Legislative Information

WSU Bill Status

a Amended.   $ Appropriation bill.   f State fiscal note on file.   d Department.
e Governor.   b Budget committee.   o Other.   # Local fiscal note on file.
Pink cells indicate either a change in status or that we are tracking a new bill.


Bill Status As Of – March 3, 2003
Bill No Title Status Date Sponsor Recomnd.
Position
SHB 1003 Research/technology comm H Approp 2/25/2003 TTE (Morris) Concerns
Creates the biomedical research and technology transfer account in the custody of the state treasurer. An amount equal to ten percent of the annual receipts for the state of Washington under the master tobacco settlement agreement from the tobacco settlement account must be deposited into the account. Expenditures from the account may be used only for grants awarded by the research and technology transfer commission and for operation of the commission established under this act. WSU has concerns about how this bill will impact funds earmarked for Cooperative Extension Energy programs.
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 f Government accountability S Ways & Means 2/27/2003 SG (Miloscia) Concerns
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.
SHB 1065 Public works apprenticeships H Cap Budget 2/28/2003 CL (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.
E HB 1079 f Higher ed student residency S Higher Educ 2/24/2003 Kenney Amendments
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.
SHB 1082 Sch emply housing allowance H Approp 2/24/2003 ED (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.
SHB 1123 State financial aid account H Approp 2/13/2003 HE (Kenney) Support
Declares that the primary purpose of the account is to ensure that all appropriations designated for financial aid through statewide student financial aid programs are made available to eligible students. The account shall be a nontreasury account retaining its interest earnings in accordance with RCW 43.79A.040. Directs the higher education coordinating board to deposit in the account all money received for the state need grant program established under RCW 28B.10.800, the state work-study program established under chapter 28B.12 RCW, the Washington scholars program established under RCW 28A.600.110, the Washington award for vocational excellence program established under RCW 28C.04.525, and the educational opportunity grant program established under chapter 28B.101 RCW.
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.
SHB 1153 Confidential public records *S Govt Op & El 3/3/2003 SG (Haigh)  
Provides that records that are confidential, privileged, or exempt from public disclosure under state or federal law while in the possession of the originating agency, commission, board, committee, or other entity of state or local government retain their confidential, privileged, or exempt status after transfer to the state archives unless the archivist, with the concurrence of the originating jurisdiction, determines that the records must be made accessible to the public according to proper and reasonable rules adopted by the secretary of state, in which case the records may be open to inspection and available for copying after the expiration of seventy-five years from creation of the record.
HB 1165 $e Capital budget H Cap Budget 1/20/2003 Dunshee  
Provides appropriations and authorizes expenditures for capital improvements.
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 1185 Performance reviews H State Govt 1/20/2003 Rockefeller  
Finds that the use of performance reviews, as well as outcome and performance measures, is necessary for demonstrating the accountability of state government to the public. Finds that performance measurement is integral to the efficient and effective management and operation of state agencies and programs, essential to the achievement of effective interagency cooperation and management, and integral to identifying priorities of government for purposes of funding biennial budgets. Declares an intent to expand its performance reviews to provide greater accountability to the public and to ensure that state government has effective measures for assessing and continuously improving performance. Declares an intent that outcome and performance measures used by state agencies and programs become a tool for the governor and the legislature in establishing priorities of government and developing biennial budgets.
SHB 1190 Alternative cert programs S Education 2/27/2003 ED (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.
SHB 1191 Sch dis emply health benefit *H Passed 3rd 3/3/2003 APP (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 board *H Passed 3rd 3/3/2003 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 S Ways & Means 2/14/2003 Pflug  
Designates which fire fighters or law enforcement officers may elect or be elected to certain pension and disability boards.
HB 1200 fo Retirement system statutes *S Ways & Means 3/3/2003 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 1204 fo Pension policy select comm H Approp 1/21/2003 Fromhold  
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.
HB 1206 fo Retiremnt contributions/pl 3 S Ways & Means 2/14/2003 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.
SHB 1211 Public accountancy act H Rules R 2/28/2003 CL (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.
SHB 1218 Building map info system H 2nd Reading 2/26/2003 SG (Lovick)  
Recognizes the extreme dangers present when the safety of our citizens requires first responders such as police and fire fighters to evacuate and secure a building. In an effort to prepare for responding to unintended disasters, criminal acts, and acts of terrorism, the legislature intends to create a statewide first responder building mapping information system that will provide all first responders with the information they need to be successful when disaster strikes. Requires that, when funded, the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs shall create and operate a statewide first responder building mapping information system.
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 2nd Reading 2/26/2003 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 1235 $e Operating supp budget H Approp 1/21/2003 Sommers  
Makes 2001-03 supplemental operating appropriations.
SHB 1242 f Biodiesel H Rules C 2/13/2003 TTE (Sullivan)  
Encourages all state agencies to use a fuel blend of twenty percent biodiesel and eighty percent petroleum diesel for use in diesel-powered vehicles and equipment. Provides that, effective June 1, 2006, for agencies complying with the ultra-low sulfur diesel mandate of the United States environmental protection agency for on-highway diesel fuel, agencies shall use biodiesel as an additive to ultra-low sulfur diesel for lubricity. The amount of biodiesel added to the ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel shall be not less than two percent.
SHB 1244 Teacher salary bonus H Approp 2/24/2003 ED (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.
2SHB 1245 Timber harvest/trust lands H Rules R 2/27/2003 APP (Linville)  
Finds that it is in the best interest of the trust beneficiaries to capture additional revenues while providing for additional environmental protection on timber sales. Finds that contract harvesting is one method to achieve these desired outcomes. Directs the department of natural resources to establish and implement contract harvesting where there exists the ability to increase revenues for the beneficiaries of the trusts while obtaining increases in environmental protection.
HB 1247 d Aqtc land valuable materials S NatRes/Ene/W 2/11/2003 Eickmeyer  
Provides that, the department of natural resources shall be entitled to consider whether the bidder was the "highest responsible bidder" for a sale within the previous five years but failed to complete the sale, such as by not entering into a resulting contract or by not paying the difference between the deposit and the total amount due.
