Dear Friends,
Welcome to the fifth week of the legislative session! We are less than two weeks away from Friday, February 17th and the first cut-off of session. If you are following the 2017 Session Cutoff Calendar, this is the last day for bills to be passed out of their house of origin policy committees by 5:00 p.m. The exception to this is those bills in House fiscal committees, Senate Ways and Means and Transportation committees.
Last Wednesday, Representative Shelley Short (R-7th) was sworn in as Senator Shelley Short, replacing Senator Brian Dansel (R-7th) who resigned to accept a position with President Trump’s administration.
Replacing Representative Short in the House seat was her long-time legislative aide Jacquelin Maycumber. County commissioners from the five counties in the 7th Legislative District voted in Jacquelin Maycomber and she was sworn in last Thursday.
The Senate Republicans introduced their education plan, the Education Equality Act on Friday, January 27th. On Wednesday the Senate passed the proposal on a vote of 25-24, with one Democrat voting in favor of the bill, Senator Tim Sheldon (D-35th) who caucuses with the Republicans. The debate was vigorous and contrasted the views of the Senate Democrats and Republicans as shown in this TVW clip.
The proposal included changes which are estimated to bring in $2 billion a year for education. The state would also spend an additional $700 million per year to ensure that each school district has a minimum of $12,500 per student. There would be higher per-student funding to address issues like poverty or special education. Republicans say they can pay for this with existing resources and do not need new revenue. This means finding $1.4 billion in the 17-19 budget to reallocate to education.
House Democrats have estimated that the state will need to spend $7.3 billion over the next four years on schools. While Democrats haven’t offered specifics on how to pay for it, they have noted several potential sources of revenue, including the closure of tax exemptions, changes to the state property, and business and occupation taxes and a new capital gains tax.
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We will continue to keep you informed with future status updates. If you have bill or policy questions, please feel free to direct them to Julie Peterson at juliep@healthygen.org or my Twitter handle, @HealthyGenJulie.
Ever forward,
Julie Peterson
Senior Director of Policy
JulieP@healthygen.org
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PREVENTION
“Concerning the age of individuals at which sale or distribution of tobacco and vapor products may be made.”
HB 1054 & SB 5025
Sponsor: Harris
Sponsor: Miloscia
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Health Care & Senate Commerce, Labor, & Sports
Hearing in Senate Labor, Commerce & Sports - Feb. 9 at 1:30 p.m.
“Improving student achievement by promoting social emotional learning throughout the calendar year.”
HB 1518
Sponsor: Senn
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Education
“Providing funding allocations to promote children's health and social-emotional learning.”
HB 1621
Sponsor: Senn
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Appropriations
“Modifying the infraction of and penalties for distracted driving.”
HB 1371 & SB 5289
Sponsor: Farrell
Sponsor: Rivers
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Transportation & Senate Transportation
Hearing in Senate Transportation - Feb 7 at 3:30 p.m.
Hearing in House Transportation - Feb 9 at 3:30 p.m.
“Concerning safe injection sites in Washington State.”
SB 5223
Sponsor: Miloscia
Healthy Gen’s position: Oppose
Status: Senate Health Care
“Protecting public safety through responsible storage of firearms.”
HB 1122 & SB 5463
Sponsor: Kagi
Sponsor: Palumbo
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Judiciary
Status: Senate Law & Justice
“Banning the sale of assault weapons and large capacity magazines.”
HB 1134
Sponsor: Peterson
Status: House Judiciary
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
“Concerning enhanced background checks and licensure for assault weapons and large capacity magazines.”
HB 1387 & SB 5444
Sponsor: Jinkins
Sponsor: Frocket
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Judiciary
Status: Senate Law & Justice
“Addressing the oversight and regulation of marijuana.”
SB 5284
Sponsor: Carlyle
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: Senate Commerce, Labor & Sports
“Creating the safe streets pilot project”
HB 1557 & SB 5650
Sponsor: Jinkins
Sponsor: Conway
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Public Safety
Status: Senate Law & Justice
Hearing in House Public Safety - Feb. 6 at 1:30 p.m.
