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WALeg Day 31: Minimum wage votes possible

OLYMPIA -- A pair of bills that would allow employers to pay young workers less than the minimum wage under some circumstances are scheduled for votes in the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee.

Senate Transportation will get an update on some of the state's problem "megaprojects", the Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement and the 520 floating bridge. House Public Safety looks at cutting down on property crimes. Senate Ways & Means gets an update on school levy issues.

Meanwhile, it's Navy Appreciation Day at the Capitol as well as Head Start Parents rally day, so Navy personnel in their best blues are mixing with Head Start parents and kids in bright red sweatshirts out in the corridors while legislators huddle to discuss which bills to bring to the floor for a vote.

Here's the full hearing schedule:

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Time

Committee

Location

 

8:00 AM

Accountability and Reform (S)

Senate Hearing Rm 2

 
 

Trade & Economic Development (S)

Senate Hearing Rm 3

 
 

Agriculture & Natural Resources (H)

House Hearing Rm B

 
 

Judiciary (H)

House Hearing Rm A

 
 

Local Government (H)

House Hearing Rm D

 
 

State Government (H)

House Hearing Rm E

 
 

Technology & Economic Development (H)

House Hearing Rm C

 

10:00 AM

SENATE SESSION/CAUCUS

   
 

HOUSE SESSION/CAUCUS

   

1:30 PM

Commerce & Labor (S)

Senate Hearing Rm 1

 
 

Energy, Environment & Telecommunications (S)

Senate Hearing Rm 4

 
 

Financial Institutions & Insurance (S)

Senate Hearing Rm 2

 
 

Natural Resources & Parks (S)

Senate Hearing Rm 3

 
 

Business & Financial Services (H)

House Hearing Rm B

 
 

Early Learning & Human Services (H)

House Hearing Rm E

 
 

Health Care & Wellness (H)

House Hearing Rm A

 
 

Higher Education (H)

House Hearing Rm C

 
 

Public Safety (H)

House Hearing Rm D

 

3:30 PM

Transportation (S)

Senate Hearing Rm 1

 
 

Ways & Means (S)

Senate Hearing Rm 4

 
 

Appropriations (H)

House Hearing Rm A

 
 

Transportation (H)

House Hearing Rm B

 


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House Committees


Agriculture & Natural Resources*
2/11/15 8:00 am

House Full Committee
House Hearing Rm B
John L. O'Brien Building
Olympia, WA

REVISED 2/5/2015 5:05 PM

Work Session: Water Supply Forecast.

Public Hearing: HB 1836 - Concerning state drought preparedness.

Possible Executive Session:

  1. HB 1267 - Concerning de facto changes in water rights for irrigation purposes that involved conversion to more efficient irrigation technologies.
  2. HB 1268 - Regarding hemp as a component of commercial animal feed.
  3. HB 1622 - Expanding the products considered to be potentially nonhazardous as they apply to cottage food operations.
  4. HB 1676 - Understanding the effects of predation on wild ungulate populations.
  5. HB 1742 - Changing cottage food operation provisions.
  6. HB 1755 - Authorizing a livestock movement reporting system.

 

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Appropriations
2/11/15 3:30 pm

House Full Committee
House Hearing Rm A
John L. O'Brien Building
Olympia, WA

Public Hearing:

  1. SHB 1037 - Implementing changes to child support based on the child support schedule work group report.
  2. HB 1085 - Requiring lobbying reports to be filed electronically.
  3. SHB 1188 - Delaying annual leave payments upon employment termination.
  4. HB 1718 - Authorizing membership in the Washington public safety employees' retirement system for employees who provide nursing care to, or ensure the custody and safety of, offender, probationary, and patient populations in institutions and centers.
  5. HB 1737 - Addressing the availability of retired teachers as substitutes.
  6. HB 1740 - Addressing political subdivisions purchasing health coverage through the public employees' benefits board program.