E HB 1252 d Public land statutes S NatRes/Ene/W 2/25/2003 Linville  
Makes technical, nonsubstantive, corrections to and recodifies various department of natural resources' public land statutes.
HB 1260 Envrnmntl impact statements H Agric & NR 1/22/2003 Buck  
Declares that, on state trust lands, class I, II, and III forest practices, as defined by rules adopted by the forest practices board under RCW 76.09.050, do not require an environmental impact statement or detailed statement required under chapter 43.21C RCW if a programmatic detailed environmental impact statement has been finalized for the ten-year sustained yield plan required for all forest practices on state lands under chapter 79.68 RCW.
HB 1270 Performance audits H State Govt 1/22/2003 Anderson Concerns
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.
SHB 1277 Edu assistance grant prgrm H Rules C 2/26/2003 HE (Kenney)  
Creates the educational assistance grant program for students with dependents subject to the availability of receipts of gifts, grants, or endowments from private sources. The program is created to serve financially needy students with dependents eighteen years of age or younger, by assisting them directly through a grant program to pursue a degree or certificate at public or private institutions of higher education, as defined in RCW 28B.10.802, that participate in the state need grant program. Provides that the educational assistance grant program for students with dependents grants may be used by eligible participants to attend any public or private college or university in the state of Washington as defined in RCW 28B.10.802. The participant is not eligible for a grant if the grant will be used to pursue a degree in theology. Companion Bill 5660
HB 1280 o State university research *S Rules 2 3/3/2003 Murray Support
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.
SHB 1298 Retirement/service vesting H Rules R 2/17/2003 APP (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 1307 Actions against agency rules H State Govt 1/22/2003 Armstrong  
Revises provisions relating to actions asserting invalidity of agency rules.
HB 1308 Contracting for services H State Govt 1/22/2003 Anderson  
Amends RCW 41.80.020 relating to contracting for services customarily provided by state employees.
HB 1309 Agency rule authority H State Govt 1/22/2003 Holmquist  
Provides that an agency may not adopt a proposed rule unless the legislature has had the opportunity to consider the proposed rule during a regular session or special legislative session as defined in Article II, section 12 of the state Constitution. Declares that, when delegating authority to an agency through legislation, the legislature, unless it specifically states otherwise, limits its delegation of authority to: (1) The minimum delegation necessary to administer the legislation's clear and unambiguous directives; and (2) The administration of circumstances and behaviors foreseeable at the time of the legislation's enactment.
HB 1312 Rule-making authority limit H State Govt 1/22/2003 Anderson  
Limits the rule-making authority of certain entities to those instances where there is a specific grant of legislative authority.
HB 1313 Agencies to justify rules H State Govt 1/22/2003 Anderson  
Places the burden of proof on an agency during rule review.
HB 1314 Significant legislative rule H State Govt 1/22/2003 Shabro  
Provides that, in order for the legislature to properly carry out its responsibility for establishing new laws, this act revises rule-making requirements to assure that the legislature can carefully review rules that impose significant requirements on citizens before the rules take effect.
HB 1315 Agency rules/adopting H State Govt 1/22/2003 Shabro  
Provides that no agency may adopt a rule that exceeds a federal standard without specific legislative authority. Provides that, by July 1, 2004, each state agency must review existing rules that exceed federal standards and prepare a report for the office of financial management and the joint administrative rules review committee that outlines the grant of authority used to exceed those standards. Requires that, if the agency has relied on a general grant of authority in adopting the rules, the agency shall either repeal the rules or seek specific authority from the legislature as allowed under this act. If specific authority is not obtained by July 1, 2006, the agency shall repeal the rule.
HB 1347 $ Capital supp buget H Cap Budget 1/23/2003 Dunshee Concerns
Makes supplemental appropriations and authorizing expenditures for capital improvements.
HB 1366 $e Operating budget 2003-05 H Approp 1/23/2003 Sommers  
Makes 2003-05 operating appropriations.
E SHB 1367 f Government accountability S Govt Op & El 2/20/2003 SG (Rockefeller)  
Finds that performance measurement is integral to the efficient and effective management and operation of state agencies and programs, essential to the achievement of effective interagency cooperation and management, and integral to identifying priorities of government for purposes of funding biennial budgets. Finds that reviews of outcome and performance measures are necessary for demonstrating the accountability of state government to the public. Thus, the legislature intends to expand its performance measure reviews to provide greater accountability to the public, to ensure that state government has effective measures for assessing and continuously improving performance, and to determine whether targeted funding investments and established priorities of government actually produce the intended and expected services and benefits. Declares an intent that outcome and performance measures used by state agencies and programs and required by RCW 43.88.090 become a tool for the governor and the legislature in establishing priorities of government and developing biennial budgets.
HB 1385 Transportation incentives H State Govt 1/24/2003 Mielke  
Directs the secretary of transportation to report no later than November 30th of every even-numbered year to the house of representatives and senate transportation committees on both current practices regarding contracting out and on further opportunities for contracting out within the department. Provides that, in recommending programs that might be performed by the private sector, the secretary shall place emphasis on programs that could be undertaken at a lower cost by the private sector than by state employees, and on programs in which the use of the private sector could augment the department's workforce in order to increase the department's capacity to complete projects as quickly as possible. Provides that departments, agencies, and institutions of higher education are prohibited from bargaining matters pertaining to purchasing by contract. Provides that the employer and the exclusive bargaining representative shall not bargain over matters pertaining to management rights established in RCW 41.80.040 or over matters pertaining to purchasing services by contract. Repeals RCW 41.06.380 and 41.06.382.
HB 1386 Prevailing wage H Commerce/Lab 1/24/2003 Mielke  
Provides incentives to increase transportation revenues by reforming prevailing wage laws.
HB 1395 Alcoholic beverages H 2nd Reading 2/26/2003 Sullivan  
Revises provisions relating to the catering of alcoholic beverages at special events by nonprofit organizations.
