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Dear Friends,

Welcome to the seventh week of the legislative session! Last week was very busy for legislators, staff, and lobbyists as they worked to move policy bills out of their house of origin by 5:00 p.m. last Friday. If a bill didn’t make the deadline, it is now considered dead. However, if conditions are right, bills (or sections of bills) may be amended onto another bill that is alive, or show up as a budget proviso. It’s important to always keep a watchful eye during session. Over 2,300 bills were introduced this session, but only a fraction of them make it past the first deadline.

The next deadline for bills is fiscal cutoff, which is this Friday, February 24th at 5:00 p.m. By this date and time all bills referred to the House fiscal committees, Senate Ways & Means, and Transportation committees must pass out of that committee. The exception are bills with the coveted designation of “Necessary to Implement the Budget” or NTIB.

In addition to the activity in the fiscal committees, we will also see an increase in floor action this week. In order to make it to the floor for debate, potential amending, and final vote, it must first make it through the respective Rules Committees. Because of this, the Rules Committee is often referred to as “The Gatekeeper.” The process for getting a bill out of the Rules Committee can be confusing, especially since the House and Senate use different terminology. Click here to learn more about the House and Senate Rules Committee processes.

Omnipresent this session is the question for legislators about how to solve “McCleary.” The House Democrats have offered their education funding proposal, HB 1843, “Fulfilling the state's paramount duty for all children through equitable and responsible investments in the state's basic education program and reductions to local effort contributions.” SB 5607 “Concerning education” is the Senate Republicans education funding proposal. The Office of Program Research, a nonpartisan, legislative staff office that provides research to House committees prepared this side by side comparison of both proposals. HB 1843 is advancing through the House. As you will recall, SB 5607 passed the Senate 25-24. All eyes will be watching how negotiations progress. The Republican proposal drew some scrutiny this week when it was made public that some of the calculations were off and the plan will likely cost more than originally anticipated. A new plan to meet the McCleary obligation was also thrown into the mix this week when Moderate Democrats introduced their own new proposal under SB 5825. The prime sponsor, Sen Mullet, says the new plan is “smack in the middle” of the existing Republican and Democrat proposals.
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

 
Bills We're Watching
As of Sunday, February 19th. Please check Legislative Meeting Schedule & Bill Status for updates as hearings are scheduled.
 
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 Finance &
Senate Commerce, Labor, & Sports
Hearing in House Finance - Feb 20 at 8:00 a.m.

“Improving student achievement by promoting social emotional learning throughout the calendar year.”
HB 1518
Sponsor: Senn
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: Appropriations

“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 Rules Review 2 & Senate Transportation

“Concerning safe injection sites in Washington State.”
SB 5223
Sponsor: Miloscia
Healthy Gen’s position: Oppose
Status: Senate Rules 2

“Protecting public safety through responsible storage of firearms.”
HB 1122SB 5463
Sponsor: Kagi
Sponsor: Palumbo
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Judiciary
Status: House Rules 2 & Senate Law & Justice

“Banning the sale of assault weapons and large capacity magazines.”
HB 1134
Sponsor: Peterson
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Judiciary

“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 & Senate Law & Justice

“Addressing the oversight and regulation of marijuana.”
SB 5284
Sponsor: Carlyle
Healthy Gen’s position: Watch
Status: Senate Rules 2

“Creating the safe streets pilot project”
HB 1557 & SB 5650
Sponsor: Jinkins
Sponsor: Conway
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Appropriations & Senate Law & Justice

“Creating the department of children, youth, and families.”
HB 1661 & 5498
Sponsor: Kagi
Sponsor: O’Ban
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Appropriations & Senate Ways & Means
Hearing in Senate Ways & Means - Feb 21 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 Health Care


PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENTS:


“Addressing the siting of schools and school facilities.”
HB 1017
Sponsor: McCaslin
Healthy Gen’s position: Oppose
Status: Rules 2 Review


“Concerning the siting of schools and school facilities.”
SB 5651
Sponsor: Conway
Healthy Gen’s position: Oppose
Status: Senate Rules 2

“Assessing physical education practices in public schools.”
HB 1235
Sponsor: Riccelli
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: Placed on second reading by Rules Committee


