Less Government, Lower Taxes and More Freedom - 2014 Legislative Session Day 46

We were called back into the Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government and Information Technology Committee to hear testimony on ESB 6149 providing a process for county legislative authorities to withdraw from voluntary planning under the Growth Management Act and SHB 2517 concerning wildlife conflict funding to encourage proactive measures. Both bills may also receive Executive Action.

Less Government, Lower Taxes and More Freedom - 2014 Legislative Session Day 46

In the Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government and Information Technology Committee today, we’re hearing seven bills and may take Executive Action on seven bills. ESSB 5045 creating a permit to allow day spas to offer or supply without charge wine or beer by the individual glass to a customer for consumption on the premises.

2SSB 5064 concerning persons sentenced for offenses committed prior to reaching eighteen years of age.

SB 5981 increasing the number of superior court judges in Mason county.

SB 6415 concerning consecutive sentences for driving under the influence or physical control of a vehicle under the influence of intoxicating liquor, marijuana, or any drug.

ESSB 6388 concerning pass-through food distributors.

ESB 6549 -creating demonstration projects for preserving agricultural land and public infrastructure in flood plains.

E2SSB 5540 expanding opportunities to purchase health care coverage from out-of-state carriers.

The seven bills that may receive Executive Action include Senate Bills 5045, 5540, 5064, 5981, 6415, and 6549.

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 45

In the Local Government Committee meeting this morning we’re completing a hearing on Senate Bill 6194 which provides a process for county legislative authorities to withdraw from voluntary planning under the Growth Management Act.

We may also take Executive Action on seven Senate Bills which include 5514, 6007, 6008, 6031, 6060, 6114, and 6194.

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 43

In the Local Government Committee meeting today, were hearing five bills and may take Executive Action on two bills. ESB 5514 concerning utility rates and charges for vacant lots in manufactured housing communities. ESSB 6008 modifying water-sewer district provisions. SSB 6060 concerning certain public water systems. SB 6114 - Revising local government treasury practices and procedures. ESB 6194 - Providing a process for county legislative authorities to withdraw from voluntary planning under the growth management act.

The two bills that may receive Executive Action are Senate Bills 6007 and 6031.

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 32

In the Local Government Committee today, we’re getting briefed on NoaNet, a federally financed broadband expansion program throughout WA State. We’re back on the Floor to vote on bills at 10:00 AM today.

Less Government, Lower Taxes and More Freedom - 2014 Legislative Session Day 26

After a long day in the Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government and Information Technology Committee yesterday, we’re back in Committee this morning to hear House Bill 2549 and House Bill 2187. We’re likely going to take Executive Action on both bills this morning as well.

The big news from yesterday is the passage of House Bill 1888, allowing Industrial Hemp to be grown in Washington State, out of committee yesterday.

Less Government, Lower Taxes and More Freedom - 2014 Legislative Session Day 25

Now that we’ve reached the cut-off for Policy Committees, the real grind begins. The cut-off for fiscal committees is next week and there are hundreds of bills that must be heard and acted on before February 11th. In the Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government and Information Technology Committee meeting today, we have twenty-five bills scheduled for public hearing and twenty-five bills scheduled for possible Executive Action.

Here’s the full agenda … www.leg.wa.gov/House/Committees/APPG/Pages/Agendas....aspx

Let the fun begin.

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 Session Day 24

In the Local Government Committee Meeting we’re considering thirteen bills for Executive Action. House Bills 1595, 1854, 2187, 2234, 2245, 2288, 2311, 2401, 2499, 2637, 2677, 2681, and 2682.

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 22

In the Local Government Committee today, we’re hearing two bills and may take Executive Action on twenty bills. House Bill 2681 extends the date by which an annexation must commence in order to impose an annexation sales and use tax by two years to January 1, 2017; allows proceeds from an annexation sales and use tax to be used for a city's cost to prepare for annexation and modifies definitions related to the annexation sales and use tax provision.

House Bill 2682 increases the estimated cost threshold, above which all work ordered by a water-sewer district must be let by contract and competitive bidding, from $20,000 to $90,000.

The twenty bills that may receive Executive Action are House Bills 2187, 2218, 2234, 2245, 2278, 2288, 2298, 2311, 2401, 2433, 2442, 2481, 2499, 2547, 2593, 2618, 2637, 2677, 2681, and 2682.

With Policy Cut-off coming on Wednesday, expect to see more lists like this.

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 18

In the Local Government Committee today, we’re hearing testimony on five bills and may take Executive Action on seven bills. House Bill 2499 requires counties that have a population of at least 500,000, abut at least five other counties, and are required or choose to plan under the Growth Management Act (GMA), to permit schools outside of designated urban growth areas (UGA) when specified criteria are met and establishes planning actions that counties must satisfy in complying with the requirement to permit schools outside of UGAs.

