| Bill Status As Of – January 29, 2003 |
| HB 1004 |
Gas & electricity taxes |
H Technology, |
1/13/2003 |
Morris |
|
| |
| AN ACT Relating to energy; amending RCW 82.16.020, 82.16.050, 82.16.053, 82.16.055, and 35.21.870; adding a new section to chapter 82.16 RCW; repealing RCW 82.12.022 and 82.14.230; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency. |
| HB 1048 |
State building codes |
H Local Gov. |
1/14/2003 |
Cooper |
|
| |
| Revises certain state building codes that are adopted by reference in RCW 19.27.031. |
| E SHB 1053 |
Government accountability |
*H Passed 3rd |
1/29/2003 |
COOP (Miloscia) |
|
| |
| Brief Summary of Substitute Bill ·Establishes the Citizen Oversight Board to develop an annual assessment and performance grading program for all state agencies. ·Authorizes the State Auditor to develop and implement a plan for conducting
recurring performance audits of government systems and operations. |
| HB 1062 |
Public contract payment |
H State Govt |
1/15/2003 |
Romero |
|
| |
| Finds that: (1) Firms and organizations that do business with the state expect and deserve to be paid in an expeditious and timely manner; and
(2) Unjustified delays in paying vendors, construction
contractors, and providers of service may discourage these firms
and organizations, in particular small and medium-sized firms and
women and minority-owned business enterprises, from doing business
with the state, and may ultimately increase the costs to the state
government.
Declares it is the purpose of this act to set standards for the payment of bills incurred by state agencies within specified periods of time and to require interest payments in situations where contract payments do not conform to these standards. |
| HB 1065 |
Public works apprenticeships |
H Commerce/Lab |
1/15/2003 |
Conway |
|
| |
| Provides that, from July 1, 2003, through December 31, 2003, for all public works estimated to cost two million dollars or more, all specifications shall require that no less than ten percent of the labor hours within each trade be performed by apprentices of that trade.
Provides that, from January 1, 2004, through December 31, 2004, for all public works estimated to cost two million dollars or more, all specifications shall require that no less than twelve percent of the labor hours within each trade be performed by apprentices of that trade.
Provides that, from January 1, 2005, and thereafter, for all public works estimated to cost one million dollars or more, all specifications shall require that no less than fifteen percent of the labor hours within each trade be performed by apprentices of
that trade. |
| HB 1079 |
Higher ed student residency |
H Higher Educ |
1/15/2003 |
Kenney |
|
| |
| Includes any student who has graduated from high school in this state or received the equivalent of a high school diploma in this state and who has attended at least three years of high school in this state, however a student who is not a citizen of the United States of America shall submit an affidavit to the institution stating he or she has filed or will file an application for permanent residency in the United States at the earliest opportunity he or she is eligible to do so. |
| HB 1082 |
Sch emply housing allowance |
H Education |
1/15/2003 |
Ruderman |
|
| |
| Recognizes that, as the disparity in the cost-of-living between school districts across the state has grown in recent years, the purchasing power of equalized salaries has become more disparate for K-12 employees. A major contributor to these costs is housing.
Declares that the purpose of this act is to authorize a housing allowance for nonsupervisory public school employees in order to encourage these employees to live in the districts in which they work.
Authorizes eligible school districts to provide a housing allowance for nonsupervisory classified and certificated employees with revenues raised from a housing allowance levy authorized under this act. |
| HB 1091 |
Prescription drugs |
H Health Care |
1/15/2003 |
Cody |
|
| |
| Declares an intent to develop a comprehensive prescription drug education and utilization system in Washington state that will ensure best prescribing practices and pharmaceutical use, reduce administrative burdens on providers, increase consumer understanding of and compliance with appropriate use of prescription drugs, help to control increases in consumer and state health care spending, and improve prescription drug purchasing through a sound evidence-based process that evaluates the therapeutic value and cost-effectiveness of prescription drugs. |
| HB 1131 |
Public entity reimbursement |
H Judiciary |
1/17/2003 |
Carrell |
|
| |
| Finds that citizens, through their government, are frequently unable to collect reimbursement from employees, officers, and contractors whose criminal conduct results in payment of public money to injured parties.