HB 1422 Pblc investment in higher ed H Higher Educ 1/24/2003 Pflug Oppose
Declares that it is the policy of the state that a greater focus of the public investment in higher education be to support educational and degree programs in priority academic disciplines. Priority academic disciplines are those that prepare individuals for occupations necessary for the state's overall economic and social well-being over the medium and long term. Declares that, beginning with the 2003-2005 biennium, it is the intent to begin implementation of this policy at the four-year institutions of higher education through the state funds appropriated to each college and university. Intends to create an ongoing process for reprioritization of the public investment in higher education.
HB 1425 Health benefits H Approp 1/27/2003 Fromhold  
Provides that retired or disabled school district and educational service district employees, or retired state employees, who are receiving a retirement allowance under chapter 41.32 or 41.40 RCW as of September 30, 1993, and their dependents may purchase health care insurance coverage from the authority under terms and conditions established by chapter 41.05 RCW and by the board.
HB 1426 Extraordinary invstmnt gains H Approp 1/27/2003 Conway  
Provides that, beginning January 1, 2005, and on January 1st of odd-numbered years thereafter, the amount of extraordinary investment gains, if any, shall be used to provide a lump sum payment to each plan 1 retiree under chapters 41.32 and 41.40 RCW.
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 Support
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 1448 $d Operating bdgt/government H Approp 1/27/2003 Sommers  
Makes general government-related statutory changes necessary to implement the 2003-2005 omnibus operating appropriations bill.
HB 1449 $d Operating bdgt/education H Approp 1/27/2003 Sommers  
Makes education-related statutory changes necessary to implement the 2003-2005 omnibus operating appropriations bill.
HB 1453 f Higher edu credit transfer H Rules C 2/26/2003 Kenney Concerns
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.
HB 1456 Public facilities task force H Local Gov. 1/27/2003 Upthegrove  
Finds that there is a need to clarify regional and state mitigation responsibilities and develop regional and state mitigation tools to compensate host communities that are impacted as a result of the siting of essential public facilities. Finds that those mitigation tools need to be incorporated into regional and statewide planning policies and agreements.
HB 1457 Zero-based budget reviews H Approp 1/27/2003 Alexander  
Establishes the zero-base and modified zero-base budget review process to help the legislature establish priorities in the expenditure of public resources for state programs and services. Provides that, in the omnibus operating budget bill or in other legislation, the legislature shall identify agencies on which a zero-base budget review or a modified zero-base budget review shall be conducted during each fiscal year of the biennium. When specifying agencies on which the review will be conducted, the legislature shall seek to complement and avoid duplication of the activities or the proposed activities of the joint legislative audit and review committee under chapter 44.28 RCW.
HB 1458 f Retirement incentive program H Approp 1/27/2003 Alexander  
Provides that, an employer may offer, adhering to all laws or regulations of the state or federal government: (1) Retirement, with a reduction in the retirement allowance of three percent per year for each year of difference between the employee's age and the full retirement age for the employee's plan, to those targeted employees who are within five years of normal retirement; (2) Retirement, with full actuarial reduction of the retirement allowance, to other targeted employees who are not within five years of normal retirement; and (3) Other incentives the agency or political subdivision declares appropriate, including incentives to those already eligible to retire on normal retirement.
SHB 1466 Natural science education H Approp 2/27/2003 ED (Quall)  
Declares an intent to further the development of natural science, wildlife, and environmental education by establishing a competitive grant program, funded through state moneys to the extent those moneys are appropriated, or made available through other sources, for proven natural science, wildlife, and environmental education programs that are fully aligned with the state's essential academic learning requirements.
HB 1474 Ergonomics rules H Commerce/Lab 1/28/2003 Chandler  
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.
SHB 1486 Higher edu tuition exemption H Rules R 2/28/2003 HE (O'Brien)  
Exempts the surviving spouse and children of certain law enforcement officers or fire fighters from paying tuition and fees.
HB 1488 f# Agency quality improvements H Approp 2/25/2003 Miloscia  
Provides that each state agency shall, 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. Directs the senate and the house of representatives to each develop and implement quality improvement programs as described under this act by June 30, 2005, and to report the results of these efforts to the leadership of each major political party caucus within its respective house. Encourages the supreme court to develop and implement quality improvement programs, as described under this act, for the judicial branch of government, by June 30, 2005, and to report the results of these efforts to the chief justice. Encourages local governments to develop and implement quality management programs as described in this act.
HB 1499 PERS plan 1 early retirement H Approp 1/28/2003 Romero  
Authorizes early retirement for public employee retirement system plan 1 members.
HB 1505 Retirement plan 2 members H Approp 1/28/2003 Cody  
Revises provisions relating to insurance plans and contracts by separated plan 2 members of certain retirement systems.
SHB 1532 Smoking in residence halls H Rules R 2/24/2003 HC (Quall) Amendments
Provides that no person may smoke, including carrying or smoking any kind of lighted pipe, cigar, cigarette, or any other lighted smoking equipment, in a publicly owned residence hall at a public institution of higher education. WSU has proposed an amendment that would delay the implementation date until Fall of 2004 and add definitions of residence halls.
HB 1546 PERS military service credit H Approp 1/29/2003 Dunshee  
Provides that, after completing twenty-five years of creditable service, any member who is a veteran of the Vietnam conflict may have service in the armed forces credited to him or her as a member whether or not he or she left the employ of an employer to enter the armed forces. Provides that, in no instance under this act may military service in excess of five years be credited, and in each instance the member must restore all withdrawn accumulated contributions, which restoration must be completed within five years of membership service following the first resumption of employment, or complete twenty-five years of creditable service.
HB 1552 f Tax on electricity consumptn H Technology, 1/30/2003 Kirby  
Imposes a state use tax for the privilege of consuming electricity in the state, at the same rate currently imposed under the state public utility tax for light and power businesses. ·Authorizes a municipal use tax for the privilege of consuming electricity in a city, at the same rate that the city imposed on electricity utilities within its jurisdiction.
