Y = Yes, N = No, E = Excused, X = Not Voting
2SSB 5945: Creating the Washington Health Partnership Plan
2SSB 5945 creates the Washington Health Partnership Plan to provide comprehensive health coverage to all residents of the State. The Partnership is established as a working group to focus on health reform goals that reflect the Blue Ribbon Commission goals of establishing access to affordable, comprehensive health care services for every resident by 2012. These goals include, among other things, implementation of health reform in phases that include extending coverage to individuals below 200 percent of the federal poverty level in the Apple Health Program for Adults and consolidating purchasing of health coverage. 2SSB 5945 passed the Senate by a vote of 28 to 19 is now before the House Committee on Health Care & Wellness.
41st. District: Sen. Fred Jarrett, (D-Mercer Island), Y
48th District: Sen. Rodney Tom, (D-Medina), Y
ESHB 2261: Amending the State Education System
ESHB 2261, which passed the House by a vote of 71 to 26, creates a Basic Education Steering Committee to oversee the review and revisions to the State’s basic education system. ESHB 2261, in part, would require expanded minimum instructional hours, instruction for 24 credits for high school graduation, an opportunity for students to earn a meaningful high school diploma, full-day kindergarten and supplemental instruction for students who are underachieving, non-English proficient, highly capable, and in special education. In addition, ESHB 2261 sets forth financing formulas based on a prototypical school model and using inputs such as class size, types of school staff, central office administration, enhanced allocations for categorical programs, and allocations for maintenance, supplies, and operating costs. ESHB 2261 is now before the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee for further consideration.
41st District: Rep. Judy Clibborn, (D-Mercer Island), Y; Rep. Marcie Maxwell, (D-Renton), Y
48th District: Rep. Deborah Eddy, (D-Kirkland), Y; Rep. Ross Hunter, (D-Medina), Y
HB 1487: Expanding the definition of “resident student”
HB 1487 expands the definition of “resident student” for college and university fees to include persons who have lived in Washington, primarily for purposes other than educational, for at least one year and hold an H-1, E-3, or L visa. In addition, the spouse or child of a person holding an H-1, E-3, or L visa also qualifies as a resident student if the spouse or child holds lawful nonimmigrant status. HB 1487 would also allow persons who have filed for a green card and are currently or previously a lawful nonimmigrant, to be eligible under “resident student.” HB 1487 passed the House by a vote of 59 to 38 and is now before the Senate Committee on Higher Education & Workforce Development.
41st District: Rep. Judy Clibborn, (D-Mercer Island), Y; Rep. Marcie Maxwell, (D-Renton), Y;
48th District: Rep. Deborah Eddy, (D-Kirkland) , Y; Rep. Ross Hunter, (D-Medina), Y
ESSB 6035: Regulating Retrospective Rating Programs
ESSB 6035, which passed the Senate by a vote of 25 to 24, would require disclosure of funds retained by retrospective rating sponsor groups. A retrospective rating plan is an optional program offered by the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) that allows groups of employers to assume a portion of industrial insurance risk. ESSB 6035 would also limit the use of retrospective refunds for operation of the retrospective ratings programs to include; reasonable administrative costs, costs directly related to the development and implementation of a safety plan to increase workplace safety and accident prevention, costs directly related to claims assistance provided to member employers and to establish and maintain reserves for the sole purpose of covering the costs of future potential assessments. ESSB 6035 is now before the House Commerce and Labor Committee for further consideration.
41st. District: Sen. Fred Jarrett, (D-Mercer Island), Y
48th District: Sen. Rodney Tom, (D-Medina), Y
SB 5599: Electing the President of the United States by Popular Vote
SB 5599 would allow for Washington’s electoral votes to be awarded to the presidential candidate that receives the most popular vote in the country as a whole. However, SB 5599 would only go into effect if enough states, holding a majority of electoral votes, agree to the same terms and conditions. SB 5599 passed the Senate by a vote of 28 to 21 and is now before the House Committee on State Government & Tribal Affairs.
41st. District: Sen. Fred Jarrett, (D-Mercer Island), Y
48th District: Sen. Rodney Tom, (D-Medina), Y
ESSB 5344: Providing an emergency response system for the Strait of Juan de Fuca
ESSB 5344, which passed the House by a vote of 74 to 23, requires covered vessels that pass through the Strait of Juan de Fuca to pay for at least one emergency response tug to be stationed at Neah Bay for the purpose of responding to vessels in distress. The tug would be required to cover a range off of the state’s west coast from Cape Flattery light south to Cape Disappointment, in addition to vessels in distress in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The Department of Ecology is responsible for the oversight to ensure that the systems are in place and to coordinate the use of response resources with Canada. ESSB 5344 previously passed the Senate by a vote of 44 to 4.
41st District: Rep. Judy Clibborn, (D-Mercer Island), Y; Rep. Marcie Maxwell, (D-Renton), Y;
48th District: Rep. Deborah Eddy, (D-Kirkland) , Y; Rep. Ross Hunter, (D-Medina), Y
SOURCE: WashingtonVotes.org, a free, non-partisan website to find plain-English explanations of bills and a record of each legislator’s votes. Visit www.WashingtonVotes.org today.