Finds that this inability is a drain on public resources and facilitates the avoidance of responsibility by those who engage in criminal conduct. The purpose of this act is to enable public entities on behalf of the citizens to obtain reimbursement from such employees, officers, and contractors. |
| HB 1171 |
Green building programs |
H Cap Budget |
1/23/2003 |
Romero |
Concerns |
| |
| Declares that the goals of the state of Washington, consistent with executive order 02-03, are to site, design, construct, renovate, operate, and maintain state buildings that are models of energy, water, and materials efficiency, while providing healthy,
productive, and comfortable indoor environments and long-term benefits to the state's residents.
Intends the sustainable building goal to be implemented in a cost-effective manner, while considering externalities, identifying economic and environmental performance measures, determining cost savings, using life cycle costing, and adopting an integrated systems approach.
Intends to authorize and direct that public agencies adopt the United States green building council leadership in energy and environmental design green building rating system.
Declares an intent that this rating system guide the siting, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of state-funded major facilities entering into the predesign process after July 1, 2003. |
| HB 1190 |
Alternative cert programs |
H Education |
1/20/2003 |
Quall |
|
| |
| Provides that, for a maximum of two years, a route one candidate shall retain his or her employee status during the time the candidate is participating in the program. |
| HB 1191 |
Sch dis emply health benefit |
H Approp |
1/20/2003 |
Fromhold |
|
| |
| Provides that, beginning September 1, 2003, the authority shall collect from each participating school district and educational service district an amount equal to the composite rate charged to state agencies, plus an amount equal to the employee premiums by plan and family size as would be charged to state employees, for groups of district employees enrolled in authority plans as of January 1, 2003.
Provides that notwithstanding RCW 41.05.050 and RCW 41.05.065(3), the authority may allow districts enrolled on a tiered rate structure prior to September 1, 2002, to continue participation based on the same rate structure and under the same
conditions and eligibility criteria. |
| HB 1193 |
Pro educators board4201 |
H Education |
1/20/2003 |
Quall |
|
| |
| Includes a classified employee on the Washington professional educator standards board. |
| HB 1197 fo |
Retirement annual increase |
H Approp |
1/21/2003 |
Pflug |
|
| |
| Revises provisions relating to public employees' retirement system, plan 1 and teachers' retirement system, plan 1 age and retirement requirements for receipt of the annual increase amount. Companion Bill 5097 |
| HB 1198 fo |
LEOFFRS board elections |
H Approp |
1/21/2003 |
Pflug |
|
| |
| Designates which fire fighters or law enforcement officers may elect or be elected to certain pension and disability boards. |
| HB 1200 o |
Retirement system statutes |
H Approp |
1/21/2003 |
Conway |
|
| |
| Corrects retirement system statutes. Companion Bill 5101 |
| HB 1201 fo |
Retirement system options |
H Approp |
1/21/2003 |
Conway |
|
| |
| Authorizes a member holding state elective office the option during each term of office of membership or retirement and beginning their retirement allowance in the law enforcement officers' and fire fighters' retirement system, the teachers'
retirement system, the school employees' retirement system, and the public employees' retirement system. |
| HB 1206 fo |
Retiremnt contributions/pl 3 |
H Approp |
1/21/2003 |
Pflug |
|
| |
| Revises RCW 41.34.040 relating to public employees', teachers', and school employees' retirement systems plan 3 member contribution rates. |
| HB 1209 fo |
Retirement benefits |
H Approp |
1/21/2003 |
Conway |
|
| |
| Authorizes members of the teachers' retirement system, the school employees' retirement system, and the public employees' retirement system to begin receiving benefits without leaving service at age seventy and one-half. |
| HB 1211 |
Public accountancy act |
H Commerce/Lab |
1/21/2003 |
Conway |
|
| |
| Revises accountability requirements under the public accountancy act.
