Mid-Term Increases in the Cost of Medical Benefits (SB 5525/SHB 1392)

SHB 1392 passed out of the Senate Government Operations & Elections Committee on March 29. The Senate version, SB 5525, is in House Rules. These proposals simply add elected city officials as well as municipal court judges to the list of public officials for whom the costs of employment-related health insurance provided by a public entity are not deemed to be "additional compensation."

Filling a Vacancy in the Office of Mayor (HB 1391)

This proposal clarifies that incumbent council members in mayor-council cities or towns are eligible to be appointed to fill a vacancy in the office of mayor without first having to resign their council seat. In addition, the bill removes the restriction that second class cities must only choose a mayoral replacement from among the sitting council members. The bill is currently in Senate Rules.

Public Disclosure of Attorney Invoices (SHB 1897)

This bill was heard in the Senate Government Operations & Elections Committee on March 27. The bill clarifies that under RCW 42.56, attorney invoices cannot be withheld in their entirety by a public entity under the Public Records Act. In addition, the bill lists specific allowable redactions, such as actual legal advice, mental impressions, and theories and opinions. AWC would support a clarifying amendment that would include work product in the list of allowable redactions.

Extending the Existing Mental Health Parity Requirements (EHB 1460)

On Friday, March 23 the Senate passed EHB 1460 (41-3-5), which would require employers with fewer than 50 employees to provide mental health coverage at the same level or higher than other health insurance. AWC has been supportive of this proposal and is a member of the Mental Health Parity Coalition that worked diligently for its passage.

The bill was delivered to the Governor on March 27 and signed by the Governor on March 30.

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