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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Spin Control

WA Lege Day 10: Leathers and Cub Scouts

Spin Control  has been incorrectly labelling the legislative session days this week, under the mistaken impression that one counts the days when they are actually in session. Turns out one counts all the days from opening gavel, even when they aren't around.

Who knew? (OK, anyone who's been around more than a few weeks, apparently.)

In any event, the House Speaker and the Senate Majority Leader both have press "availabilities" today, and both houses expect short pro forma sessions and the committees have a hearings that fill up the day's schedule.

The Capitol has lots of guys with pony tails and leather pants, because it is "Black Thursday" for A Brotherhood Against Totalitarian Enactments...yes, it sounds like a state's rights group, but in reality it's for motorcyclists who don't like their freedoms limited by such strictures as helmet laws.

One can expect to see them clearly because is also Optometric Physicians Day. The state Commission on Hispanic Affairs is meeting, and the Cub Scouts are holding their Arrow of Light ceremony this evening in the rotunda.

For a compete schedule of the days legislative hearings, go inside the blog.

Legislative Meeting Schedule

Thursday, January 21, 2010
Time Committee Location
8:00 AM Ways & Means (S) Senate Hearing Rm 4

Agriculture & Natural Resources (H) House Hearing Rm D

Early Learning & Children's Services (H) House Hearing Rm E

Finance (H) Senate Hearing Rm 4

Health Care & Wellness (H) House Hearing Rm A

State Government & Tribal Affairs (H) House Hearing Rm B
9:55 AM PRO FORMA HOUSE SESSION
10:00 AM Early Learning & K-12 Education (S) Senate Hearing Rm 1

Economic Development, Trade & Innovation (S) Senate Hearing Rm 3

Health & Long-Term Care (S) Senate Hearing Rm 4

Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation (S) Senate Hearing Rm 2

Community & Economic Development & Trade (H) House Hearing Rm C

Human Services (H) House Hearing Rm D

Judiciary (H) House Hearing Rm A

Local Government & Housing (H) House Hearing Rm E

Technology, Energy & Communications (H) House Hearing Rm B
12:00 PM PRO FORMA SENATE SESSION
1:30 PM Transportation (S) Senate Hearing Rm 1

Education Appropriations (H) House Hearing Rm A

Financial Institutions & Insurance (H) House Hearing Rm D

General Government Appropriations (H) House Hearing Rm C

Health & Human Services Appropriations (H) House Hearing Rm B
3:30 PM Agriculture & Rural Economic Development (S) Senate Hearing Rm 3

Government Operations & Elections (S) Senate Hearing Rm 2

Human Services & Corrections (S) Senate Hearing Rm 1

Labor, Commerce & Consumer Protection (S) Senate Hearing Rm 4

Capital Budget (H) House Hearing Rm C

Transportation (H) House Hearing Rm B

Ways & Means (H) House Hearing Rm A

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House Committees


Agriculture & Natural Resources*
1/21/10 8:00 am
House Full Committee
House Hearing Rm D
John L. O'Brien Building
Olympia, WA

REVISED 1/20/2010 9:37 AM

Public Hearing:
  1. HB 2556 - Regarding financial security requirements under chapter 22.09 RCW.
  2. HB 2598 - Concerning the disposal of dredged riverbed materials from the Mount St. Helen's eruption.
  3. HB 2541 - Maintaining a base of forest lands that may be used for commercial forestry.
  4. HB 2659 - Modifying reporting requirements for timber purchases.
  5. HB 2667 - Concerning communications during a forest fire response.

Possible Executive Session:
  1. HB 2461 - Extending to 2015 the assessment levied under RCW 15.36.551 to support the dairy inspection program. (If measure is referred to committee.)
  2. HB 2470 - Concerning veterinary technician licenses.
  3. HB 2503 - Regarding membership on the board of natural resources.
  4. HB 2509 - Authorizing the department of natural resources to use certain funds to ensure that firefighting equipment does not spread noxious weeds.

