“Legislature: Day 36, Monday, Feb. 14” |
| Legislature: Day 36, Monday, Feb. 14 Posted: 14 Feb 2011 01:25 AM PST KATIE SCHMIDT | Staff writer Today is Monday, Feb. 14, the 36th day of the 105-day session.  BILLS INTRODUCED Sen. Randi Becker, R-Eatonville, introduced Senate Bill 5787, which would take college grades into account when awarding State Need Grant Scholarships. Sen. Nick Harper, D-Everett, introduced Senate Bill 5789, which would make it an "unfair practice," subject to investigation by the Civil Rights Commission, to bully or abuse someone at work. Sen. Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens, introduced Senate Bill 5791, which would let local transit authorities permit restaurants, convenience stores and other private businesses to operate in state-funded park-and-ride lots. Rep. Larry Seaquist, D-Gig Harbor, introduced House Bill 1949, a companion to a bill introduced Thursday in the Senate that would allow local governments to get voter approval for sales-tax increases to support parks. Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, introduced Senate Bill 5793, which would allow same-sex couples to get a civil marriage in Washington. In 2010, Murray introduced a similar bill that never got a hearing. Rep. Hans Zeiger, R-Edgewood, introduced House Bill 1954, which would require the Higher Education Coordinating Board to identify "public-interest degrees" that would be offered at a reduced tuition rate at state universities. Rep. Sam Hunt, D-Olympia, introduced House Bill 1958, another of Gov. Chris Gregoire's requested agency-consolidation bills. The measure would create a state Office of Civil Rights that would absorb the responsibilities of several state commissions. Rep. Norma Smith, R-Clinton, introduced House Bill 1955, which would require the department of licensing to issue special license plates, for which they could charge more, to people who have been convicted of some driving under the influence offenses. TODAY The Washington Occupational Therapy Association and Nurses Association are scheduled to have a lobbying day at the Capitol. The House Higher Education Committee is scheduled to vote on several higher-education bills, including House Bill 1666, which would implement the recommendations of the Higher Education Funding Task Force and give universities some tuition-setting authority. Another bill that would give tuition-setting authority to state schools, House Bill 1795, is up for a vote as well. The committee also is scheduled to vote on House Bill 1654, which would raise tuition rates for students who exceed 125 percent of the credits they need to get a degree at public universities. The Senate Government Operations, Tribal Relations and Elections Committee is scheduled to vote on Senate Bill 5171, which would move up the date by which ballots must be sent to overseas and service voters. The Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee will hear Senate Bill 5687, which would set up a Division of Indian Education in the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. The House Community Development and Housing Committee is scheduled to vote on House Bill 1165, which would set up a small-business-loan or loan-guarantee program and give tax credits to small businesses that hire people at a pay rate of at least 150 percent of minimum wage. The House Committee on State Government and Tribal Affairs is scheduled to hold a hearing on House Bill 1809, which would give contractors from Washington a 7 percent advantage in bids for state-funded projects. The Senate companion, Senate Bill 5662, is scheduled for a hearing Tuesday. The Senate Transportation Committee will hold a hearing on Senate Bill 5540, which would authorize school districts to install traffic-safety cameras on school buses. Police officers could use footage from the cameras to give out tickets to drivers who pass buses illegally. COMING UP Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown said Friday that a supplemental budget proposal could get a vote in the Senate this week. The House and the Senate each passed different versions of the budget, which the Legislature needs to pass to make up for shortfalls in state funds for the biennium ending in June. Competing rallies are scheduled Tuesday at the Capitol over bills to phase out coal-fired power in Washington. The TransAlta power plant expects about 300 people to come to oppose the measures, and environmental groups say they will have about 400 people here in support. Katie Schmidt, staff writer This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
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