“Creating the department of children, youth, and families.”
HB 1661 & 5498
Sponsor: Kagi
Sponsor: O’Ban
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Early Learning & Human Services
Status: Senate Human Services & Mental Health
Possible exec session in House Early Learning & Human Services - Feb 7 at 8:00 a.m.
Hearing in Senate Human Services, Mental Health & Housing - Feb 8 at 1:30 p.m.
“Establishing special license endorsements for cigar lounges and retail tobacconist shops.”
HB 1919
Sponsor: Vick
Healthy Gen position: Oppose
Status: House Business and Financial Services
Hearing in House Business & Financial Services - Feb 7 at 8:00 a.m.
Possible exec session in House Committee on Business & Financial Services - Feb 8 at 1:30 p.m.
PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENTS:
“Addressing the siting of schools and school facilities.”
HB 1017
Sponsor: McCaslin
Healthy Gen’s position: Oppose
Status: Environment
“Assessing physical education practices in public schools.”
HB 1235
Sponsor: Riccelli
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Education
“Concerning tourism marketing.”
SHB 1123 & SB 5251
Sponsor: Condotta
Sponsor: Takko
Healthy Gen’s position: Concerns
Status: House Appropriations
Status: Senate Agriculture, Water, Trade & Economic Development
Hearing in Senate Agriculture, Water, Trade & Economic Development - Feb. 9 at 8:00 a.m.
“Concerning pesticide exposure and notification of certain pesticide applications.”
HB 1564
Sponsor: Self-Ortiz
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Health Care
“Creating the Cooper Jones bicyclist safety advisory council.”
HB 1795 & SB 5402
Sponsor: Kloba
Sponsor: Liias
Healthy Gen position: Support
Status: House Transportation Committee
Status: Senate Transportation Committee
Hearing in Senate Transportation - Feb 7 at 3:30 p.m.
“Concerning persons and entities to whom the department of health may provide prescription monitoring program data.”
HB 1426 & SB 5248
Sponsor: Robinson
Sponsor: Rivers
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Health Care & Senate Health Care
“Requiring health plans to cover, with no cost sharing, all preventive services required to be covered under federal law as of December 31, 2016.”
HB 1523
Sponsor: Robinson
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Health Care
Hearing in House Health Care & Wellness - Feb 7 at 8:00 a.m.
“Implementing recommendations from the children's mental health work group.”
HB 1713
Sponsor: Senn
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Early Learning & Human Services
“Changing the designation of the state behavioral health authority from the department of social and health services to the health care authority and transferring the related powers, functions, and duties to the health care authority and the department of health.”
HB 1388 & SB 5259
Sponsor: Cody
Sponsor: Rivers
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Health Care & Senate Health Care
“Concerning foundational public health services.”
HB 1432 & SB 5353
Sponsor: Robinson
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Health Care
Status: Senate Health Care
Hearing In House Health Care - Feb 7 at 8:00 a.m.
Hearing in Senate Health Care - Feb 7 at 10:00 a.m.
“Creating an oral health pilot program for adults with diabetes and pregnant women.”
SB 5540
Sponsor: Walsh
Healthy Gen position: Support
Status: Senate Health Care
“Concerning the reimbursement rate primary care providers receive to participate in Medicaid.”
HB 1637 & SB 5471
Sponsor: Pettigrew
Sponsor: Rivers
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Appropriations
Status: Senate Health Care
Hearing in Senate Health Care - Feb 9 at 10:00 a.m.
SOCIAL & ECONOMIC CONDITIONS
“Concerning access to homeless housing and assistance.”
HB 1570
Sponsor: Macri
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Community Development, Housing, & Tribal Affairs
Possible executive session in House Community Development, Housing & Tribal Affairs - Feb 7 at 10:00 a.m.
Possible executive session in House Community Development, Housing & Tribal Affairs - Feb 8 at 8:00 a.m.
Possible executive session in House Community Development, Housing & Tribal Affairs - Feb 9 at 1:30 p.m.