Requires that, by December 1, 2003, the board of accountancy shall report to the senate committee on commerce and trade and the house committee on commerce and labor, or successor committees, on the issue of auditor independence. |
| HB 1221 |
Paid time off |
H Commerce/Lab |
1/21/2003 |
Dickerson |
|
| |
| Declares an intent to require employers to provide workers
with a minimum amount of paid time off, to allow employers to adopt
reasonable policies concerning the administration of paid time off,
and to encourage employers to adopt or retain leave policies more
generous than the minimum requirements of this act.
Provides that an employee shall accrue at least forty hours of paid time off for each six months of full-time work for an employer, or a proportionate amount of paid time off for each six months of less than full-time work.
Declares that an employee is entitled to take paid time off only after completing the first six consecutive months of work for an employer. An employee taking paid time off shall comply with the terms of the collective bargaining agreement or employer policy applicable to the purpose for which the leave is taken. |
| HB 1229 |
Teacher cottages |
H Education |
1/21/2003 |
Quall |
|
| |
| Provides that the board of directors of a second class school district may authorize the construction of teachers' cottages using funds from the district's capital projects fund or general fund.
Rental and other income from the cottages, including sale of the cottages, may be deposited, in whole or in part, into the school district's general fund, debt service fund, or capital projects fund as determined by the board of directors. |
| HB 1244 e |
Teacher salary bonus |
H Education |
1/21/2003 |
Hunter |
|
| |
| Provides that certificated instructional staff who have
attained certification from the national board for professional
teaching standards shall receive a bonus of three thousand five
hundred dollars each year in which they maintain their certification from the national board for professional teaching standards.
Declares that the annual bonus for national board certification is provided in addition to compensation received under a district's salary schedule adopted in accordance with RCW 28A.405.200 and shall not be included in calculations of a
district's average salary and associated salary limitations under RCW 28A.400.200. |
| HB 1270 |
Performance audits |
H State Govt |
1/22/2003 |
Anderson |
|
| |
| Directs the state auditor to undertake ongoing independent, objective, and comprehensive performance audits of state government, which shall be performed in accordance with government auditing standards and funded by the general fund.
Directs the state auditor to contract with private sector professional and technical experts for conducting performance audits and shall provide oversight of such audits and employees within the state auditor's office, if available and qualified, may
assist such audits.
Directs the state auditor to solicit suggestions for improving government performance from both front-line public employees, government service recipients, and the public at large in the conduct of each audit.
Requires the state auditor to establish a toll-free telephone number at which the public may make suggestions, report government waste, and note government innovation. The state auditor shall compile the information acquired and make it available upon request and may provide comments regarding the information acquired.
Directs the office of the economic and revenue forecast council to establish a peer group rating system using as benchmarks only those states having the same number of electoral votes as Washington or having plus or minus one electoral vote as does Washington and shall issue a budgeting and economic climate report
based on the peer group rating system.
Establishes the citizens' oversight committee for government accountability as a panel composed of five citizen members appointed by the leadership of the house of representatives who are not affiliated with the party of the state auditor.