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Capital Budget*
1/21/10 3:30 pm
House Full Committee
House Hearing Rm C
John L. O'Brien Building
Olympia, WA

REVISED 1/20/2010 1:19 PM

Executive Session:
  1. E2SHB 1618 - Concerning community and surplus schools.
  2. HB 2753 - Creating a workforce housing program.

Work Session:
  1. Joint Legislative Task Force on School Construction Funding Recommendations.
  2. School District Capital Construction Reimbursement Claim Process Report.
  3. Analysis of the School Construction Assistance Program Allocations Report.
  4. Qualified School Construction Bonds, Qualified Zone Academy Bonds, and Build America Bonds.

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Community & Economic Development & Trade*
1/21/10 10:00 am
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Early Learning & Children's Services*
1/21/10 8:00 am
House Full Committee
House Hearing Rm E
John L. O'Brien Building
Olympia, WA

REVISED 1/15/2010 3:49 PM

Public Hearing:
  1. HB 2687 - Creating the home visiting services account.
  2. HB 2680 - Implementing a guardianship program.

Executive Session:
  1. HB 2731 - Creating an early learning program for educationally at-risk children.
  2. Other bills previously heard in committee.

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Education Appropriations
1/21/10 1:30 pm
House Full Committee
House Hearing Rm A
John L. O'Brien Building
Olympia, WA

Possible Executive Session:
  1. HB 1757 - Establishing a small school district contingency fund.
  2. HB 1969 - Promoting predictable funding for school districts that provide residential education.
  3. HB 2449 - Concerning truancy payments to school districts.
  4. HB 2670 - Restoring the school district levy base.
  5. HJM 4020 - Petitioning Congress to fully fund forty percent of the costs of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

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Finance
1/21/10 8:00 am
Watch on TVWHouse Full Committee
Jt. w/ Senate Ways & Means
Senate Hearing Rm 4
J.A. Cherberg Building
Olympia, WA

Work Session: Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee (JLARC) overview on tax preferences.
  1. David Dean, JLARC.
  2. Mary Welsh, JLARC.


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Financial Institutions & Insurance*
1/21/10 1:30 pm
House Full Committee
House Hearing Rm D
John L. O'Brien Building
Olympia, WA

REVISED 1/19/2010 1:14 PM

Public Hearing:
  1. HB 2830 - Addressing credit union regulatory enforcement powers.
  2. HB 2831 - Regulating state-chartered commercial banks, trust companies, savings banks, and their holding companies.
  3. HB 2842 - Addressing confidentiality as it relates to insurer receivership.

Possible Executive Session:
  1. HB 2419 - Modifying the exemption to the three-year active transacting requirement for foreign or alien insurer applicants.
  2. HB 2512 - Concerning nonresident surplus line brokers and insurance producers.
  3. HB 2514 - Regulating crop adjusters.
  4. HB 2560 - Regulating joint underwriting associations.
  5. HB 2622 - Protecting consumers from unfair practices by establishing criteria for the dissemination of credit and court record information contained in a consumer's tenant screening report.
  6. HB 2636 - Concerning money transmitters.
  7. HB 2842 - Addressing confidentiality as it relates to insurer receivership.
  8. HJM 4021 - Requesting the restriction of executive compensation at financial institutions that received federal bailout funds.

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General Government Appropriations
1/21/10 1:30 pm
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Health & Human Services Appropriations
1/21/10 1:30 pm
Watch on TVWHouse Full Committee
House Hearing Rm B
John L. O'Brien Building
Olympia, WA

Work Session: Effects of budget reductions and proposed reductions on health and human services programs for vulnerable adults and children.

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Health Care & Wellness
1/21/10 8:00 am
House Full Committee
House Hearing Rm A
John L. O'Brien Building
Olympia, WA

Public Hearing:
  1. HB 2522 - Concerning emergency health care services.
  2. HB 2673 - Concerning insurance coverage of the sales tax for prescribed durable medical equipment and mobility enhancing equipment.
  3. HB 2686 - Concerning fees for dental services that are not covered by insurance or contract.
  4. HB 2779 - Concerning emergency services provided by nonparticipating providers in hospitals.

