Utility Liens (SB 5854)

This bill is still alive and has moved one step in the Senate Rules Committee, in spite of the calls coming from cities around the state to stop it. It still has another step to go before it is placed on the Senate Floor Calendar.

Cities remain very concerned because it would prohibit cities and counties from collecting delinquent utility debt from property owners if the owner notifies the utility that their property is a rental and if the utility contracts directly with the renter for utility payment. Losing the utility lien authority would shift unpaid debt to the rest of the utility customers, thereby raising rates for everyone.

Thank you to all the city and town officials who have taken the time to contact members of the Senate Rules Committee. We still need your help! If you haven’t contacted Senate Rules Committee members yet, please call or email them and ask them let the bill die for this session. Contact Victoria Lincoln, victorial@awcnet.org, or Sheri Sawyer, sheris@awcnet.org, for further information.

Allowing Public Funding of Local Office Campaigns (SSB 5278, SHB 1551)

Both bills remove the prohibition against the use of public funds to finance political campaigns for local office. In the Senate version, the local government must establish a program to publicly finance local political campaigns. In the House version, if a county, city, town, or district establishes a program to publicly finance local political campaigns, only funds derived from local sources may be used to fund the program. Both bills are eligible for floor action in their respective chambers.

Public Disclosure Exemption Committee (SSB 5435)

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 the January 26 edition of the Bulletin.

When the bill was in its Senate policy committee, AWC testified with concerns and stated that the legislation could be improved with a sunset provision. This provision was included in the substitute bill. The bill passed the Senate and will be scheduled for public hearing in the House State Government and Tribal Affairs Committee on Friday, March 16 at 8 am.

Restricting Cities’ Authority to Regulate Tent Encampments (SHB 2244)

As discussed in last week’s Bulletin, this bill prohibits cities, towns, and counties from restricting religious organizations from hosting homeless temporary encampments.

AWC testified in opposition to this proposal before it was passed by the House Housing Committee and we continue to work on bill language that would clearly preserve our authority to enforce public health and safety measures.

The City of Seattle has also proposed some clarifications to the bill that would preserve the provisions of their consent decrees under which the tent encampments are currently operating in Seattle. They include limiting the provisions to recognized religious organizations, and continuing cities’ authority to impose reasonable conditions to protect the character of neighborhoods and to ensure public health and safety while continuing the limitations of the substitute bill. Negotiations are on-going to try to find an acceptable middle ground.

Health Care Agenda Advances (2SHB 1569, 2SHB 2098, 2SSB 5930)

Several bills that could impact the Washington State health care system, including AWC’s Employee Benefit Trust, continue to move through the legislature. See last week’s Bulletin for more information on these bills.

2SHB 1569 would create a Washington Health Insurance Partnership and act as the administrator of participating small employer health plans. This bill is on the House floor calendar.
2SHB 2098 and 2SSB 5930 are Governor-requested legislation that would implement the recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Health Care. Each bill has been placed on the calendar in its respective house.

AWC has indicated our support for the current versions of these bills.

Extending Existing Mental Health Parity Requirements (EHB 1460/SSB 5446)

These bills 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. EHB 1460 passed out of the House on Wednesday, February 28 (75-22) and was referred to the Senate Health & Long-Term Care Committee. SSB 5446 is scheduled on the Senate floor calendar.

Addressing Liquor Laws (SCR 8407)

On Friday, March 9, the Senate Labor Commerce, Research & Development Committee held a hearing on SCR 8407, which would create a joint select committee on the state liquor laws to review the liquor licensing and tied house laws. The committee would report back to the Legislature in 2008 to recommend whether the state liquor law should be continued in their present form or changed.

Legislative deadlines do not apply to concurrent resolutions and this resolution remains alive.

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