AWC Legislative Bulletin - Volume 30, No. 15
April 13, 2007 (Plain Text Version)

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In this issue:
What You Need to Know Now
From the Director: Legislature Moving Toward Adjournment - So Far, A Good Session for Cities
Energy & Telecommunications
Environment & Water
General Local Government
Infrastructure, Transportation & Economic Development
Land Use & Housing
Law & Justice
Municipal Finance
Personnel & Labor Relations
Online Legislative Advocacy Tools
AWC Legislative Contacts & Officers

General Local Government

Pipeline Safety (SSB 5225)

SSB 5225 passed the Legislature and will be delivered to the Governor for signature. The bill will:

Extend the WUTC jurisdiction to all publicly-owned "master meters" and to all "gas" pipelines, consistent with federal definitions;
Allow the WUTC to match federal pipeline safety penalty limits by rule; and
Consolidate definitions applying to gas and hazardous liquid pipelines into one chapter.

Governor’s Health Care Legislation Addresses Offender Medical Costs & Public Health (SSB 5930)

The Governor’s proposal to implement the recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Health Care passed the House on April 12. The bill will be sent back to the Senate, which is expected to concur.

Three changes may be of particular interest to cities. First, the bill is consistent with the substitute version of the bills which removed the requirement that the Insurance Commissioner study the connector function and submit recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature by December 1, 2007.

Second, the provisions of HB 2126, which limited the amounts hospitals could charge for offender medical care to 160% of the Medicaid rate and which had been considered dead for the session, were amended to the bill on the House floor. The amendment also addresses a 2005 Attorney General interpretation of RCW 70.48.130 that concluded that cities were responsible for the costs of felony offender medical care if their law enforcement made the arrest, unless otherwise provided by interlocal agreement or other insurance.

The change deletes the reference to law enforcement in the statute which may reinstate what had been the presumption for many cities prior to the Attorney General’s interpretation: that cities were responsible for misdemeanor offender medical costs, but counties were responsible for felony offender medical costs since they are responsible for prosecution and custody of felony offenders. The changes sunset in two years, on June 30, 2009.

Third, public health funding provisions are included in the legislation, similar to HB 1825, establishing a process to develop performance measures associated with public health expenditures.

Creating the Heritage Barn Preservation Program (SHB 2115)

This legislation would create a Washington State Heritage Barn Program within the Department of Archeology and Historic Preservation. The program will be guided by an advisory committee and will consist of the following components:

A study by the Department of Archeology and Historic Preservation of Washington State barns to include a determination of types, an assessment of the most unique and significant barns, and an assessment of conditions and needs.
A recognition program for heritage barns.
Establishment of the Heritage Barn Preservation Fund.

Several cities are in support of this legislation. The bill was approved by the Senate on April 11. Because an amendment was adopted which removed the provisions requiring a review of tax incentives and a report on such incentives to the Legislature, it will now go back to the House for concurrence.

Notification to Local Governments of Proposed Land Dispositions (HB 1940)