Wrongful Injury or Death Causes of Action Legislation Scheduled for Hearing (SB 6696/ESHB 1873)

These bills would substantially expand the scope of potential claimants and the amount of damages for these causes of action. A substitute version of ESHB 1873 was heard this week in the House Judiciary Committee on Friday, February 1. The bill would expand liability by including a wrongful injury or death cause of action for parents for children under 26, parents dependent on the child for support, and parents of children with developmental disabilities regardless of their age to the existing list of potential claimants.

AWC testified as part of a local government panel at the hearing and distributed a joint letter signed by seventeen other organizations expressing concerns with these bills and their expanded scope of liability.

SB 6696 is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Government Operations & Elections Committee on Tuesday, February 5, at 1:30 pm. This version of the bill would expand the scope of claimants to include parents of adult children, regardless of age, if they had substantial involvement in the decedent’s life, and to the insurance policy beneficiary, regardless of the relationship.

Courts of Limited Jurisdiction (SHB 2557)

HB 2557, which includes the recommendations of the Courts of Limited Jurisdiction Task Force that met over the interim, is scheduled for a hearing in the House Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government & Audit Review on Tuesday, February 5, at 8 am. Its recommendations include codifying the court case clarifying the ability of cities to contract with another city for court services, eliminating municipal departments of the district court to simplify the statute, raising dollar thresholds for district courts, and limiting court commissioner authority. AWC will testify in support of this compromise.

Gang Task Force Recommendations – AWC Priority (SB 6608/HB 2712)

SHB 2712, which includes the gang task force recommendations, will be heard in the House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday, February 5, at 3:30 pm. See last week’s Bulletin for more information. AWC will again testify in support of this proposal, as it provides new tools and funding for gang-related activities.

Sex Offender Legislation (SHB 2713/SB 6488, HB 2569)

The House is expected to take action on several bills related to increasing enforcement of sex offenders. SHB 2713 to require additional collection of DNA samples for sex offenders is scheduled for a hearing in the House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday, February 5, at 3:30 pm. AWC will signal support by signing up on this Governor’s request bill.

Once action is completed in the House, we expect the Senate to review all the bills before them on the subject of sex offenders and address the issue in a coordinated way, rather than many bills introduced individual members. They are expected to closely scrutinize the potential impacts and costs of the various proposals.

At this point, there seems to be firm support for HB 2569’s additional funding for local law enforcement to conduct verification of addresses – which is also a Governor’s request.

Addressing Payment of Traffic Fines (HB 2633)

This bill would require payment of traffic fines before a vehicle license could be renewed. It also allows local government to garnish wages for payment of traffic fines and infractions. The bill will be heard in the House Transportation Committee on Tuesday, February 5, at 3:30 pm. We expect some amendments to be considered, but AWC will testify in support of the bill.

Creating an Administrative Sobriety Checkpoint Program (HB 2771)

This Governor’s request legislation providing authority for local law enforcement to establish DUI patrol checkpoints for enforcement was heard in the House Judiciary Committee on January 30 and is scheduled for executive session on February 5. AWC supports this local option for DUI enforcement.

Requiring Restitution to Public Safety Agencies for Costs Incurred Responding to Criminal Activity (HB 2905)

A substitute version of the bill was heard in the House Judiciary Committee on February 1. The intent of the bill is to provide local law enforcement with restitution for the costs of enforcement against an offender. The original version of the bill did not achieve that, and the bill has been re-written to allow cost recovery for law enforcement from offenders. The House Appropriations Committee will hear HB 2905 on Tuesday, February 5, at 10 am.

Statutes of Limitation for Sex Offenders (SB 6362)

This legislation requires the Sentencing Guidelines Commission (SGC) to study the statutes of limitation for sex offenses and to report by December 2008. The bill will be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, February 5, at 10 am. We expect the SGC will ultimately recommend eliminating the notification requirements for some sex offenders who have complied with all conditions for a certain period of time after release to reduce the demand on law enforcement for tracking and notification requirements as more and more sex offenders are added to the list.

Establishing Standard for Emergency Preparedness Kits (HB 2550)

HB 2550 would establish standards for the first aid kits that would apply to state or local agencies that purchase or acquire emergency preparedness kits.

HB 2550 passed the House on January 28 and was referred to the Senate Committee on Governmental Operation and Elections.

Requiring Emergency Preparedness Planning for Service Animals and Household Pets (2SSB 5106)

The bill would require local jurisdictions to prepare comprehensive emergency plans that provide for the evacuation, transportation, and temporary sheltering of pets and service animals. The fiscal note indicates that there would be substantial costs to local governments. 2SSB 5106 was made eligible to be placed on second reading in the Senate Rules Committee on January 30.

Concerning Statewide Radio Communication Interoperability (HB 2787)

HB 2787 would create the Washington Interoperability Office within the Office of the Governor to establish policies for wireless radio communication systems. The bill was scheduled for executive action in the House Committee on Technology, Energy and Communication on January 29, however no action was taken.

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