Requires that one-half of one percent of the funds appropriated for the current biennium for each state agency or institution shall be dedicated towards the cost of auditing that agency or institution. |
| HB 1280 o |
State university research |
H Cap Budget |
1/22/2003 |
Murray |
|
| |
| Revises provisions for financing contracts for state university research facilities or equipment. |
| HB 1284 |
PERS plan 2 early retirement |
H Approp |
1/22/2003 |
Cooper |
|
| |
| Revises provisions relating to early retirement in the public employees' retirement system, plan 2. |
| HB 1298 |
Retirement/service vesting |
H Approp |
1/22/2003 |
Sommers |
|
| |
| Provides for vesting after five years of service in the defined benefit portion of the public employees' retirement system, the school employees' retirement system, and the teachers' retirement system plan 3. |
| HB 1305 |
Employment information |
H Judiciary |
1/22/2003 |
Carrell |
|
| |
| Provides that an employer who discloses information about a former or current employee's job performance, conduct, or other work-related information to a prospective employer, or employment agency as defined by RCW 49.60.040, at the specific request of that individual employer or employment agency, is presumed to be acting in good faith and is immune from civil liability for such disclosure or its consequences. |
| HB 1347 $ |
Capital supp buget |
H Cap Budget |
1/23/2003 |
Dunshee |
|
| |
| Makes supplemental appropriations and authorizing expenditures for capital improvements. |
| HB 1386 |
Prevailing wage |
H Commerce/Lab |
1/24/2003 |
Mielke |
|
| |
| Provides incentives to increase transportation revenues by reforming prevailing wage laws. |
| HB 1434 |
Education employee housing |
H Education |
1/27/2003 |
Anderson |
|
| |
| Declares that the purpose of this act is to commission a study on the impact of housing costs on nonsupervisory K-12 employees and to provide the governor and the legislature with a set of recommendations designed to address those costs within the state's constitutionally required general and uniform system of public
schools. |
| HB 1437 e |
Higher edu tuition |
H Higher Educ |
1/27/2003 |
Kenney |
|
| |
| Finds that public higher education funding is a shared responsibility between the state, students, and the public colleges and universities. Periodic increases in state funding, state financial aid, and tuition must be authorized to provide quality
higher education for the citizens of Washington.
Declares an intent to authorize the governing boards to establish tuition rates for all students other than resident undergraduates. |
| HB 1453 |
Higher edu credit transfer |
H Higher Educ |
1/27/2003 |
Kenney |
|
| |
| Declares an intent to make improvements to the statewide transfer of credit policy and agreement through the following initiatives: (1) Improved ease of transfer of general education courses between institutions; and (2) Development of transfer degrees for specific academic majors.
Requires the higher education coordinating board, the state board for community and technical colleges, and the council of presidents, in partnership, to convene a work group to recommend changes to the statewide transfer of credit policy and agreement as provided in this act. The work group shall include representatives
from each of the public four-year institutions of higher education and a broad sample of community and technical colleges. |
| SB 5007 f |
Agriculture/garden research |
S Agriculture |
1/13/2003 |
Jacobsen |
Opposed |
| |
| All assets at the Washington State University's research and extension centers in Puyallup and Mount Vernon must be transferred to the Western Washington Center
for Agriculture and Garden Research by June 30, 2003. The center is a quasi-administrative unit of Washington State University and must be a nonprofit and self-supporting membership organization. The center must require membership dues and may accept gifts. |
| SB 5012 |
Charter schools |
S Education |
1/13/2003 |
Johnson |
|
| |
| Under current law, public schools are publically financed, governed by elected
school boards, and subject to state laws and regulations. Generally, charter schools are publically financed but operate under a written contract with the charter sponsor and operate independently of most state laws and regulations. The contract, or charter, details how the school will be organized and managed, what students will be taught and expected to achieve, and how success will be measured. Charter schools can be closed for failing to satisfy these contract terms. Currently, Washington State does not have charter schools. |
| SB 5015 |
Ergonomics rules |
S Comm & Trade |
1/13/2003 |
Hewitt |
|
| |
| Declares that rules dealing with musculoskeletal disorders, filed on May 26, 2000, by the director, and codified as WAC 296-62-05101 through 296-62-05176, are repealed.