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Human Services*
1/21/10 10:00 am
Watch on TVWHouse Full Committee
House Hearing Rm D
John L. O'Brien Building
Olympia, WA

REVISED 1/19/2010 10:28 AM

Public Hearing:
  1. HB 2533 - Adopting the interstate compact on mental health.
  2. HB 2782 - Reorganizing delivery of services to recipients of public assistance.
  3. HB 2865 - Concerning offenders with developmental disabilities or traumatic brain injuries.

Possible Executive Session:
  1. HB 2498 - Funding the care of residents of residential habilitation centers.
  2. Other bills previously heard in committee.

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Judiciary*
1/21/10 10:00 am
House Full Committee
House Hearing Rm A
John L. O'Brien Building
Olympia, WA

REVISED 1/15/2010 8:48 AM

Possible Executive Session:
  1. HB 2507 - Creating provisions relating to asbestos-related liabilities.
  2. HB 2484 - Addressing the termination of month to month or other periodic tenancies governed by the residential landlord-tenant act.
  3. HB 2438 - Concerning the definition of "service animal."
  4. HB 2518 - Modifying oath requirements for interpreters.
  5. HB 2413 - Concerning property used to facilitate a criminal street gang-related offense.
  6. HB 2414 - Authorizing abatement of nuisances involving criminal street gang activity.
  7. HB 2465 - Concerning breath test instruments approved by the state toxicologist.
  8. HB 2466 - Concerning the regulation of ignition interlock devices by the Washington state patrol.
  9. HB 2793 - Clarifying and expanding the rights and obligations of state registered domestic partners and other couples related to parentage.
  10. HB 2722 - Concerning persons appointed by the court to provide information in family law and adoption cases.
  11. HB 2778 - Concerning domestic violence.
  12. HB 2627 - Concerning child support order summary report forms.
  13. HB 2576 - Restructuring fees for the division of corporations and affirming authority to establish fees for the charities program of the office of the secretary of state.
  14. HB 2657 - Addressing the dissolution of limited liability companies.
  15. HB 2623 - Regulating the foreclosure of residential real property.
  16. HB 1908 - Modifying the manufactured/mobile home landlord-tenant act.
  17. HB 2662 - Conforming certain manufactured/mobile home dispute resolution program definitions with certain manufactured/mobile home landlord-tenant act definitions.

Public Hearing:
  1. HB 2628 - Authorizing persons designated by the decedent to direct disposition, if the decedent died while serving on active duty in any branch of the United States armed forces, United States reserve forces, or national guard.
  2. HB 2705 - Concerning the right to control the disposition of human remains.
  3. HB 2742 - Addressing accountability for persons driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs.
  4. HB 2565 - Mandating a twelve-hour impound hold on motor vehicles used by persons arrested for driving under the influence.

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Local Government & Housing*
1/21/10 10:00 am
House Full Committee
House Hearing Rm E
John L. O'Brien Building
Olympia, WA

REVISED 1/14/2010 8:08 AM

Public Hearing:
  1. HB 2606 - Developing certification for manufactured housing community managers.
  2. HB 2573 - Clarifying regional transit authority facilities as essential public facilities.
  3. HB 2574 - Concerning annexations by cities and code cities located within the boundaries of a regional transit authority.
  4. HB 2775 - Regarding membership on the state building code council.
  5. HB 2383 - Adopting the international wildland urban interface code.

Possible Executive Session: Bills previously heard in committee.

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State Government & Tribal Affairs*
1/21/10 8:00 am
House Full Committee
House Hearing Rm B
John L. O'Brien Building
Olympia, WA

REVISED 1/20/2010 1:13 PM

Public Hearing:
HB 2617 - Eliminating certain boards and commissions.

Possible Executive Session:
  1. Bills previously heard in committee.
  2. SHB 1761 - Addressing the ethical use of legislative web sites.
  3. HB 2398 - Modifying election notice provisions.
  4. HB 2450 - Concerning clarification and expansion of eligibility to use the state's local government investment pool.
  5. HB 2575 - Expanding the membership of the capital projects advisory review board.
  6. HB 2583 - Concerning conferences prior to filing actions alleging a public records request violation.

