Public Records Exemptions Accountability Committee (SB 5435/HB 1444)

The state Attorney General is proposing to create a public records exemption review committee, which would meet at least once each fall and transmit their recommendations to the Legislature. For more details, please see last week’s Bulletin.

At the public hearing for SB 5435 on January 29, AWC testified with concerns and stated that the legislation could be improved with a sunset provision. The companion measure, HB 1444, was heard in the House State Government and Tribal Affairs Committee on February 2. AWC again testified with concerns.

Requiring Website Postings of Certain Information (SB 5420, SB 5672)

SB 5420 would require all public agencies to post to their websites the following information within five business days of their adoption: ordinances, resolutions, rules, regulations, orders, and directives adopted by its governing body. City clerks have expressed strong concern with this proposal because the timelines are simply impractical.

AWC staff has learned that there may be proposed amendments to SB 5420 which would include population thresholds. The bill may be amended to exclude all counties with a population less than 60,000 and cities and towns with a population less than 10,000. Although an improvement, this amendment, if it comes about, does not address that five days is too short a time to consistently get all this information posted, even for larger jurisdictions.

SB 5672, introduced by Sen. Darlene Fairley (D-Lake Forest Park), may be in response to the concerns raised about SB 5420. SB 5672 would require:

The agenda of all regular and special meetings of the governing body of every special purpose district and any municipality that owns or maintains a web site to be posted within a reasonable time before a meeting;
The text of any ordinance, rule, or regulation that is under consideration at the meeting to be included on the web site at the same time the agenda is posted; and
The minutes of all regular and special meetings of the governing body of every special purpose district and any municipality that owns or maintains a web site to be posted within a reasonable time after a meeting.

Both bills will be heard in the Senate Government Operations & Elections Committee on February 5 at 10 am.

Eliminating Two Election Dates (SB 5271/HB 1653)

The Senate bill was heard on February 1 in the Government Operations and Elections Committee. AWC signed in with concerns because some cities have expressed unease that the bill will eliminate election options for local governments. The bill would eliminate March and April special election dates and leave February and May dates. In total, yearly election dates would drop from six dates to four dates.

Allowing Public Funding of Local Office Campaigns (SB 5278, HB 1551)

SB 5278 was heard in the Senate Government Operations & Elections Committee on February 1. The bill would permit the use of public funds, whether derived through taxes, fees, penalties, or any other sources, to be used to finance political campaigns for local office. A similar bill, HB 1551, is scheduled for hearing in the House State Government & Tribal Affairs Committee on February 7 at 1:30 pm.

Reforming the Health Care System (HB 1569)

See the Director’s message for more information on this bill.

Extending Existing Mental Health Parity Requirements (SB 5446)

This bill would require all disability insurances to provide coverage for mental health services to the same degree they provide coverage for other medical and surgical services. It would also require small groups that provide health plans (which are currently exempt from the law) to provide mental health coverage.

The bill is scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care on Thursday, February 8, at 10 am. AWC is a member of the coalition supporting this proposal.

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