SHB 1569 Public bid confidentiality H 2nd Reading 2/26/2003 SG (Armstrong)  
Excludes financial and commercial information supplied by or on behalf of a bidder pursuant to a public bid, other than the bid itself, when the information is marked privileged and confidential by the bidder, including but not limited to financial and commercial information supplied pursuant to a public entity's request for escrow bid documents. Bidder includes any general contractor, subcontractor, or supplier that submits information pursuant to a public entity's request.
HB 1622 d Definition of research H State Govt 2/3/2003 Morrell  
Declares that "research" means a systematic investigation, including research development, testing, and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge. Activities that meet this definition are research whether or not they are conducted or supported under a program that is considered research for other purposes. For example, some demonstration and service programs may include research activities. Declares that "research in the jurisdiction of a state agency" means: (1) Research conducted by an employee or a contractor of a state agency; (2) Research sponsored by a state agency; or (3) Research that involves access to or disclosure of identifiable personal records obtained or maintained by a state agency.
HB 1672 Bereavement leave H State Govt 2/4/2003 Hunt  
Provides for bereavement leave of three working days, not to be deducted from vacation or sick leave, for a death in the family.
HB 1690 Wage and hour laws H Commerce/Lab 2/4/2003 Chandler  
Declares that all terms, provisions, rights, and obligations in chapter 49.46 RCW shall be given the same meaning as given to comparable terms, provisions, rights, and obligations under federal law, 29 U.S.C. Secs. 202 through 262, and the regulations and statements of general policy and interpretation applying and interpreting those terms issued by the United States department of labor.
HB 1706 Promise scholarship H Higher Educ 2/5/2003 Mastin  
Revises the focus of the promise scholarship.
HB 1713 f PERS accrued sick leave H Approp 2/5/2003 Romero  
Provides that, at the time of separation from state service due to retirement or death, an eligible employee who is a member of the public employees' retirement system, plan 1 or the employee's estate may elect to receive remuneration at a rate equal to one day's current monetary compensation of the employee for each two full days of accrued sick leave. Requires notice of intent to retire to be made by September 1, 2003. The employee's retirement must be effective before January 1, 2004.
HB 1730 Land purchase by agencies H Cap Budget 2/6/2003 Condotta Concerns
WSU has some concerns about this legislation as it affects the trusts. The bill has had a hearing in the House Capital Budget Committee. The bill says No state agency may purchase a privately owned parcel of land in excess of five contiguous acres in any county in which public land, federal land, and tribal land together constitute more than seventy percent of the total land mass, not including aquatic lands, of the county, except under the provisions of subsection (2) of this section. (2) An agency may purchase more than five contiguous acres under the provisions of this section if: (a) The legislature takes specific action directing the agency to make the purchase; (b) the appropriate county legislative authority or authorities consent to the transaction; and (c) the transaction is funded by other than state dollars.
SHB 1731 Education opportunity grant H Rules R 2/27/2003 HE (Kenney)  
Revises provisions in the educational opportunity grant program.
SHB 1734 State building code *H Rules R 3/3/2003 LG (Romero)  
(1) The intent of the adoption of the International Building Code by the legislature is to remain consistent with state laws regulating construction, including electrical, plumbing, and energy codes established in chapters 19.27, 19.27A, and 19.28 RCW. The International Building Code references the International Residential Code for provisions related to the construction of single and multiple-family dwellings. No portion of the International Residential Code shall supersede or take precedent over provisions in chapter 19.28 RCW, regulating the electrical code; nor provisions in RCW 19.27.031(4), regulating the plumbing code; nor provisions in chapter 19.27A RCW, regulating the energy code.
SHB 1738 State salary overpayment *H Rules R 3/3/2003 CL (Haigh)  
Debts due the state for the overpayment of salary or wages to state employees may be recovered by the employer by deductions from subsequent salary or wage payments as provided in section 2 of this act, or by civil action. If the overpayment is recovered by deduction from the employee's subsequent salary or wages, each deduction shall not exceed five percent of the employee's net pay per pay period. The deductions from salary or wages shall continue until the overpayment is fully recouped.
SHB 1742 Public facilities districts H 2nd Reading 2/26/2003 TED (Rockefeller)  
A public facilities district is authorized to acquire, construct, own, remodel, maintain, equip, reequip, repair, and operate sports {+ and recreation +} facilities, entertainment facilities, convention facilities, or regional centers as defined in RCW 35.57.020, together with contiguous parking facilities. The taxes that are provided for in this chapter may only be imposed for these purposes.
SHB 1743 Hazardous waste H Rules R 2/27/2003 FEP (Cooper)  
Substantial volumes of hazardous wastes, including used oil, are being accumulated and managed at facilities located throughout Washington without adequate financial reserves to pay for the safe and orderly removal of materials and cleanup of environmental contamination when these facilities close. Hazardous waste management facilities have been abandoned, shut down, or gone bankrupt in Washington, leaving taxpayers, property owners, or former customers with millions of dollars in cleanup costs and significant environmental impacts
HB 1748 Hiring retirees H Approp 2/6/2003 Sommers  
Relating to hiring retired members of the public employees' retirement system plan 1 and the teachers' retirement system plan 1; amending RCW 41.32.570, 41.40.037, and 41.40.037; repealing 2001 c 317 s 1; providing an effective date; and providing an expiration date.
HB 1750 Minimum wage H Commerce/Lab 2/7/2003 Grant  
Revises the inflationary adjustment to the minimum wage.
HB 1763 f Prospective teacher schlrshp H Approp 2/27/2003 Berkey  
Directs the higher education coordinating board to offer conditional scholarships for full or part-time studies that may be forgiven in exchange for teaching service in Washington's public K-12 schools.