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Technology, Energy & Communications*
1/21/10 10:00 am
House Full Committee
House Hearing Rm B
John L. O'Brien Building
Olympia, WA

REVISED 1/20/2010 1:16 PM

Public Hearing:
  1. HB 1855 - Modifying the disclosure of tax information on customer billings.
  2. HB 2676 - Extending the pay back period for certain energy conservation loans.
  3. HB 2677 - Extending the pay back period for certain water conservation loans.
  4. HB 2853 - Authorizing a local financing tool to fund energy efficiency upgrades and removing financial barriers to implementing energy conservation programs.
  5. HB 2738 - Defining "biomass energy" for the purposes of chapter 19.285 RCW, the energy independence act.

Possible Executive Session:
  1. HB 2536 - Concerning a standard offer contract for certain renewable energy systems.
  2. HB 2471 - Concerning net metering of electricity.
  3. HB 2515 - Regarding biodiesel fuel labeling requirements.

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Transportation*
1/21/10 3:30 pm
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Ways & Means
1/21/10 3:30 pm
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Senate Committees


Agriculture & Rural Economic Development
1/21/10 3:30 pm
Senate Full Committee
Senate Hearing Rm 3
J.A. Cherberg Building
Olympia, WA

Public Hearing:
  1. SB 6343 - Establishing the Washington food policy council.
  2. SB 6341 - Transferring emergency food assistance programs to the department of agriculture.

Possible executive session on bills heard in committee. Other business.

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Early Learning & K-12 Education*
1/21/10 10:00 am
Senate Full Committee
Senate Hearing Rm 1
J.A. Cherberg Building
Olympia, WA

REVISED 1/20/2010 4:45 PM

Work Session: Update on the Building Bridges efforts for dropout prevention, intervention, and re-engagement.

Public Hearing:
  1. SB 6403 - Regarding accountability and support for vulnerable students and dropouts.
  2. SB 6488 - Regarding school levies.
  3. SB 6518 - Changing school levy provisions.
  4. SB 6601 - Adjusting local school finance related to nonresident students enrolled in online learning.
  5. SB 6502 - Restoring the school district levy base.

Possible executive session on bills heard in committee. Other business.

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Economic Development, Trade & Innovation*
1/21/10 10:00 am
Senate Full Committee
Senate Hearing Rm 3
J.A. Cherberg Building
Olympia, WA

REVISED 1/19/2010 3:51 PM

Public Hearing:
  1. SB 6667 - Concerning business assistance programs.
  2. SB 6675 - Creating the Washington global health technologies and product development competitiveness program and allowing certain tax credits for program contributions. (If measure is referred to committee.)
  3. SB 6388 - Providing a property tax exemption for property held under lease, sublease, or lease-purchase by a nonprofit organization that provides job training, placement, or preemployment services.
  4. SB 6669 - Concerning the small business development center.

Possible executive session on bills heard in committee. Other business.

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Government Operations & Elections*
1/21/10 3:30 pm
Senate Full Committee
Senate Hearing Rm 2
J.A. Cherberg Building
Olympia, WA

REVISED 1/20/2010 9:02 AM

Public Hearing:
  1. SB 6285 - Concerning campaign contribution limits for candidates for county office in a noncharter county.
  2. SB 6344 - Establishing contribution limits for city council campaigns.
  3. SB 6322 - Modifying election notice provisions.
  4. SB 6430 - Concerning ballot envelopes.
  5. SB 6449 - Regarding signature gatherers for petitions.
  6. SB 6588 - Limiting the holding of more than one elected position.
  7. SB 6665 - Changing the initiative filing fee.

Possible executive session on bills heard in committee. Other business.