Provides that the director shall not adopt any new or amended rules dealing with musculoskeletal disorders that are substantially the same as these rules until and unless required by congress or the federal occupational safety and health administration. |
| SB 5020 f# |
Agency purchase of land |
S NatRes/Ene/W |
1/13/2003 |
Morton |
|
| |
| A state agency may not purchase privately-owned parcels of land in excess of five contiguous acres in any county where the public land base is 70 percent of the
total area of the county, except when specifically directed to do so by an action of the Legislature. In such cases, the appropriate legislative authority must authorize the transaction and the transaction must be funded by other than state tax dollars. |
| SB 5021 f |
Education employee benefits |
S Comm & Trade |
1/13/2003 |
Sheldon, T. |
|
| |
| Provides that no moneys appropriated in RCW 28A.400.200 may be expended for sick leave benefits, compensation, or health benefits during the time an employee engages in a strike or work stoppage. During a strike or work stoppage, a school district board of directors may require a signed statement from a licensed health
care provider that an employee's absence was due to illness or injury. |
| SB 5043 d |
Public land statutes |
S Rules 2 |
1/23/2003 |
Morton |
|
| |
| Statutes governing DNR management of state uplands are reorganized
without substantive change. Nonsubstantive revisions eliminate outdated terms. |
| SB 5074 $d |
Timber harvest/trust lands |
S NatRes/Ene/W |
1/14/2003 |
Morton |
|
| |
| DNR must establish and implement contract harvesting when it can increase revenues for the trust beneficiaries and increase environmental protection. "Contract
harvesting" is defined as a situation in which DNR contracts with an individual to harvest timber on state forest lands and process the timber into logs sorted by DNR specifications. DNR then sells the individual log sorts. |
| SB 5076 d |
Aqtc land valuable materials |
S Rules 2 |
1/27/2003 |
Morton |
|
| |
| When determining the highest responsible bidder for a sale of valuable materials from state-owned aquatic lands, the Department of Natural Resources may consider
whether the bidder was the highest bidder on a sale within the past five years, but failed to complete the sale. The department may not consider sale bids prior to January 1, 2003. |
| SB 5079 |
Natural science education |
S Education |
1/14/2003 |
Finkbeiner |
|
| |
| The natural science, wildlife, and environmental education partnership account and grant program are established. The purpose of the account and of the grant program is to promote proven and innovative natural science, wildlife, and environmental education programs that are fully aligned with the state's essential academic learning requirements (EALRs). The grant program is subject to the availability of funds in the partnership account. The partnership account consists of funds provided by the Legislature or other sources. An appropriation is not required for an expenditure from the account. |
| SB 5080 |
St gvrnmnt hiring freeze |
S Govt Op & El |
1/15/2003 |
Stevens |
|
| |
| A two-year state hiring freeze is created whereby state agencies are prohibited from hiring replacements for employees who leave the agency, regardless of the reason an employee left. |
| SB 5090 o |
LEOFFRS board elections |
S Ways & Means |
1/15/2003 |
Carlson |
|
| |
| Active and retired police officers and fire fighters may serve on the LEOFF Plan 1 disability boards whether they are members of LEOFF Plan 1 or not. Members of the board continue to be elected by members of the LEOFF Plan 1 and the Firemen's Relief and Pension plan only. |
| SB 5091 o |
Retiremnt contributions/pl 3 |
S Ways & Means |
1/15/2003 |
Carlson |
|
| |
| A transfer window is established in January of every year during which Plan 3 members may change their contribution rate option. Several new rate options are also provided. |
| SB 5092 o |
Pblc emply death benefits |
S Ways & Means |
1/15/2003 |
Jacobsen |
|
| |
| Provides a death benefit for certain public employees. |
| SB 5093 o |
Retirement benefits |
S Ways & Means |
1/15/2003 |
Spanel |
|
| |
| Members of TRS, SERS, and PERS may begin to collect benefits at age 70½ without separating from service. Employees choosing to begin benefits in this way
cease to earn new service credit or make contributions. |
| SB 5095 o |
Retirement system options |
S Ways & Means |
1/15/2003 |
Spanel |
|
| |
| Elected officials who are members of LEOFF Plan 2, PERS, TRS Plans
2 and 3, or SERS, are permitted to retire from their plans during a 90-day window at the beginning of each term of office without having to leave their office, provided that they are eligible under the requirements of their individual plans. Officials may choose instead to continue as active members of their plans, making contributions and accumulating service credit in the regular fashion. |
| SB 5096 |
Teachers' retirement plan 1 |
S Ways & Means |
1/15/2003 |
Regala |
|
| |
| Members of TRS Plan 1 are allowed to use their two highest-paid consecutive school years rather than their two highest paid fiscal years for the purpose of
determining their average final compensation. |
