Less Government, Lower Taxes and More Freedom - 2014 Legislative Session Day 44

In the Government Operations and Elections Committee meeting today, we’re hearing testimony on four bills and may take Executive Action on six bills. SSB 5676 protecting personal voter signatures.

SSB 5872 creating a state agency innovation and efficiency grant program.

SSB 6250 requiring submission of digital copies of public employees' collective bargaining agreements.

ESSB 6517 exempting agency employee driver's license numbers and identicard numbers from public inspection and copying.

The six bills that may receive Executive Action are Senate Bills 5872, 5964, 6059, 6141, 6250, and 6517.

Less Government, Lower Taxes and More Freedom - 2014 Legislative Session Day 44

In the Government Operations and Elections Committee meeting today we heard testimony on five bills and may take Executive Action on four bills. ESB 5964 concerning training public officials and employees regarding public records, records management, and open public meetings requirements.

SB 6045 promoting economic development through enhancing transparency and predictability of state agency permitting and review processes.

SB 6059 - Concerning charges for scanning public records.

SB 6141 concerning the confidentiality of certain records filed with the utilities and transportation commission or the attorney general.

SSB 6145 declaring the Ostrea lurida the official oyster of the state of Washington.

The four bills that may receive Executive Action are Senate Bills 6005, 6045, 6094, and 6145.

Less Government, Lower Taxes and More Freedom - 2014 Legislative Session Day 38

In the Local Government Committee this morning, we heard two Senate companion bills. Substitute Senate Bill 6007 clarifying the exemption in the public records act for customer information held by public utilities. Engrossed Senate Bill 6031 concerning lake and beach management districts.

In the Government Operations and Elections Committee meeting today, we’re considering two Senate companion bills. Substitute Senate Bill 6005 eliminating the position of human resources director. Substitute Senate Bill 6094 authorizing the use of jail data for research purposes in the public interest.

Less Government, Lower Taxes and More Freedom - 2014 Legislative Session Day 24

In the Government Operations and Elections Committee today, I had the honor of presenting House Bill 2561, changing ballot tabulation and receipt provisions. This bill was brought to me by students from Snohomish High School for a Senior Culminating Project. I was happy to introduce the bill on their behalf and they were able to attend the hearing to testify on their bill.

We’re hearing testimony on two additional bills today as well; House Bill 2104, providing contract information online for state capital and transportation projects and House Bill 2750, allowing write-in candidates name to be printed on a general election ballot under certain conditions.

The Committee may also take Executive Action on five bills including House Bills 1298, 2552, 2578, 2617, and 2743.

Less Government, Lower Taxes and More Freedom - 2014 Legislative Sessionb Day 23

In the Government Operations and Elections Committee today, we’re hearing three bills and may take Executive Action on four bills. House Bill 2552 requires paid signature gatherers and signature gathering businesses that use paid signature gatherers to register with the Secretary of State and requires the declarations on petitions for recall elections, referenda, and initiatives be signed by the signature gatherer.

House Bill 2617 authorizes the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I), Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), and Health Care Authority (HCA) to purchase certain spoken language interpreter services; requires the DSHS, the HCA, the L&I, and the Department of Enterprise Services (DES) to purchase certain spoken language interpreter services directly from language access providers through scheduling and coordinating delivery organizations; requires the DES to develop and implement a model that all state agencies must use to procure spoken language interpreter services by direct purchase from language access providers or through contracts with scheduling and coordinating entities, or both; establishes the Spoken Language Interpreter Advisory Group; and makes modifications to collective bargaining statutes governing language access providers, including the establishment of three statewide units in place of the current single statewide unit.

House Bill 2743 requires agencies to prepare a written record of the basis of the decision and "comprehensive impact assessment" when contracting out to purchase services that were formerly provided by public employees; requires agencies to file with the Department of Enterprise Services (DES) the written basis of decision and reports on contractor's performance; specifies inclusion of a number of contract terms in agreements to contract out; requires the DES to develop model terms for performance-based contracts, including a term to facilitate recovery of public employee staff time spent bringing a contract into compliance; mandates debarment of contractors under certain circumstances; makes changes to existing law requiring the DES to identify services that can be contracted out at reduced cost, authorizing this only when taxpayers will save 10 percent or more; amends a provision governing contractor ethics to provide that a contractor may not use public resources for private benefit or gain; and requires the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to review the performance of certain contracts in which public sector employee services have been outsourced.

