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 6696, E2SSB 6696
E2SSB 6696 creates an accountability framework for the state’s education system. E2SSB 6696 would require the Superintendent of Public Instruction to enact an accountability system for school districts where persistently low-achieving schools are located. Additionally, the act establishes a four-level rating system to evaluate teachers and principals, which includes measurements of effectiveness in such areas as student achievement, teaching practices and fostering a safe learning environment. The bill also provides standards for encouraging innovation in science and mathematics, expands professional preparation options and requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to adopt core standards that are universal for state education achievement. E2SSB 6696 passed the Senate by a vote of 41 to 5 and is now before the House Education Committee for further consideration.
Yes: Sen. Eric Oemig; Excused: Sen. Rodney Tom
Senate Bill 6345, SSB 6345
SSB 6345 passed the Senate by a vote of 33 to 15, making it a primary offense to use a hand held cell phone while driving. Currently under state law, the use of a hand held cell phone is considered a secondary offense. SSB 6345 would cause a user of hand held cell device to be ticketed without committing any other traffic infraction. In addition, this bill prohibits a person with an instructional permit or intermediate license from using cell phones, including the use of hands-free devices, while operating a vehicle. The bill does provide exemptions for use during an emergency and by public servants. SSB 6345 is now before the House Committee on Transportation.
No: Oemig; Yes: Tom
House Bill 1956, ESHB 1956
ESHB 1956, which passed the House by a vote of 57 to 39, would allow churches broad authority to provide shelter or housing for homeless persons on property owned or controlled by the church. ESHB 1956 also prohibits a county, city, or town from enacting an ordinance or regulation that unreasonably interferes with the decisions or actions of a church regarding the location of housing or shelter for homeless persons on property the church owns or controls. The act also clarifies that housing of homeless persons on church property cannot be prohibited based upon the property’s proximity to a school or day care center. ESHB 1956 is now before the Senate Human Services and Corrections Committee.
Yes: Representatives Roger Goodman, Larry Springer, Deborah Eddy and Ross Hunter.
Senate Bill 6130, ESSB 6130
ESSB 6130 would temporarily repeal provisions of the voter approved initiative 960 until after July 1, 2011. The provisions that are being repealed include: public notice and cost projections for bills which raise taxes or increase fees, the requirement to have a two-thirds majority vote to raise taxes by the legislature and the requirement to have a tax advisory vote for any tax increase not referred to voters or otherwise blocked from public vote. ESSB 6130 also includes an emergency clause that would prevent this act from being challenged through voter referendum. ESSB 6130 passed the Senate by a vote of 26 to 22 and is now scheduled for public hearing in the House Finance Committee.
Yes: Oemig, Tom.
Senate Bill 6688, SSB 6688
SSB 6688, which passed the Senate by a vote of 37 to 12, provides that for any vacancy occurring in a nonpartisan county elective office, the nonpartisan executive or chair of the council shall nominate three persons as candidates to fill the vacancy. The nominees must be from the same district as the county officer whose office was vacated. A majority of the county legislative authority members must agree upon the appointment of the candidate within 30 days of the vacancy or the Governor will be authorized to fill the vacancy. The Governor would be required to choose from the list of nominees and will have 15 days to render a decision. SSB 6688 is now before the House.
Yes: Oemig, Tom.
Senate Bill 6130, ESSB 6130
ESSB 6130, which passed the House by a vote of 51 to 47, would temporarily repeal provisions of the voter approved initiative 960 until after July 1, 2011. The House amended ESSB 6130, restoring public notification requirements and cost projections when a tax increase is proposed in the legislature. Other provisions that are being repealed include the requirement to have a two-thirds majority vote to raise taxes by the legislature and the requirement to have a tax advisory vote for any tax increase not referred to voters or otherwise blocked from public vote. The Senate, which previously passed ESSB 6130 by a vote of 26 to 22, will now reconsider the bill as amended by the House.
Yes: Goodman, Springer, Hunter; No: Eddy.
House Bill 2912, ESHB 2912
ESHB 2912 would require the hotel-motel tax in King County to be deposited into dedicated accounts once the obligations for current stadium debts are paid. The bill specifies that the dedicated accounts will be used to fund arts and heritage programs, affordable housing, public health services and human services provided by nonprofit organizations. ESHB 2912 also stipulates that none of the tax shall be used to fund colligate stadiums, but does allow the funding to be used for youth and amateur sports facilities, regional centers, performing arts centers, and community development. ESHB 2912 passed the House by a vote of 53 to 45 and is now before the Senate Ways & Means Committee.
Yes: Goodman, Springer, Hunter; No: Eddy.
Senate Bill 6051, ESSB 605
ESSB 6051 passed the Senate by a vote of 28 to 19 extending the expiration date related to heritage and arts program funding from the hotel-motel tax in King County. The bill also requires that beginning in 2021, 37.5 percent of the hotel-motel tax collected in King County shall be dedicated to arts and heritage programs and clarifies that Yakima County can continue to collect the hotel-motel tax until 2035. ESSB 6051 is now scheduled for public hearing before the House Finance Committee.
Yes: Oemig; No: Tom.
House Bill 3179, ESHB 3179
ESHB 3179, which passed the House by a vote of 51 to 47, allows a city to impose sales and use tax at a rate not to exceed 0.1 percent for the purpose of public safety. In order to impose the sales and use tax a city must first receive voter approval. The bill also allows a city with a population over 200,000 and located in a county with a population over 800,000 to impose the mental health/chemical dependency sales and use tax. ESHB 3179 clarifies that the brokered natural gas use tax shall be imposed at the location where the gas is consumed or stored by the customer and also allows local gambling revenue to be used for general public safety programs. ESHB 3179 is now before the Senate for further consideration.
Yes: Goodman, Springer, Eddy, Hunter.
House Bill 1572, 2SHB 1572
2SHB 1572 would require that all counties in the state conduct elections by mail. In addition, 2SHB 1572 changes precinct sizes to limit to no more than 2,000 active registered voters by effective 2012 and allows appointment of two precinct committee officers there is more than 2,000 active registered voters. 2SHB 1572 passed the House by a vote of 57 to 41 and is now before the Senate Committee on Government Operations & Elections.
Yes: Goodman, Springer, Eddy, Hunter.
Senate Bill 6562, E2SSB 6562
E2SSB 6562 passed the Senate 29 to 19 giving the governing boards for the University of Washington, Washington State and Western Washington the authority to set tuition and fees for resident undergraduate students. This act does not apply to technical and community colleges, or to the other four-year higher education institutions in the state. E2SSB does state that the governing boards may not exceed 14 percent in any one year increase or the average annual compounded rate of increase may not exceed 9 percent per year over 15 years, whichever is less. E2SSB, which also requires adoption of performance agreements to coincide with the tuition increases, is now before the House Education Committee for further consideration.
Yes: Tom; No: Oemig.
Senate Bill 6754, ESB 6754
ESB 6754 would make available as public records the names, addresses, and signatures of persons who sign a petition for initiatives or referendums. This means they would be available to be inspected or copied by other individuals after being submitted to the Secretary of State. ESB 6754 also requires petitions to contain the following warning: “Signature petitions are public documents. By signing this document, your name, address, and signature may be released as part of a public records request.” ESB 6754 passed the Senate by a vote of 28 to 20 and is now before the House.
Yes: Oemig, Tom.