HB 1774 Minimum hourly wage H Commerce/Lab 2/10/2003 Cox  
Provides that, on September 30th of each year, the department of labor and industries shall calculate to the nearest cent urban and rural adjusted minimum wage rates using the consumer price indices specified in this act for the twelve months prior to each September 1st as calculated by the United States department of labor. Provides that, for the urban adjusted minimum wage rate, the department shall use the national consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers, CPI-W, in United States cities or a successor index. For the rural adjusted minimum wage rate, the department shall use the national consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers, CPI-W, in class D areas or a successor index. Declares that the adjusted minimum wage rates calculated under this act take effect on January 1st of the following year.
SHB 1782 Nonprofit youth orgs H 2nd Reading 2/26/2003 CB (McCoy)  
Directs the department of community, trade, and economic development to establish a competitive process to solicit proposals for and prioritize projects whose primary objective is to assist nonprofit youth organizations in acquiring, constructing, or rehabilitating facilities used for the delivery of nonresidential services, excluding outdoor athletic fields.
HB 1788 Pblc wrks job order contract H State Govt 2/10/2003 Miloscia  
Provides that public bodies may use a job order contract for public works projects when: (1) A public body has made a determination that the use of job order contracts will benefit the public by providing an effective means of reducing the total lead- time and cost for public works projects or repair required at public facilities through the use of unit price books and work orders by eliminating time-consuming, costly aspects of the traditional public works process, which require separate contracting actions for each small project; (2) The work order to be issued for a particular project does not exceed two hundred thousand dollars; (3) Less than twenty percent of the dollar value of the work order consists of items of work not contained in the unit price book; and (4) At least eighty percent of the job order contract must be subcontracted to entities other than the job order contractor.
HB 1789 Capital bdgt project savings H Cap Budget 2/10/2003 Blake Concerns
This legislation would allow the university to keep half of construction project savings over $250,000. The university testified Feb. 19 to the House Capital Budget Committee. WSU urged legislators to consider a mechanism that would allow it, under certain circumstances, to retain 100 percent of project savings.
HB 1803 d Rec & conservation trust H Agric & NR 2/10/2003 Linville  
Declares it is the intent of this act to establish the legacy trust for recreation and conservation, for the sole purpose of generating a stable, long-term revenue source to support recreational access and use on state-owned lands, and maintenance of designated natural areas and conservation areas, and where consistent with this purpose, to help retain working commercial forest land in the legacy trust as a vital component of Washington state's landscape. Repeals RCW 84.33.120.
HB 1808 Research universities H Higher Educ 2/11/2003 Kenney  
Provides that, if a four-year institution requests approval under RCW 28B.80.340 of a new degree program that is the result of legislation enacted to change the terms of RCW 28B.10.115, the higher education coordinating board shall require the institution to submit the following information as part of the board's review of the proposed program: (1) Detailed evidence of why the program is justified, including the size and scope of student, employer, and community demand for the program; (2) A comprehensive cost and benefit analysis regarding the proposed program, including evidence for why the proposed program would be more cost-effective than relying on public or private programs already in place; (3) Projected future enrollment in the program and substantiation of the enrollment estimates; and (4) Additional information as requested by the board regarding demand, need, and cost-effectiveness of the program. Requires the higher education coordinating board to submit a complete analysis of a proposed program under this act to the higher education committees of the legislature before making a final determination regarding approval of the program.
HB 1811 Education finance system H Education 2/11/2003 Hunter  
Directs the office of financial management to conduct a comprehensive study of the Washington education finance system, including examination of alternative teacher compensation models. Provides that the study shall, at a minimum: (1) Compare Washington's common school funding system with those in other states that are beginning to link finance systems with education reform and expected student learning outcomes; (2) Review the role of state and local funding and levy equalization policies in the Washington common school finance system, building upon the 2002 joint task force on local effort assistance report; and (3) Design alternative common school finance systems for Washington. Requires the office of financial management to report initial findings and recommendations of the committee to the legislature, including the education and fiscal committees of the house of representatives and the senate, by June 30, 2004. A final report shall be provided to the education and fiscal committees of the house of representatives and the senate by December 20, 2004. Expires June 30, 2005.
SHB 1813 Employment/disabled persons H SG DP1S 2/28/2003 SG (Miloscia)  
Declares an intent to encourage state agencies and departments to purchase products and/or services manufactured or provided by: (1) Community rehabilitation programs of the department of social and health services which operate facilities serving disadvantaged persons and persons with disabilities and have achieved or consistently make progress towards the goal of enhancing opportunities for disadvantaged persons and persons with disabilities to maximize their opportunities for employment and career advancement, and increase the number employed and their wages; and (2) Until December 31, 2007, businesses owned and operated by persons with disabilities that have achieved or consistently make progress towards the goal of enhancing opportunities for disadvantaged persons and persons with disabilities to maximize their opportunities for employment and career advancement, and increase the number employed and their wages.
HB 1827 Meningococcal immunization H Health Care 2/11/2003 Moeller  
Provides that each degree-granting public or private postsecondary educational institution that provides on-campus or group housing shall provide information on meningococcal disease to each first-time student who has been accepted for admission. The information about meningococcal disease shall include: (1) Symptoms, risks, especially as the risks relate to circumstances of group living arrangements, and treatment; (2) A recommendation that each first-time student receive the vaccination to prevent the student from contracting the disease and where the vaccination can be received; and (3) A response form with space in which to indicate that the first-time student has received the information about meningococcal disease and the availability of the vaccine to prevent the student from contracting the disease, whether or not he or she has chosen to receive the vaccination, and his or her signature. In the case of a student who is a minor, the student's parent or guardian shall sign the response form on behalf of the minor student.
HB 1829 f Postretirement employment H Approp 2/11/2003 Bailey  
Establishes regulations for postretirement employment in the public employees' retirement system and the teachers' retirement system.
HB 1833 f Unemployment compensation H Rules R 2/28/2003 Kagi  
Finds that family and medical leave is designed to help working people fulfill both their work and family responsibilities. Finds that, when an individual who takes family and medical leave subsequently becomes eligible to receive unemployment compensation, the maximum benefits payable to the individual are decreased and the weekly benefit amount payable to the individual may be decreased. Declares an intent to eliminate these unintended consequences of taking family and medical leave.
