Feb. 20, by a vote of 69-28 (one member excused)
This measure would combine the age and height and weight recommendations set forth in federal and pediatric guidelines. The bill would require a child to be properly secured in a rear-facing child restraint system until the age of 2 or until he or she reaches the seat manufacturer-set weight and height limits. A child not secured in a rear-facing seat who is under the age of 4 would have to be properly secured in a forward-facing child restraint system until he or she reaches the seat manufacturer-set weight or height limits. Children under the age of 10 not secured in a forward or rear-facing restraint system would be required to be properly secured in a booster seat.
Chapman Y
Tharinger Y
House Bill 1384 — Concerning sexual assault protection orders
Passed the House on Feb. 20, by a vote of 76-21 (one member excused)
Under current law, a person may petition for a sexual assault protection order after one or more incidents that give rise to a reasonable fear of future dangerous acts. Temporary orders are effective for no more than 14 days and final orders are limited to two years. This bill would change the law to provide that sexual assault protection orders may be permanent rather than having a two-year maximum. This would align the law with provisions for domestic violence, stalking and harassment orders.
Chapman Y
Tharinger Y
House Bill 1273 — Aligning state statutes with federal standards for the issuance of non-domiciled commercial drivers licenses and commercial learners permits
Passed the House on Feb. 20, by a vote of 82-15 (one member excused)
This bill is an effort to align a state statute with federal standards to provide Commercial Drivers Licenses (CDL) and Commercial Learners Permits (CLP) to individuals who have legal status to be in the United States with temporary worker visas. Under current state law, an individual in the country with legal presence, but who is not a United States citizen or permanent resident, cannot get a CDL if he or she is otherwise eligible to do so. This bill would remedy that and bring the state in line with what the federal government allows. In line with federal regulations, applicants for a non-domiciled CDL or CLP who live in a foreign country and have not been issued a Social Security number are not required to include one on their applications, as long as they provide valid documentary evidence that they are authorized to remain in the United States, or that they are authorized to work in the United States.
Chapman Y
Tharinger Y
House Bill 1126 — Establishing a deadline for the use and implementation of a marijuana retail license by a licensee.
Passed the House on Feb. 20, by a vote of 86-11 (one member excused)
This bill would establish that a marijuana retailer license is subject to forfeiture if the licensee does not become fully operational and open to the public within a specified period from the date of license issuance. The Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) would have to adopt rules to establish a license forfeiture process but would have to require license forfeiture on or before 24 calendar months, unless it determines that circumstances out of the licensee’s control are preventing the licensee from becoming fully operational and that, in the LCB’s discretion, the circumstances warrant extending the forfeiture period beyond 24 calendar months.
Chapman Y
Tharinger Y
Senate Bill 5790 — Concerning the economic development element of the growth management act
Passed the Senate on Feb. 22, by a vote of 31-18
This bill provides that cities and counties that fully plan under the Growth Management Act (GMA) may adopt comprehensive plans and development regulations that promote economic development in urban and rural areas. These jurisdictions also may evaluate the economic performance of the prior eight years to determine if there has been economic growth in the local economy. If there is stagnation or deterioration of economic development, the comprehensive plan and development regulations may be modified to reduce restrictions on economic development opportunities.
Sen. Kevin Van De Wege (D-Sequim) No
WashingtonVotes.org is a project of the Washington Policy Center.
See www.WashingtonVotes.org.