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Health & Long-Term Care*
1/21/10 10:00 am
Senate Full Committee
Senate Hearing Rm 4
J.A. Cherberg Building
Olympia, WA

REVISED 1/20/2010 1:44 PM

Public Hearing:
  1. SB 6269 - Addressing conversion rights upon termination of eligibility for health plan coverage.
  2. SB 6270 - Concerning emergency health care services.
  3. SB 6400 - Concerning emergency services provided by nonparticipating providers in hospitals.
  4. SB 6532 - Concerning payment for emergency services.
  5. SB 6328 - Concerning billing for anatomic pathology services.

Executive Session:
  1. SB 6265 - Concerning hospital surveys or audits.
  2. SB 6273 - Concerning insurance coverage of the sales tax for prescribed durable medical equipment and mobility enhancing equipment.

Possible executive session on bills heard in committee. Other business.

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Human Services & Corrections*
1/21/10 3:30 pm
Watch on TVWSenate Full Committee
Senate Hearing Rm 1
J.A. Cherberg Building
Olympia, WA

REVISED 1/19/2010 4:54 PM

Public Hearing:
  1. SB 6612 - Concerning child fatality reviews in child welfare cases.
  2. SB 6416 - Concerning relatives in dependency proceedings.
  3. SB 6417 - Concerning the placement of children with relatives.
  4. SB 6504 - Reducing crime victims' compensation benefits and eligibility.

Possible executive session on bills heard in committee. Other business. Copies of draft bill are available from committee staff.

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Labor, Commerce & Consumer Protection*
1/21/10 3:30 pm
Senate Full Committee
Senate Hearing Rm 4
J.A. Cherberg Building
Olympia, WA

REVISED 1/19/2010 4:56 PM

Work Session: Update from the Employment Security Department on unemployment numbers.

Public Hearing:
  1. SB 6526 - Allowing certain individuals to seek part-time employment while maintaining eligibility for unemployment insurance in order to qualify for the unemployment insurance modernization incentive provisions of the American recovery and reinvestment act of 2009.
  2. SB 6525 - Correcting references in RCW 50.29.021(2)(c)(i), (c)(ii), and (3)(e), RCW 50.29.062(2)(b)(i)(B) and (2)(b)(iii), and RCW 50.29.063(1)(b) and (2)(a)(ii) to unemployment insurance statutes concerning employer experience rating accounts and contribution rates.
  3. SB 6524 - Addressing unemployment insurance penalties and contribution rates for employers who are not "qualified employers."
  4. SB 6334 - Addressing unemployment benefits when a person voluntarily terminates employment.

Executive Session:
  1. SB 6393 - Modifying distributions of funds by the horse racing commission to nonprofit race meets.
  2. SB 6330 - Permitting the placement of human trafficking informational posters in rest areas.
  3. SB 6332 - Concerning human trafficking.

Possible executive session on bills heard in committee. Other business.

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Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation*
1/21/10 10:00 am
Senate Full Committee
Senate Hearing Rm 2
J.A. Cherberg Building
Olympia, WA

REVISED 1/20/2010 10:59 AM

Work Session: Marine spatial planning.

Public Hearing:
SB 6350 - Concerning marine waters management that includes marine spatial planning.

Possible executive session on bills heard in committee. Other business.

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Transportation*
1/21/10 1:30 pm
Watch on TVWSenate Full Committee
Senate Hearing Rm 1
J.A. Cherberg Building
Olympia, WA

REVISED 1/15/2010 8:56 AM

Work Session: Statewide tolling program update.

Public Hearing:
  1. SB 6321 - Mitigating the impacts of the state route number 520 corridor project on the Washington park arboretum.
  2. SB 6392 - Clarifying the use of revenue generated from tolling the state route number 520 corridor.
  3. SB 6499 - Concerning the administration, collection, use, and enforcement of tolls.

Possible executive session on bills heard in committee. Other business.

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Ways & Means
1/21/10 8:00 am
Watch on TVWSenate Full Committee
Jt. w/ House Finance
Senate Hearing Rm 4
J.A. Cherberg Building
Olympia, WA

Work Session: Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee (JLARC) overview on tax preferences.
  1. David Dean, JLARC.
  2. Mary Welsh, JLARC.


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