The four bills that may receive Executive Action are House Bills 2192, 2293, 2578, and 2376.

Less Government, Lower Taxes and More Freedom - 2014 Legislative Session Day 19

In the Government Operations and Elections Committee meeting this morning, we’re hearing four bills and may take Executive Action on four bills. House Bill 2192 requires state agencies to track and record data regarding permit timelines; requires agencies to post specific permit assistance information on agency's website; and starting in 2015 agencies will report annually to the Legislature about the data collected for the permit process.

House Bill 2293 requires the Joint Legislative Rules Review Committee to review certain agency rules and actions.

House Bill 2525 establishes a public funding program for Supreme Court campaigns.

House Bill 2578 exempts from disclosure proposals and related evaluation documents pertaining to competitive solicitations for alternative public works contracts.

The four bills that may receive Executive Action are House Bill 2202, 2403, 2514, and 2515.

Less Government, Lower Taxes and More Freedom - 2014 Legislative Session Day 17

Today, in the Government Operations and Elections Committee, we’re hearing testimony on three bills and may take Executive Action on five. House Bill 2119 designates Palouse Falls as the official state waterfall.

House Bill 2387 designates the Ostrea lurida as the official oyster of the state of Washington.

House Bill 2622 designates the Central Washington State Fair as the official state fair.

The five bills that may receive Executive Action include House Bills 2248, 2376, 2202, 2119, and 2387.

Less Government, Lower Taxes and More Freedom - 2014 Legislative SessioN Day 16

In the Government Operations and Elections Committee today, we’re accepting testimony on five bills. House Bill 2222 provides that legal services are not a contribution or an expenditure under campaign finance and disclosure laws.

House Bill 2239 exempts from public disclosure any information that would reveal the identity of a person who made a call to an enhanced 911 emergency communications system.

House Bill 2403 exempts from public disclosure and copying certain portions of records containing geographic information systems data for sewer mains, water mains, and manholes, to the extent they identify specific system vulnerabilities or where the disclosure may increase the risk to the agency's infrastructure assets from criminal terrorist acts.

House Bill 2514 eliminates statutory references to the Human Resources Director and transfers nearly all of its authority and functions to the Director of the Office of Financial Management, or the Director's designee and transfers the Human Resource Director's authority to adopt procedures for implementation of certain medical expense reimbursement benefit plans to the State Health Care Authority.

House Bill 2515 exempts enumeration data from public inspection and copying and requires the Office of Financial Management to destroy enumeration data after it is used to produce the required population estimates.

Less Government, Lower Taxes and More Freedom - 2014 Legislative Session Day 12

In the Government Operation and Elections Committee this morning, we’re hearing testimony on three bills and may take Executive Action on two bills. House Bill 2202 requires the Chief Information Officer to coordinate an Open Data Portal to facilitate open format publication of data maintained by, or on behalf of, executive branch state agencies; requires the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) to publish draft uniform standards for the open format of data, implement an online public forum, post agency compliance plans, and provide technical guidance; and requires state executive branch agencies to designate a data coordinator and prepare a data catalog and proposed compliance plan.

House Bill 2248 allows state employees to accrue up to 45 days of annual leave.

House Bill 2376 exempts public agency employee and volunteer driver's license numbers, identicard numbers, and identification numbers from public inspection and copying.

The two bills that may be considered for Executive Action are House Bills 1510 and 2263.

Less Government, Lower Taxes and More Freedom - 2014 Legislative Session Day 10

In the Government Operations and Elections Committee we’re accepting testimony on five bills and may take Executive Action on six bills.

House Bill 1278 requires counties to include prepaid postage for ballot return envelopes for primary and general elections in even-numbered years and for special elections to fill unexpired terms of statewide elected officials and state legislators and requires the state to reimburse counties for the cost of return postage on ballot return envelopes for certain elections.

Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1290 requires county auditors to place at least one ballot drop box at each public college, university, community college, and technical college, and at certain branch campuses; authorizes county auditors to install additional ballot drop boxes if the college's administration or a student body association agrees to jointly fund the installation; requires each county auditor to establish a ballot drop box advisory committee with student representatives and representatives from the college administration; requires reporting to the Secretary of State and the Legislature of ballot drop box placement and methods used to inform voters; requires consideration of Indian reservations in the placement of ballot drop boxes; and establishes a civil penalty of $5,000 for tampering or destroying a ballot drop box, in addition to any other penalties authorized by law.

House Bill 1510 requires write-in candidates to file a declaration of candidacy 18 days before a primary or election.

House Bill 2215 makes technical corrections to laws related to elections.

House Bill 2263 requires the state committee and county central committees to elect at least one female for the chair or vice chair positions.

The six bills that may be considered for Executive Action include House Bills 1290, 1449, 2105, 2215, 2374, and 2473.

Less Government, Lower Taxes and More Freedom - 2014 Legislative Session Day 9

After joining Matt Shea for his live radio show and taping my show for Saturday, I had my first committee meeting of the day. In the Government Operations and Elections Committee we’re hearing three bills and may consider five bills for Executive Action. House Bill 1449 exempts victim impact statements from disclosure under the Public Records Act and exempts documents and other materials provided by the defense to the prosecution.

House Bill 2374 corrects statutory cross references, clarifies policy, and repeals outdated provisions of law pertaining to procurement.

House Bill 2473 requires employers to grant a temporary leave of absence without loss of job status or seniority to employees serving in the state legislature and authorizes a private right of action to receive an award for damages, reinstatement, and attorneys' fees and costs.

The five bills that may be considered for Executive Action are House Bills 1102, 1279, 2105, 2106, and 2121.

Less Government, Lower Taxes and More Freedom - 2014 Legislative Session Day 5

My first meeting of the morning is in Government Operations and Elections Committee where we’re hearing testimony on two bills. House Bill 1102 requires county auditors to process ballots on the day of the primary or general election until midnight or until all ballots received up to and on that day have been processed and counted, whichever occurs first.

House Bill 2106 adds a provision to election law that if no more than one candidate files for any single county partisan office to fill an unexpired term, a primary for that office may not be held.

We’ll be on the House Floor later today and may take action on a handful of bills. Stay tuned for an update.

Less Government, Lower Taxes and More Freedom - 2014 Legislative Session Day 3

In the Government Operations and Elections Committee today we’re only considering one bill … House Bill 2128 exempts from public disclosure global positioning system data that show the residence of an employee or agent of a criminal justice agency.

Less Government, Lower Taxes and More Freedom - 2014 Legislative Session Day 2

My first committee meeting of the day is in Government Operations and Elections where we’re considering three bills. House Bill 2105 requires public agencies with governing bodies to post meeting agendas online at least 24 hours in advance of a regular meeting and exempts agencies that do not have websites or that have five or fewer full-time equivalent employees from posting agendas online.

Engrossed House Bill 1279 allows 16- and 17-year-olds to preregister to vote when applying for a driver's license or identicard.

House Bill 2121 requires training for members of a governing body of a public agency on the Open Public Meetings Act; requires training for elected state and local officials and agency public records officers on the Public Records Act; and requires training for elected state and local officials and agency records retention officers on the preservation and destruction of public records.

The Governor’s State of the State Address is scheduled for 12:00 PM today. I’ll be posting a response to the Governor’s statement later today.

Less Government, Lower Taxes and More Freedom -

It’s Friday of Committee Assembly Week and I’m really looking forward to getting home. The first meeting of the day was Government Operations and Elections where we’re hearing comments on the Advisory Votes, Help America Vote Act and Public Records Requests.

Later today I’ve got a Local Government Committee where we’re being updated on Department of Ecology rulemaking, Public Records Requests, State Building Code Council, Voluntary Stewardship Programs, and a summary of the Growth Management Act review that occurred over the summer.

After a long week in Olympia, I’m ready to get home to my family. I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving.

April 2nd - 2013 Regular Legislative Session Day 79

My day is starting with a Government Operation and Elections Committee meeting where we’re hearing two bills and will consider one bill for Executive Action. Substitute Senate Bill 5160 establishes processes that an agency must use when administratively reassigning an employee to home during scheduled work hours and Senate Bill 5500 limits the replacement of ballots that are destroyed, spoiled, lost, or not received through electronic means to service and overseas voters only.

