The following is a recap of how Kirkland legislators from the 45th and 48th Districts recently voted on several bills (according to washingtonvotes.org):
Senate Bill 5197, Second Substitute Senate Bill 5197
Requiring measures to promote safe school buildings. Passed the Senate on Feb. 11 by a vote of 47-0.
The bill requires every school to have at least one silent alarm in its administrative offices to alert local law enforcement about a threat or potential threat to the school. It also requires all new or remodeled schools to be able to lock exterior doors remotely from the administrative offices and to be designed to restrict the general public from entering the school through the administrative offices.
The state Superintendent of Public Instruction must create a model plan by June 1, 2014, and school districts must implement panic alarms by Dec. 1, 2014.
Yes: Sen. Andy Hill and Rodney Tom.
Senate Bill 5445, Substitute Senate Bill 5445
Funding capital projects for schools. Passed the Senate on Feb.11 by a vote of 47-0.
The bill authorizes and appropriates $475 million in general obligation bonds for the 2013-15 school construction assistance program and for a $10 million grant program to improve security at public schools. The state supports local school construction through the school construction assistance program , which is administered by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Yes: Hill, Tom.
House Bill 1043, House Bill 1043
Limiting differential tuition. Passed the House on Feb. 15 by a vote of 95 to 1.
The bill removes the authority for public universities to set differential tuition rates for resident, undergraduate programs, such as setting higher rates for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) courses. It also removes the authority for the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges to institute differential tuition models for resident, undergraduate programs.
Yes: Reps. Roger Goodman, Larry Springer, Cyrus Habib and Ross Hunter.
Senate Bill 5312, Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5312
Regulating small consumer installment loans. Passed the Senate on Feb. 20 by a vote of 30 to 18.
This act regulates the terms of small consumer installment loans and requires lenders to be licensed and to pay an investigation and annual assessment fee. It puts limits on interest and charges, prescribes the content of loan agreements, mandates customer notice of fees and charges, and places restrictions on the collection of delinquent loans.
The bill as it passed the Senate limits loans to no more than 15 percent of the borrower’s monthly income, with a maximum of $1,500. The maximum loan period is 18 months, and loans may not be secured by a lien on real or personal property.
Yes: Hill, Tom.
House Bill 1200, Substitute House Bill 1200
Regulating the labeling of seafood. Passed in the House on Feb. 18 by a vote of 96-0.
The bill authorizes the Washington Department of Agriculture, together with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, to develop procedures for enforcing food fish and shellfish labeling, and to take action against misbranding by providing for higher criminal penalties.
It defines “food fish”: and “shellfish” and clarifies the definition of “commercially caught” salmon as that harvested by commercial fishers. It also establishes a system of identifying the common names for seafood, based on the USFDA’s list of acceptable market names for seafood.
Yes: Goodman, Springer, Habib, Hunter.
House Bill 1036, House Bill 1036
Regulating service contracts. Passed in the House on Feb. 18 by a vote of 96-0.
The bill amends and clarifies the definition of “service contract” to include any contract or agreement for the repair or maintenance of a property at a cost above its purchase price.
It specifies that the regulations do not prohibit a service contract provider from covering residential water, sewer, utilities, or similar systems with or without coverage of appliances. A provider may also share contract revenue with local governments or other third parties for endorsements and marketing services.
Yes: Goodman, Springer, Habib, Hunter.
Senate Bill 5147, Senate Bill 5147
Reporting of juveniles and runaway children. Passed in the Senate on Jan. 30 (49-0). Passed in the House on Feb. 15 by a vote of 89-7.
This act requires licensed overnight youth shelters or organizations that provide services to homeless or runaway youth and their families to comply with notice requirements. When sheltering a youth known to be away from home without permission, they must, within 72 hours and preferably within 24 hours, notify the youth’s parents of his/her whereabouts, a description of the youth’s physical and emotional condition, and the circumstances surrounding the youth’s contact with the shelter or organization.
Yes: Goodman, Springer, Habib, Hunter.