| SB 5097 o |
Retirement annual increase |
S Ways & Means |
1/15/2003 |
Winsley |
|
| |
| Revises provisions relating to public employees' retirement system, plan 1 and teachers' retirement system, plan 1 age and retirement requirements for receipt of the annual increase amount. Companion Bill 1197 |
| SB 5099 o |
Pension policy select comm |
S Ways & Means |
1/15/2003 |
Winsley |
|
| |
| Provides that the select committee on pension policy has the following powers and duties: (1) Study pension issues, develop pension policies for public employees in state retirement systems, and make recommendations to the legislature;
(2) Study the financial condition of the state pension systems, develop funding policies, and make recommendations to the legislature; and
(3) Appoint or remove the state actuary by a two-thirds vote of the select committee. Repeals RCW 44.44.015, 44.44.050, and 44.44.060. Companion Bill 1204 |
| SB 5101 o |
Retirement system statutes |
S Ways & Means |
1/15/2003 |
Carlson |
|
| |
| Corrects retirement system statutes. Companion Bill 1200 |
| SB 5105 |
Educational interpreters |
S Education |
1/15/2003 |
Fraser |
|
| |
| Requires that, by November 30, 2004, the Washington professional educator standards board shall conduct a comprehensive review and analysis of the following options and make recommendations to the governor, the legislature, the
superintendent of public instruction, and the state board of education regarding the following options: (1) Requiring national or state certification for all educational interpreters for deaf students and hard of hearing students;
(2) Designating educational interpreters as an education staff
assistant;
(3) Requiring the state board of education to establish
competencies for educational interpreters; and
(4) Any other option that the Washington professional educator standards board deems viable to increase and maintain the quality and availability of educational interpreters in a fiscally responsible manner. |
| SB 5131 |
Library computers |
S Judiciary |
1/15/2003 |
Swecker |
|
| |
| The Attorney General or county prosecuting attorney may apply to the superior court for an order authorizing the seizure of library computers used to access web
sites or files depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and other records containing the identity of library patrons who had access to library computers used to access these web sites or files. The application: (a) must be based on facts and circumstances supporting a reasonable belief that the library computers were used to access web sites or files depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct; and (b) that there are no other readily available means to obtain the identity of library patrons who used the library computers to access these web sites or files. The order is valid for 15 days and may be extended for an additional 15 days. Libraries providing internet access must notify users of these provisions. |
| SB 5134 |
Border county higher ed |
S Rules 2 |
1/28/2003 |
Carlson |
|
| |
| The Border County Higher Education Opportunities Project is made permanent. The residency requirement for eligible Oregon students is returned to a 90-day
period. |
| SB 5135 |
Higher ed tuition fees |
S Higher Educ |
1/15/2003 |
Carlson |
Oppose |
| |
| Resident undergraduate students who accumulate more than 120 percent of the credits required to complete their respective baccalaureate degree at a public four-year institution of higher education or associate degree or certificate at a public community or technical college pay tuition fees equal to a sum not less than the average instructional support in general funds and operating fees per full-time equivalent (FTE) at each respective institution. Nonresident undergraduate students who accumulate more than 120 percent of the credits required to complete their respective baccalaureate degree at a public four-year institution of higher education or associate degree or certificate at a public community or technical college pay tuition fees equal to a sum not less than twice the average instructional
support in general funds and operating fees per FTE at each respective institution. These fees are based on the general fund and operating fees for the prior academic year as disclosed by the Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB). |
| SB 5137 |
Higher ed admissions |
S Higher Educ |
1/15/2003 |
Carlson |
|
| |
| Authorizes the use of the reading and math components of the WASL to fulfill admission requirements at institutions of higher education. |
| SB 5139 |
Remedial postsecondary ed |
S Higher Educ |
1/15/2003 |
Carlson |
|
| |
| Requires school districts to provide or pay for state-supported remedial education at institutions of higher education. |
| SB 5151 |
Open public meetings |
S Govt Op & El |
1/15/2003 |
Benton |
|
| |
| Revises provisions relating to open public meetings. |
| SB 5158 |
Higher ed student residency |
S Higher Educ |
1/16/2003 |
Carlson |
Support |
| |
| Any person who has completed a full senior year at a Washington high school and obtained a diploma from that high school, or any person that has received the