 

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Business & Financial Services*
2/11/15 1:30 pm

House Full Committee
House Hearing Rm B
John L. O'Brien Building
Olympia, WA

REVISED 2/10/2015 10:38 AM

Public Hearing:

  1. HB 1578 - Authorizing insurers to offer customer satisfaction benefits.
  2. HB 1847 - Concerning price agreements between contact lens manufacturers or distributors and retailers.
  3. HB 1871 - Addressing credit unions' corporate governance and investments.
  4. HB 1872 - Addressing credit unions' capital.


Possible Executive Session:

  1. HB 1922 - Addressing small loans and small consumer installment loans.
  2. HB 1398 - Concerning registration of persons providing debt settlement services.
  3. HB 1579 - Addressing motor vehicle underinsured coverage.
  4. HB 1659 - Addressing the benefits of group life and disability insurance policies.
  5. HB 1212 - Prohibiting retail businesses from recording consumer identification information during transactions.
  6. HB 1329 - Addressing electronic notices and document delivery of insurance products.
  7. HB 1415 - Concerning the linked deposit program.
  8. HB 1475 - Addressing premiums on policies issued through the Washington longshore and harbor workers' compensation act insurance assigned risk plan.

 

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Early Learning & Human Services*
2/11/15 1:30 pm

House Full Committee
House Hearing Rm E
John L. O'Brien Building
Olympia, WA

REVISED 2/9/2015 12:02 PM

Public Hearing:

  1. HB 1794 - Concerning early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families.
  2. HB 1820 - Requiring the department of social and health services to request all necessary exemptions and waivers from the federal government to allow students to use electronic benefit transfer cards at institutions of higher education.
  3. HB 1875 - Concerning the definition of work activity for the purposes of the WorkFirst program.


Possible Executive Session:

  1. HB 1436 - Concerning homeless youth prevention and protection. (If measure is referred to committee.)
  2. HB 1505 - Allowing prosecutors to refer juveniles to restorative justice programs.
  3. HB 1642 - Creating the youth substance abuse prevention and education program.
  4. HB 1501 - Concerning public-private financing of prevention-based social service programs.
  5. HB 1672 - Modifying provisions governing the maintenance and disclosure of information related to reports of child abuse and neglect. (If measure is referred to committee.)
  6. HB 1673 - Concerning substance abuse prevention and treatment programs funded by the marijuana excise tax.
  7. HB 1728 - Creating the parents for parents program. (If measure is referred to committee.)
  8. HB 1735 - Concerning extended foster care services. (If measure is referred to committee.)
  9. HB 1800 - Concerning filing a petition seeking termination of parental rights.
  10. HB 1909 - Concerning service options for individuals with developmental disabilities.
  11. HB 1928 - Requiring an analysis of the homeless youth population.

 

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Health Care & Wellness*
2/11/15 1:30 pm

House Full Committee
House Hearing Rm A
John L. O'Brien Building
Olympia, WA

REVISED 2/9/2015 9:52 AM

Public Hearing:

  1. HB 1458 - Concerning the age of individuals at which sale or distribution of tobacco and vapor products may be made.
  2. HB 1504 - Standardizing hospital charity care determinations.
  3. HB 1669 - Establishing a task force on continuity of health coverage and care.
  4. HB 1890 - Concerning a second-party payment process for paying insurers.
  5. HB 1946 - Concerning Washington wellness trust obligations for hospitals.
  6. HB 1967 - Directing the health care authority to apply for federal waivers concerning health care coverage.


Possible Executive Session:

  1. HB 1002 - Prohibiting unfair and deceptive dental insurance practices.
  2. HB 1132 - Concerning the regulation of adult family homes.
  3. HB 1173 - Prohibiting noncompete agreements that restrict the right of physicians to practice in a geographic area for a period of time after termination of an employment contract.
  4. HB 1183 - Concerning radiology benefit managers.
  5. HB 1186 - Requiring notification to patients in observation status at hospitals.
  6. HB 1286 - Requiring a study for funding options for long-term care services and supports.
  7. HB 1357 - Concerning certificate of need requirements.
  8. HB 1471 - Mitigating barriers to patient access to care resulting from health insurance contracting practices.
  9. HB 1507 - Requiring nursing homes to make the sodium content of meals available to residents.
  10. HB 1514 - Concerning dental office support services.
  11. HB 1531 - Removing expiration dates for training and certification exemptions for certain long-term care workers.
  12. HB 1626 - Addressing health benefit plan grace periods.
  13. HB 1733 - Concerning nursing staffing practices at hospitals.
  14. HB 1762 - Concerning the relationship between a health insurer and a contracting health care provider.
  15. HB 1779 - Requiring specialized training for persons conducting victim interviews as part of the disciplinary process for a health professional alleged to have committed sexual misconduct.
  16. HB 1784 - Concerning nursing home quality.