House Bill 2593 requires the county treasurer to keep "public funds," as that term is defined in statute, in his or her possession until disbursed according to law; requires at least 24 hours of continuing education annually for the following persons: (1) a county treasurer who performs daily investment activities of an investment pool; or (2) any person who is authorized by the county treasurer to manage the investment pool; modifies provisions related to transaction processing costs that may be charged to persons who make payments to county treasurers via electronic forms of payment; and incorporates certain provisions into a statute relating to issuance by a local government of duplicate warrants, bonds, or other instruments or evidence of indebtedness when one is lost or destroyed.

House Bill 2618 authorizes code cities with a population of 20,000 or more to have public works performed by city employees in any annual or biennial budget period at an amount equal to or less than 9 percent of the public works construction budget and increases the monetary limits for public works projects that city employees can perform in code cities with a population of 20,000 or more.

House Bill 2637 establishes voter approval requirements for certain annexation methods that may be employed by code cities in counties that have 400,000 or more residents and are bordered by the Columbia River.

House Bill 2677 obligates counties, cities, and towns to adopt deferral systems for the collection of impact fees from applicants for residential building permits through a covenant-based process, or through a process that delays payment until final inspection, certificate of occupancy, or equivalent certification; authorizes counties, cities, and towns to adopt alternative impact fee collection deferral systems if certain requirements are met; exempts counties, cities, and towns that have pre-existing impact fee delay processes that meet certain requirements from the obligation to establish an impact fee deferral system; and delays the starting of the six-year time frame for satisfying concurrency provisions of the Growth Management Act until after the county or city receives full payment of all deferred impact fees.

The committee may take Executive Action on the following House Bills 2278, 2298, 2433, 2547, 2593, 2618, and 2637.

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

In the Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government and Information Technology today we’re hearing five bills and may take Executive Action on five bills. Substitute House Bill 1438 creates a new process and new mechanism for calculating annual consumptive quantity for certain water users who have transitioned to a more efficient process for irrigation.

Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1651 provides that juvenile offender records are confidential unless the juvenile has been adjudicated for a sex offense, a serious violent offense, or the offenses of Arson in the first degree, Kidnapping in the second degree, Assault of a Child in the second degree, Malicious Placement of an Explosive, or Leading Organized Crime; the court may release juvenile records for inspection upon good cause shown; provides that confidential juvenile offender records may not be published, distributed, or sold; provides that the provisions of the act are prospective and retrospective; and the act takes effect July 1, 2014.

House Bill 2125 removes the requirement that all fines collected by the Washington Horse Racing Commission (Commission) be credited to the Class C Purse Fund.

House Bill 2156 waives the penalty for failure to display a discover pass, vehicle access pass, or day use permit if the individual proves that he or she owned a valid pass at the time and allows the court to assess administrative costs of up to $25 if the penalty is waived.

House Bill 2307 requires receipts from penalties collected by the Office of Minority and Women's Business Enterprises (OMWBE) be deposited in the Minority and Women's Business Enterprise Account.

The bills that may be considered for Executive Action are House Bills 1438, 1651, 2125, 2156, and 2307.

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 17

My first meeting of the day is in the Local Government Committee where we’re hearing four bills and may take Executive Action on four bills. House Bill 2234 modifies provisions in the Growth Management Act to provide that, with certain exceptions, permit applications or permits based on an invalidated part or parts of a comprehensive plan or development regulation are void and do not confer vested rights.

House Bill 2245 delays vesting of certain development rights when territory has been added to an urban growth area (UGA): (1) until 60 days after adoption of the comprehensive plan, development regulation, or amendment that modified the boundaries of the UGA; or (2) until resolution of any petition for review to the Growth Management Hearings Board (Board) challenging the adopted comprehensive plan, development regulation, or amendment and provides that, if the Board issues a finding of noncompliance and an order of remand in response to a petition challenging an adopted comprehensive plan, development regulation, or amendment that modified the boundaries of a UGA, the validity of the plan, regulation, or amendment is affected during the period of remand.

House Bill 2288 prohibits the Growth Management Hearings Board from hearing petitions challenging the regulation of the public groundwater withdrawals that are exempt from permit requirements governing public groundwater withdrawals.

House Bill 2499 requires counties that have a population of at least 500,000, abut at least five other counties, and are required or choose to plan under the Growth Management Act (GMA), to permit schools outside of designated urban growth areas (UGA) when specified criteria are met and establishes planning actions that counties must satisfy in complying with the requirement to permit schools outside of UGAs.

The four bills that may be considered for Executive Action include House Bills 2298, 2278, 2433, and 2547.

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.