equivalent of a high school diploma, is permitted to pay resident tuition at Washington public universities and colleges if the person has lived in the state for at least three years and has been admitted to such an institution within a year of receiving the diploma or its equivalent. The person must also provide to the institution an affidavit indicating a willingness to file an application to become a permanent resident at the earliest opportunity the individual is eligible to do so. |
| SB 5161 |
Ergonomics rules |
S Comm & Trade |
1/16/2003 |
Hewitt |
|
| |
| The ergonomic rules adopted by L&I on May 26, 2000 are repealed. L&I is directed to not adopt any other rules "substantially the same," unless required by Congress or OSHA. |
| SB 5183 |
First year teacher salaries |
S Education |
1/17/2003 |
Benton |
|
| |
| Authorizes a bonus for certain first year teachers. |
| SB 5185 |
Open public meetings |
S Govt Op & El |
1/17/2003 |
Benton |
|
| |
| Revises provisions relating to open public meetings. |
| SB 5210 |
Electrician certification |
S Comm & Trade |
1/20/2003 |
Honeyford |
Neutral |
| |
| Revises electrician certification provisions. This would have little or no effect on WSU. |
| SB 5238 |
Alternative cert programs |
S Education |
1/20/2003 |
Schmidt |
|
| |
| Provides that, for a maximum of two years, a route one candidate shall retain his or her employee status during the time the candidate is participating in the program. |
| SB 5240 |
Pro educators board |
S Education |
1/20/2003 |
Zarelli |
|
| |
| Includes a classified employee on the Washington professional educator standards board. |
| SB 5242 |
Library computer filters |
S Govt Op & El |
1/22/2003 |
Swecker |
|
| |
| Public libraries must use Internet filtering software on computers in the children's section of the library.
In libraries without Internet access in the children's section, the library must use filtering software on a terminal near the children's area. In all cases, the filtering software used must block access to potentially offensive matter, including adult-oriented, sexually explicit Internet sites. |
| SB 5254 f |
Actions against rules |
S Ways & Means |
1/24/2003 |
Roach |
|
| |
| The phrase in the statute explicitly placing the burden of proof on the party challenging the agency action is removed. The statute becomes silent on the question of whether the agency or the party asserting invalidity of the agency's action has the burden of proof. |
| SB 5256 |
Rule-making procedures |
S Rules 2 |
1/24/2003 |
Roach |
|
| |
| For rules subject to the significant legislative rules process, the notice of proposed rule-making must contain a statement describing the methodology to be used in the
analysis of the probable costs and benefits of the rule, or that a preliminary analysis is available upon request. |
| SB 5261 |
Forests review commission |
S NatRes/Ene/W |
1/20/2003 |
Jacobsen |
|
| |
| The Washington Forest Review Commission is established with the purpose of reviewing the economic, demographic, land use, environmental, natural and
climatic trends influencing the future of Washington forests over the next 50 years. The commission reviews the trends and makes recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature for policy and budgetary allocations. The commission is composed of the Governor or his/her designee; the Commissioner of Public Lands; two members of the Senate appointed by the President, one from each caucus; two members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker, one from each caucus; the President or the President's designee of the University of Washington and of Washington State University; and members representing specific interests appointed by the Governor after consulting with the
Commissioner of Public Lands and the majority and minority leaders of the Senate and House of Representatives. The gubernatorial appointees are a representative of the industrial forest landowners; a representative of nonindustrial landowners; a representative of businesses engaged in forest product processing; a representative of general purpose local government; and a representative of organizations engaged in forest conservation and preservation. In addition, a representative of the United States Forest Service is invited to attend, and a
representative of tribal governments is invited to participate on the commission. |
| SB 5301 |
PERS plan 2 early retirement |
S Ways & Means |
1/22/2003 |
Winsley |
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| Revises provisions relating to early retirement in the public employees' retirement system, plan 2. |
| SB 5312 |
Quality management program |
S Govt Op & El |
1/22/2003 |
Kastama |
|
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| Directs each state agency to, within available funds, develop and implement a quality management program to improve the quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of the public services it provides through business process redesign, employee involvement, and other quality management techniques. Each agency shall ensure that front line agency employees are engaged in the program and shall provide
employees with the training necessary for successful implementation
of efforts toward quality improvement.