 

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Higher Education*
2/11/15 1:30 pm

House Full Committee
House Hearing Rm C
John L. O'Brien Building
Olympia, WA

REVISED 2/10/2015 4:11 PM

Public Hearing:

  1. HB 1704 - Enhancing public safety and reducing recidivism through postsecondary education.
  2. HB 1706 - Authorizing waivers of building fees and services and activities fees for certain military service members.
  3. HB 1825 - Modifying the definition of resident student to comply with federal requirements established by the veterans access, choice, and accountability act of 2014.
  4. HB 1814 - Creating the certified public accounting scholarship program.


Possible Executive Session:

  1. HB 1238 - Concerning affordable tuition planning.
  2. HB 1344 - Creating the nurse educator pay it forward program.
  3. HB 1147 - Requiring a study of the transition to a three-track or four-track admission system for public institutions of higher education.
  4. HB 1482 - Requiring an analysis of regional higher education capacity to meet educational attainment goals.
  5. HB 1439 - Establishing an online alternative credit model at Central Washington University.
  6. HB 1500 - Concerning a study of higher education cost drivers.
  7. HB 1693 - Concerning the University of Washington's alternative process for awarding contracts.
  8. HB 1592 - Concerning tuition waivers for state and educational employees.
  9. HB 1644 - Concerning veteran survivor tuition waiver eligibility.

 

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Judiciary
2/11/15 8:00 am

Watch on TVWHouse Full Committee
House Hearing Rm A
John L. O'Brien Building
Olympia, WA

Public Hearing:

  1. HB 1857 - Concerning extreme risk protective orders.
  2. HB 1898 - Concerning awareness of the possibility of children testifying remotely in certain cases.
  3. HB 1624 - Concerning the distribution of intimate images.
  4. HB 1699 - Addressing legal immunity in instances of citizen-initiated wildfire control.
  5. HB 1018 - Preventing breed-based dog regulations.

 

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Local Government*
2/11/15 8:00 am

House Full Committee
House Hearing Rm D
John L. O'Brien Building
Olympia, WA

REVISED 2/10/2015 1:27 PM

Public Hearing:

  1. HB 1868 - Expanding county road fund purposes for certain counties.
  2. HB 1802 - Concerning optional methods of financing long-range planning costs.
  3. HB 1824 - Promoting fire safety with long-life smoke detection devices.
  4. HB 1929 - Requiring incentives for electric vehicle readiness in buildings.
  5. HB 2010 - Creating appeal procedures for single-family homeowners with failing septic systems required to connect to public sewer systems.


Possible Executive Session:

  1. HB 1656 - Concerning Washington's property assessment appeal procedures.
  2. HB 1657 - Concerning Washington's property assessment appeal procedures.
  3. HB 1799 - Concerning county electronic public auctions.

 

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Public Safety
2/11/15 1:30 pm

House Full Committee
House Hearing Rm D
John L. O'Brien Building
Olympia, WA

Public Hearing:

  1. HB 1885 - Addressing and mitigating the impacts of property crimes in Washington state.
  2. HB 1716 - Addressing state and local enforcement of federal immigration detainers and administrative warrants.

 

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State Government*
2/11/15 8:00 am

House Full Committee
House Hearing Rm E
John L. O'Brien Building
Olympia, WA

REVISED 2/6/2015 3:47 PM

Public Hearing:

  1. HB 1724 - Providing prepaid postage for primary and general election ballots.
  2. HB 1745 - Enacting the Washington voting rights act (continued from 2/5/2015).
  3. HB 1849 - Concerning uniform ballot design.
  4. SB 5035 - Authorizing the awarding of the medal of valor to a group of persons.