“Promoting student health and readiness through meal and nutrition programs.”
HB 1508
Sponsor: Stonier
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Education
“Creating a competitive equipment assistance grant program to enhance student nutrition in public schools.”
HB 1551
Sponsor: Riccelli
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Capital Budget
“Promoting student health and readiness through meal and nutrition programs.”
HB 1508
Sponsor: Stonier
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Education
Possible executive session in House Education - Feb 9 at 8:00 a.m.
“Concerning a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages.”
HB 1975
Sponsor: Jinkins
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: Introduction Sheet
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Washington State Public Health Association members congratulate Patty Hayes, Public Health-Seattle & King County Director and Washington Department of Health Secretary John Wiesman after taping a "Public Health is Essential" KOMO Town Hall meeting.
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"Don't Be a Follower Be a Leader & say no to tobacco"
Young advocates from the 2016 Prevention Summit expressing their thoughts about raising the age of purchase of tobacco to 21.
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"I'm above the influence of tobacco use!"
Young advocates from the 2016 Prevention Summit expressing their thoughts about raising the age of purchase of tobacco to 21.
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"I'm a WhiteSwan Dream Maker and I am above the influence!"
Young advocates from the 2016 Prevention Summit expressing their thoughts about raising the age of purchase of tobacco to 21.
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"I'm still a kid and I should Not be exposed"
"IT CAN WAIT!"
"I want to live my future to the FULLEST"
Young advocates from the 2016 Prevention Summit expressing their thoughts about raising the age of purchase of tobacco to 21.
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Shortcuts For Tracking Bills & Finding Out What You Want To Know
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- To check on a bill, go to the main bill information site to set up a log-in account. You can then find legislation by bill number, prime sponsor, or by topic.
- Legislative Committees schedules, agendas and calendars.
- To see video, or hear audio, of any legislative meeting or floor debate, go to www.tvw.org.
- General Information Website for Legislation, here.
- Session Committee Meeting Schedules, here.
- Summary of Introduced House Legislative Bills, here; Senate Legislative Bills, here.
- House Floor Activity Reports, here (shows live status of House floor).
- Senate Floor Activity Reports, here (shows live status of Senate floor).
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We are thrilled to announce that registration is open for our 2017 Science of HOPE conference! Special Early Bird registration rate for $450.00 offered until Feb 28th. Use code EARLYBIRD at check out to get the discount.
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Be A Friend. Share Health Policy News
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What is the "Red Book?"
The first three people who e-mail the correct answer to juliep@healthygen.org will win a prize!
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The answer to last week’s question was:
A 2016 Stuart Elway poll showed an overwhelming 65 percent of Washingtonians support raising the sale age of tobacco to 21.
Congratulations to our winners!
Danika Troupe, Program Coordinator, United General District #304
Joy Lyons, Prevention and Intervention Coordinator, ESD #112
Theresa Cross, Program Coordinator, Clark County Health Department
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What We're Reading This Week
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What We're Watching This Week
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Raising the age of purchase of tobacco products:
Secretary Wiesman on King 5 (~3 minutes)
Secretary Wiesman on King 5’s Facebook Live Video (~22 minutes – audio doesn’t start until about 6:20)
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Eliminating Pesticide Exposure:
Columbia Legal Services
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Public Health is Essential: Town Hall Event
A series of Public Health budget cuts is forcing our health professionals to ask, "Is Our Public Health System on Life Support?" Join us for these Town Hall Events where we'll discuss that question with health leaders and audience members.
Featuring:
Herb Weisbaum, KOMO, Moderator
Jaime Mendez, KUNS, Moderator
John Wiesman, WA State Secretary of Health
Patty Hayes, RN, MN, Director of Public Health - Seattle & King County, Healthy Gen Board Member
Ben Danielson, MD, Pediatrician, Healthy Gen Board Member
February 11th
8:20 p.m. KOMO TV
February 12th
2:00 p.m. KOMO Radio
6:00 p.m. Univision/KUNS TV
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