Requires state agencies whose chief executives are appointed by the governor to report program results to the governor on a regular basis. State agencies whose chief executives are elected officials other than the governor shall report program results to the elected official on a regular basis.
Directs each state agency to integrate efforts made under this act with quality management programs undertaken under executive order or other authority. The office of insurance commissioner, the department of natural resources, and four-year institutions of higher education shall develop and implement a complete quality
management program by June 30, 2006. All other state agencies shall develop and implement a complete quality management program by June 30, 2004. |
| SSB 5403 $ |
Operating supp budget |
*S Passed 3rd |
1/29/2003 |
WM (Rossi) |
|
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| Appropriations for various agencies are modified. For additional information, see "Supplemental Operating Budget Summary" and "Statewide Summary and Agency Detail" published by the Senate Ways & Means Committee. |
| SB 5417 $ |
Performance audits |
S Govt Op & El |
1/24/2003 |
Reardon |
|
| |
| Declares an intent to provide greater accountability to the public through an independent performance audit of government agencies.
Finds that performance audit findings may include the identification of potential cost savings and ways to improve service delivery.
Directs the state auditor to contract for a performance audit of the executive branch of state government.
Requires the performance audit to include an examination of the efficiency and effectiveness of major management policies, practices, and functions across all executive branch agencies.
Requires the audit to include, but not be limited to, the following: (1) Planning, budgeting, and program evaluation policies and practices;
(2) Personnel systems operations and management;
(3) State purchasing operations and management policies and practices;
(4) Information processing and telecommunications systems policy, organization, and management; and
(5) Organizational and staffing patterns, especially in terms of the ratio of managers and supervisors to nonmanagement personnel.
Requires the state auditor to report the results of the audit to the legislature by September 1, 2004.
Provides that the legislature shall establish a joint committee on government accountability.
Appropriates the sum of five million dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2004, from the general fund to the state auditor for the purposes of this act. |
| SJM8002 |
Forest health management |
S NatRes/Ene/W |
1/15/2003 |
Morton |
|
| |
| Recognizing the risks of fire and the problems of forest health, the Legislature requests that health-related management activities on all forest lands be
accelerated in order to reduce the effects of catastrophic wildfire and loss of wildlife and recreation opportunities. The Forest Service is asked to review the effectiveness of its current firefighting procedures and to ensure that the most effective firefighting methods are used. The memorial supports the federal management activities to reduce the risk of the further spread of insects and diseases to state forest lands and to private lands adjacent to federal lands. |
| SSJR8204 |
Debt service reserve fund |
*S Rules 2 |
1/29/2003 |
WM (Rossi) |
|
| |
| The state Constitution is amended to establish a Debt Service Reserve Fund to help pay debt service commitments on state general obligation bonds. Each
fiscal year, 1 percent of general state revenues is transferred to the Debt Service Reserve Fund. Moneys can be appropriated from the fund by a three-fifths vote of each house of the Legislature. |