Tomorrow is Policy Committee cutoff, which means we’ll be transitioning into a week of Fiscal Committee meetings. The Appropriations Committee is scheduled to meet Saturday morning at 9:00 AM, which means I’ll be spending another weekend in Olympia. I have to admit it’s pretty frustrating to have had four Appropriations Committee meetings canceled over the past couple of weeks and now face late nights and a Saturday meeting. Time management is not one of the Democrat Majority’s strong points.

March 28th - 2013 Regular Legislative Session Day 74

My day started in the Local Government Committee where we took Executive Action on five Bills with a"Do Pass” recommendation. The bills were SSB 5399, SB 5417, SSB 5444, ESSB 5656, and SB 5770.

In the Government Operations and Elections Committee meeting today we’re hearing two bills and may consider one bill for Executive Action. Substitute Senate Bill 5381 limiting the use of cellular devices by state employees.

Substitute Senate Bill 5679 to improve the business climate and stimulating job creation by requiring certain agencies to establish a formal review process of existing rules.

The last couple of weeks have been pretty slow here in Olympia, but I expect things to heat up over the next couple of weeks with policy and fiscal cutoffs on the horizon.

March 26th - 2013 Regular Legislative Session Day 72

In the Government Operations and Elections Committee this morning we’re hearing two bills and considering seven bills for possible Executive Action. Senate Bill 5411 requires ballot propositions to reduce the terms of office of port commissioners to be submitted for a vote at the general election.

Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5577 establishes that knowing acquiescence by a supervisor in the ethics violation of an employee is itself an ethics violation; exempts certain investigative documents and documents related to the identity of the person making an ethics complaint to an ethics board, legislator, or statewide elected official from disclosure under the Public Records Act; modifies provisions governing an ethics board's investigation of a complaint; makes changes to whistleblower protections for state employees and officers, including establishment of a $5,000 civil penalty for retaliation or reprisal; requires ethics training and appointment of ethics advisors for each agency; and repeals a provision giving the subject of an ethics complaint the option of a hearing before an administrative law judge when there is the possibility of a penalty greater than $500.

We took Executive Action to recommend passage of SB 5198, SB 5257, SB 5258, SSB 5507, SSB 5518, and SB 5810.

March 20th - 2013 Regular Legislative Session Day 66

My 1:30 PM meeting today is in the House Government Operations and Elections Committee where we’re hearing four bills and may consider four bills for Executive Action. Senate Bill 5257 allows the Public Disclosure Commission to readopt certain emergency rules and to adopt emergency rules to implement legislation that takes effect after June 30; changes special reporting requirements from six days to 21 days before a primary election; allows for suspension of personal financial affairs reporting for the term of office of an elected official and up to three years for an executive state officer; and repeals provisions that prohibit large contributions within 21 days of a general election.

Substitute Senate Bill 5518 repeals outdated statutes and corrects language and citations in Title 29A.

Senate Bill 5747 authorizes district-based elections for public hospital districts with a population over 285,000.

Senate Bill 5748 establishes contribution limits for candidates for public hospital district commissioners.

March 19th - 2013 Regular Legislative Session Day 65

Please take a look at the latest House Introduction Sheet and pay attention to House Bills 2003 through 2015 … all are title only bills. The Democrat Majority uses"title only” bills as place holders for legislation to be considered later in the session and usually really bad bills for the taxpayers of Washington.

After starting my day with a meeting at 7:30, I’m in the Government Operations and Elections Committee where we’re considering four bills. Senate Bill 5198 removes specified personal information from the list of exempted material in certain files and exempts personal information contained in child care and early learning records from public disclosure.

Senate Bill 5258 requires the top five sponsor identification be listed once the aggregated costs of related ballot measure advertisements sponsored by the same committee total $1,000 or more and clarifies that top five contributor identification is not required to be listed on political yard signs.

Senate Bill 5507 requires that a statement including the Public Disclosure Commission's website be included with each ballot and voters' pamphlet.

Senate Bill 5810 exempts from public disclosure information contained in the security threat group database.