“Concerning tourism marketing.”
SHB 1123 & SB 5251
Sponsor: Condotta
Sponsor: Takko
Healthy Gen’s position: Monitor

Status: House Appropriations & Senate Ways & Means

“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 Rules 2 & Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. On motion, referred to Rules Green Sheet for second reading


CLINICAL & COMMUNITY LINKAGES

“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 Appropriations & Senate Ways & Means

“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 - Referred to Rules 2 Review

“Implementing recommendations from the children's mental health work group.”
HB 1713 & SB 5763
Sponsor: Senn
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Appropriations & Senate Ways & Means
Hearing House Committee on Appropriations - Feb 20 at 1:30 p.m.
Hearing in Senate Ways & Means - Feb 21 at 1:30 p.m.


“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 Appropriations & Senate Ways & Means
Hearing in Senate Ways & Means - Feb 21 at 1:30 p.m.

 
“Concerning foundational public health services.”
HB 1432  & SB 5353
Sponsor: Robinson
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Appropriations & Senate Ways & Means
 
“Creating an oral health pilot program for adults with diabetes and pregnant women.”
SB 5540
Sponsor: Walsh
Healthy Gen position: Support
Status: Senate Ways & Means
Hearing in Senate Ways & Means - Feb 21 at 1:30 p.m.
 
“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 Ways & Means

“Concerning obligations of mental health professionals.”
HB 1810 & SB 5800
Sponsor: Cody
Sponsor: Baumgartner
Healthy Gen’s positon: Support
Status: House Judiciary & Senate - Passed to Rules Committee for second reading


SOCIAL & ECONOMIC CONDITIONS

“Concerning access to homeless housing and assistance.”
HB 1570
Sponsor: Macri
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: Appropriations


“Creating a competitive equipment assistance grant program to enhance student nutrition in public schools.”
HB 1551
Sponsor: Riccelli
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: Rules 2 Review

“Promoting student health and readiness through meal and nutrition programs.”
HB 1508
Sponsor: Stonier
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Appropriations


“Concerning a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages.”
HB 1975
Sponsor: Jinkins
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Finance 

“Concerning breakfast after the bell programs”
SB 5696
Sponsor: Wellman
Helathy Gen’s position: Pro
Status: Senate Way & Means
Last Week In Pictures
Julie visits the Hopper!
This week's Health Policy News quiz questions is: What is the Hopper?

The first three people who e-mail the correct answer to juliep@healthygen.org will win a Starbucks gift card!
Shortcuts For Tracking Bills & Finding Out What You Want To Know
  • 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).
The Science of HOPE
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.
REGISTER
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TRACK BILLS BY TOPIC:
HPN Policy Quiz
What is the Hopper?

The first three people who e-mail the correct answer to juliep@healthygen.org will win a Starbucks gift card!
The answer to last week’s question, "What is an Agency Request Bill" was:

A request for legislation proposed by an agency of the executive branch of government.

Congrats to last week's winners:
Jeb Shepard, Washington State Medical Association
Sharon Weinhold, Cowlitz Community Network
Lindsey Ruivivar, CHAS Health
Resources
Advocacy Days

Laurie Jinkins YouTube Video: How a Bill Becomes Law

For more resources visit our website healthygen.org/what-we-do/public-policy
What We're Reading This Week
GOP’s school funding numbers may not add up
Crosscut - Tom James, February 14, 2017

$500K later, McCleary task force still doesn’t have plan to fix education
The News Tribune - Joseph O’Sullivan, February 13, 2017

Kids, don’t eat these munchies: New labels required on marijuana edibles starting Tuesday
The News Tribune - Melissa Santos, February 13, 2017
What We're Watching This Week
What is the staff-mix rating for school funding?
(Kelly Shea / The Seattle Times)
School funding in Washington State is determined in part by a number called the staff-mix. Seattle Times reporter Claudia Rowe explains how the rating is determined, along with its implications for students.

Vaping is far from harmless
(NOVA Next / PBS)
While safer than smoking cigarettes, inhaling e-cigarettes' nicotine-laced fog is anything but healthy.