HB 1868 Smoking in public places H Health Care 2/12/2003 McDermott  
Prohibits smoking in public places. Repeals RCW 70.160.040 and 70.160.060.
HB 1870 State employee health care H Health Care 2/12/2003 Pflug  
Finds that the cost of providing health care coverage for state employees is rapidly increasing not only for the state but also for state employees. Health care costs are continuing to escalate, indicating that state employees will be required to pay a larger portion of the cost of coverage. This impacts lower income state employees disproportionately because income is not a factor in determining the employees' contribution. Finds that it is necessary to create lower cost health care coverage options for state employees in order to ease the financial burden of health care coverage and to bring stability to the health care delivery system.
HB 1877 Agency rules H State Govt 2/13/2003 Shabro  
Finds that when the legislature specifically determines fees and rates in statutes, then it is appropriate that state agencies adopting administrative rules that mirror those statutes not be required to perform a cost/benefit analysis or conduct a small business impact statement. Finds that state agencies should meet all the requirements for adopting significant legislative rules when an agency sets fees or rates that have not been set in statute. Finds that this reform will assure that Washington's businesses and citizens are not burdened by fee and rate increases which are not justified by producing significant benefits without producing significant burdens for Washington's businesses and citizens.
HB 1884 Architectural fees H State Govt 2/13/2003 Miloscia  
Revises the criteria for which architectural and engineering services are procured.
HB 1894 State expenditure limit H Approp 2/13/2003 Condotta  
Revises provisions relating to the state expenditure limit.
HB 1908 e Higher edu facilities H Cap Budget 2/14/2003 Dunshee  
Declares that the state's institutions of higher education are a vital component of the future economic prosperity of our state. In order to ensure that Washington continues to be able to provide a highly qualified work force that can attract businesses and support the economic vitality of the state, it is the intent of this bond act to provide new money for capital projects to help fulfill higher education needs across the state.
HB 1909 Higher edu credit transfer H Higher Educ 2/14/2003 Jarrett  
Directs the higher education coordinating board, in consultation with the state board for community and technical colleges and the council of presidents, to recruit and select institutions of higher education as defined in RCW 28B.10.016 to participate in a pilot project to define transfer standards in selected academic disciplines on the basis of student competencies. Provides that, in collaboration with the higher education coordinating board, the pilot project participants shall report to the higher education committees of the legislature by December 1, 2004, on the progress and status of the pilot project. The report shall identify any barriers encountered by the project and make recommendations for next steps in developing a competency-based transfer system for higher education. Expires June 30, 2005.
HB 1934 Credit card applications H Higher Educ 2/17/2003 McCoy  
Finds that eighty-one percent of students have received a credit card by the end of the first year of college, and that the high interest rates on student credit cards, coupled with their ease of use and a poor understanding of how credit works, often leads to runaway and unmanageable debt. Requires institutions of higher education to ban the administration of credit card applications on site of a college campus and to encourage young adults to establish credit in a more responsible manner.
HB 1997 Higher edu overenrollment H Higher Educ 2/19/2003 Cox  
Declares an intent to provide policy tools to assist the institutions of higher education in managing overenrollment of students, including students who may be enrolling in Washington institutions with resident status who should be considered nonresidents. Declares an intent to encourage students to make prudent choices and maximize the taxpayer investment in supporting their higher education. Students who are not making wise use of the opportunities provided by public institutions of higher education should not expect public support of their education to continue indefinitely.
SHB 1999 Water conservation measures H AGNRDP1S 2/28/2003 AGNR (Grant)  
Revises provisions concerning nonuse of water for water conservation measures.
HB 2002 Motorcycle profiling H Cr Jus & Cor 2/19/2003 Kirby  
Requires local law enforcement agencies to: (1) Adopt a written policy designed to condemn and prevent motorcycle profiling; (2) Review and audit their existing procedures, practices, and training to ensure that they do not enable or foster the practice of motorcycle profiling; (3) Institute training to address the issues related to motorcycle profiling. Officers should be trained in how to better interact with persons they stop so that legitimate police actions are not misperceived as motorcycle profiling; and (4) Work with the motorcycle groups in their communities to appropriately address the issue of motorcycle profiling. Directs the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs to coordinate with the criminal justice training commission to ensure that issues related to motorcycle profiling are addressed in basic law enforcement training and offered in regional training for in-service law enforcement officers at all levels.
HB 2003 Equal access & opportunity H Judiciary 2/19/2003 Veloria  
Relating to equal access and opportunity in public employment, public education, and public contracting; and repealing RCW 49.60.400 and 49.60.401.
HB 2009 Financial literacy H Education 2/19/2003 Santos  
Directs the state board of education to develop or adopt, and to make available to schools, one or more model programs for youth financial education. A program under this act shall be designed to incorporate financial education throughout the curriculum for grades kindergarten through twelve and shall be based on the concept of achieving financial literacy through the teaching of personal financial management skills and the basic principles involved with earning, spending, saving, and investing.
HB 2010 Bereavement leave H State Govt 2/19/2003 McDermott  
Authorizes bereavement leave of five working days, not to be deducted from vacation or sick leave.
HB 2011 Pharmaceutical companies H Health Care 2/19/2003 Schual-Berke  
Provides that any contract between the administrator or any other agency administering a state purchased health care program and a pharmacy benefit management company must include the following provisions: (1) Disclosure of any agreements between the pharmacy benefit management company and a pharmaceutical manufacturer, its contractors, or an affiliate of a pharmaceutical manufacturer related to the use of that pharmaceutical manufacturer's products. Agreements to be disclosed include but are not limited to: (a) Agreements for the submission of data to pharmaceutical manufacturers or their contractors and any remuneration received from the manufacturer for supplying the data; (b) Rebate agreements or contracts with pharmaceutical manufacturers related to use of that manufacturer's products or the use of another manufacturer's products; (c) Payments by a drug manufacturer to the pharmacy benefits management company for switching consumer purchases to a drug produced or distributed by that pharmaceutical manufacturer; and (d) Any other payment to the pharmacy benefit management company by a pharmaceutical manufacturer or its contractors; and (2) An affirmative statement that the pharmacy benefits management company will be capable of administering, and agree to abide by the terms of, any preferred drug list developed for use by state purchased health care programs.
HB 2014 Insurance coverage H Fin Inst/Ins 2/25/2003 Flannigan  
Provides that an insurer may not deny coverage for the treatment of an injury solely because the injury was sustained as a consequence of the insured's being intoxicated or under the influence of a narcotic. Repeals RCW 48.20.272.
HB 2016 Unions H Commerce/Lab 2/19/2003 Conway  
Finds that the state currently places no limitation on the use of its funds to either encourage or discourage unionization, and as a result, public funds have been used by employers when there are efforts to unionize their work force. Declares that it is the policy of this state to recognize the right of employees to freedom of association in the workplace and freedom of choice in who will represent employees in collective bargaining. Declares that the expenditure of public funds to support an employer's support or opposition to unionization of the employer's workers does not serve the purposes for which the public funds were provided to the employer and, thus, the expenditure of those funds to support or oppose unionization is a misuse and waste of public funds. Declares an intent to ensure that public funds are not used to encourage or discourage employees from choosing union representation.
HB 2018 State health insurance pool H Health Care 2/19/2003 Cody  
Relating to the Washington state health insurance pool; and amending RCW 48.41.100 and 48.41.110.
HB 2019 Basic health plan H Health Care 2/19/2003 Cody  
AN ACT Relating to nonsubsidized basic health plan coverage; amending RCW 70.47.020 and 70.47.060; and providing an effective date.
HB 2023 Dairy nutrient management H Agric & NR 2/19/2003 Linville  
The legislature finds that there is a need to establish a clear and understandable process that provides for the proper and effective management of dairy nutrients that affect the quality of surface or ground waters in the state of Washington. The legislature finds that there is a need for a program that will provide a stable and predictable business climate upon which dairy farms may base future investment decisions.
HB 2024 Highways of significance H Trans 2/19/2003 Mielke  
Designates that portion of state route number 502 that runs from a junction with state route number 5, thence easterly to a junction with state route number 503 at Battleground.
HB 2027 Cigarettes H Technology, 2/19/2003 Kirby  
Declares that no person shall mail, ship, or otherwise deliver cigarettes in connection with a delivery sale unless prior to the first delivery sale to the consumer the person: (1) Obtains from the prospective consumer a certification that includes: (a) A reliable confirmation that the consumer is at least the legal minimum purchase age; and (b) a statement signed by the prospective consumer in writing that certifies the prospective consumer's address and that the consumer is at least eighteen years of age. (2) Makes a good faith effort to verify the information contained in the certification provided by the prospective consumer pursuant to this act against a commercially available data base, or obtains a photocopy or other image of the valid, government-issued identification stating the date of birth or age of the individual placing the order; (3) Provides to the prospective consumer, via e-mail or other means, a notice that meets the requirements of this act; (4) In the case of an order for cigarettes pursuant to an advertisement on the internet, receives payment for the delivery sale from the prospective consumer by a credit or debit card that has been issued in the consumer's name or by check.
HB 2089 Veterans' tuition waivers H Higher Educ 2/25/2003 McCoy  
Provides that, subject to the limitations in RCW 28B.15.910, the governing boards of the state universities, the regional universities, The Evergreen State College, and the community colleges, shall waive all or a portion of tuition and fees for the following persons: (1) An eligible veteran or national guard member; (2) A child and the spouse of an eligible veteran or national guard member who became totally disabled as defined in RCW 28B.15.385 while engaged in active federal military or naval service, or who is determined by the federal government to be a prisoner of war or missing in action; (3) A child and the surviving spouse of an eligible veteran or national guard member who lost his or her life while engaged in active federal military or naval service. However, upon remarriage, the surviving spouse of an eligible veteran or national guard member is ineligible for a waiver under this act. Repeals RCW 28B.10.265, 28B.15.620, 28B.15.625, 28B.15.628, and 28B.15.629.
HB 2113 Financial aid refunds H Higher Educ 2/25/2003 Morrell  
Amends RCW 28B.15.600 relating to refunds of federal financial aid to students who withdraw from institutions of higher education before the end of a quarter or semester.
HB 2151 Higher edu capital projects H Cap Budget 2/27/2003 Alexander  
Declares an intent that a methodology be developed that will guide capital appropriation decisions by rating and individually ranking, in sequential, priority order, all major capital projects proposed by the two-year and four-year public universities and colleges. Declares an intent that this rating, ranking, and prioritization of capital needs will reflect the state's higher education policies and goals including the comprehensive master plan for higher education as submitted by the higher education coordinating board and as adopted by the legislature.
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 5010 Branch campuses S Higher Educ 1/13/2003 Jacobsen  
Authorizes branch campuses to offer lower-division coursework.
SSB 5012 f Charter schools S Rules 2 G 2/28/2003 EDU (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 5013 Minimum wage rate S Comm & Trade 1/13/2003 Honeyford  
Declares that the adjusted minimum wage rate may not exceed 136.2 percent of the federal minimum wage rate.
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 Rules 2 2/10/2003 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 G 2/12/2003 Morton  
Statutes governing DNR management of state uplands are reorganized without substantive change. Nonsubstantive revisions eliminate outdated terms.
2SSB 5074 Timber harvest/trust lands S Rules 2 2/19/2003 WM (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.
SSB 5079 Natural science education S 2nd Reading 2/7/2003 EDU (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 Oppose
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 fo LEOFFRS board elections S 2nd Reading 2/21/2003 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 fo Retiremnt contributions/pl 3 S Rules 2 2/4/2003 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 fo Retirement benefits H Approp 2/25/2003 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 fo Retirement system options H Approp 2/20/2003 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 f Teachers' retirement plan 1 H Approp 2/20/2003 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 fo Retirement system statutes S Rules 2 2/12/2003 Carlson  
Corrects retirement system statutes. Companion Bill 1200
SSB 5105 Educational interpreters S Rules 2 G 2/28/2003 EDU (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 Concerns
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 H Higher Educ 2/17/2003 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. This bill creates opportunities for higher education at WSU-Vancouver and WSU- Tri-Cities for residents of Oregon counties bordering Washington through the financial incentive afforded by the resident status for fee purposes.
SSB 5135 Higher ed tuition fees S Ways & Means 2/7/2003 HIE (Carlson) Oppose
WSU testified with concerns about this bill in both Senate Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Higher Education Committee. 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. An estimate from the Registrar suggests that about 225 students per year could be impacted by this legislation. The Registrar also estimates that it would require up to a full FTE of staff time to monitor. The difficulty of administering this legislation, if passed as is, has to do with the exceptions since several would be difficult if not impossible to automate, requiring manual examination of students’ records. Further, some information such as the dislocated worker provision is not requested nor recorded for students. Were such information requested, reprogramming of student information databases would be required. Of greatest concern, the bill currently includes an amendment added by the Senate Higher Education Committee that provides free tuition to students who fail to get courses that are critical to graduation. That would create budget cuts that would lead to more bottleneck courses.
SB 5137 Higher ed admissions S Higher Educ 1/15/2003 Carlson Concerns
Authorizes the use of the reading and math components of the WASL to fulfill admission requirements at institutions of higher education.
SSB 5138 WASL S Ways & Means 2/27/2003 EDU (Carlson)  
Authorizes the use of the Washington assessment of student learning for qualifying for the promise scholarship and other purposes.
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 Concerns
Revises provisions relating to open public meetings.
SSB 5158 Higher ed student residency S Rules 2 G 2/12/2003 HIE (Carlson) Support
WSU strongly supports efforts to enable children of migrant farm workers living in Washington State to attend university for resident tuition rates. This bill accomplishes that. WSU has suggested minor amendments designed to ensure that this bill targets those students.
E SB 5161 f Ergonomics rules H Commerce/Lab 2/20/2003 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 Concerns
Revises provisions relating to open public meetings.
SB 5189 Korean conflict veterans S Higher Educ 1/17/2003 Benton  
Exempts veterans of the Korean conflict from tuition increases.
SSB 5240 Pro educators board S 2nd Reading 2/28/2003 EDU (Zarelli)  
Includes a classified employee on the Washington professional educator standards board.
SSB 5242 Library computer filters S Rules 2 G 2/28/2003 GO (Swecker) Concerns
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 2nd Reading 2/21/2003 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.
E SB 5256 f Rule-making procedures H State Govt 2/12/2003 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.
E SB 5257 f Rule adoption procedures H State Govt 2/12/2003 Roach  
{+ (AS OF SENATE 2ND READING 2/11/03) +} Provides that, if the head of the agency is appointed by the governor, then the signature of the governor is required for significant legislative rules.
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 5273 Veterans/employment exams S Rules 2 G 2/28/2003 Roach  
Extends the use of veterans' scoring criteria in employment examinations.
SSB 5275 Confidential public records S Rules 2 2/27/2003 GO (Roach)  
Provides that public records of a confidential character must be managed as follows: (1) Records that have a confidential character while in the possession of the original agency, commission, committee, or any other entity of state or local government retain their confidential character after transfer to the state archives unless the archivist, with the concurrence of originating jurisdiction, determines that the records must be made accessible to the public under proper and reasonable rules adopted by the secretary of state. (2) A record that is transferred to archives under this chapter and has a confidential character is open to inspection and available for copying after the expiration of seventy-five years from creation of the record.
SB 5283 Trainer & minor wage rate S Comm & Trade 1/21/2003 Sheldon, T.  
Declares that the adjusted minimum wage rate may not exceed 136.2 percent of the federal minimum wage rate.
SB 5301 PERS plan 2 early retirement S Ways & Means 1/22/2003 Winsley  
Revises provisions relating to early retirement in the public employees' retirement system, plan 2.
SB 5303 o State university research S 2nd Reading 2/28/2003 West  
Wording of the statute is corrected. Financial contracts for research facilities or equipment contemplated by either the University of Washington or Washington State University do not require prior approval of the State Finance Committee to execute. Companion Bill HB1280
SB 5311 Government accountability S Govt Op & El 1/22/2003 Kastama  
Finds that: (1) Public confidence in government is essential and programs to continuously improve quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of public functions must be enhanced in order to restore public trust; (2) Washington state government and other entities that receive tax dollars must transform the way it operates and delivers services in order to respond to severe, ongoing budget shortfalls and declining revenues, and ensure citizens receive value for their tax dollars; (3) A strong, objective, and independent board is necessary to help develop, oversee, and monitor accountability systems for all government to ensure that public entities accomplish intended goals and outcomes, and that management systems, customer satisfaction, and efficiency are world class in performance; and (4) Fair, independent, professional performance audits of government systems by the state auditor are essential to improving the efficiency and effectiveness of government entities.
SB 5312 Quality management program S Govt Op & El 1/22/2003 Kastama  
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.
SB 5340 e Commute trip reduction prgrm S Rules 2 2/27/2003 Horn  
Counties with a population over 150,000, and each city and town within those counties containing a major employer are not required to adopt an ordinance and implement a CTR plan for all major employers.
SB 5351 Agency land use mandates S LandUse & Pl 1/22/2003 Haugen  
Provides that state agencies shall comply with the local comprehensive plans and development regulations and amendments thereto adopted pursuant to chapter 36.70A RCW and must first implement on state-owned lands, any and all requirements they seek local governments to impose on private lands except as otherwise provided in RCW 71.09.250 (1) through (3), 71.09.342, and 72.09.333. A fiscal note has been requested.
SB 5357 Higher edu faculty children S Higher Educ 1/23/2003 West