Executive Session:

  1. HB 1294 - Enhancing youth voter registration.
  2. HB 1428 - Concerning voter registration.
  3. HB 1635 - Concerning write-in candidates and votes.
  4. HB 1858 - Prohibiting the names of county auditors and the secretary of state from being included on ballot envelopes and in voters' pamphlets when running for reelection.

 

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Technology & Economic Development*
2/11/15 8:00 am

House Full Committee
House Hearing Rm C
John L. O'Brien Building
Olympia, WA

REVISED 2/6/2015 1:22 PM

Public Hearing:

  1. HB 1710 - Fostering economic growth in Washington by supporting the in-state production, processing, and distribution of food supply.
  2. HB 1856 - Concerning the community economic revitalization board program.
  3. HB 1769 - Reinstating tax preferences for high-technology research and development.
  4. HB 1895 - Concerning smart grid technology reporting.
  5. HB 1896 - Providing a statewide minimum privacy policy for disclosure of customer energy use information.
  6. HJM 4007 - Encouraging the successful negotiation of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership between the United States and the European Union.
  7. HB 2050 - Establishing the small business enhancement program.

 

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Transportation
2/11/15 3:30 pm

House Full Committee
House Hearing Rm B
John L. O'Brien Building
Olympia, WA

Public Hearing:

  1. HB 1738 - Concerning marine, off-road recreational vehicle, and snowmobile fuel tax refunds based on actual fuel taxes paid.
  2. HB 1837 - Concerning border area jurisdiction fuel tax authority.
  3. HB 1844 - Concerning work performed by state forces on ferry vessels and terminals.
  4. HB 1869 - Establishing nonimpound tow truck operator licensing.
  5. HB 1918 - Modifying provisions applicable to off-road, nonhighway, and wheeled all-terrain vehicles and their drivers.

 

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Senate Committees

The schedule is subject to the addition of more committee agendas. Please check our website, http://www.leg.wa.gov/legislature/pages/calendar.aspx


Accountability and Reform*
2/11/15 8:00 am

Senate Full Committee
Senate Hearing Rm 2
J.A. Cherberg Building
Olympia, WA

REVISED 2/10/2015 8:06 AM

Public Hearing: SB 5837 - Concerning implementing lean management and Baldrige performance excellence principles in schools.

Work Session: Lean performance management in Spokane County government.

Possible executive session on bills heard in committee. Other business.

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Commerce & Labor*
2/11/15 1:30 pm

Senate Full Committee
Senate Hearing Rm 1
J.A. Cherberg Building
Olympia, WA

REVISED 2/6/2015 1:12 PM

Public Hearing:

  1. SB 5507 - Addressing appeals by employers of department of labor and industries' fines or civil penalties. (Hearing is on the Proposed Substitute.)
  2. SB 5451 - Addressing vocational rehabilitation by making certain recommendations from the vocational rehabilitation subcommittee permanent and creating certain incentives for employers to employ injured workers with permanent disabilities.
  3. SB 5468 - Authorizing the use of nonappropriated funds on certain administrative costs and expenses of the stay-at-work and self-insured employer programs.
  4. SB 5514 - Creating a good faith defense for certain minimum wage and overtime compensation complaints.
  5. SB 5513 - Creating the workers' recovery act by amending provisions governing structured settlements by lowering age barriers and clarifying legislative intent.


Executive Session:

  1. SB 5288 - Concerning expiration dates related to real estate broker provisions.
  2. SB 5421 - Creating a teen summer employment wage.
  3. SB 5422 - Establishing a temporary teen training wage.
  4. SB 5420 - Introducing private competition in industrial insurance coverage.
  5. SB 5331 - Concerning workers' compensation group self-insurance plans.
  6. SB 5509 - Concerning workers' compensation reform through clarification of occupational disease claims.
  7. SB 5508 - Concerning recovery for purposes of legal actions under the industrial insurance statutes.
  8. SB 5576 - Addressing worker reporting of workplace injuries for purposes of industrial insurance.
  9. SB 5510 - Simplifying and adding certainty to the calculation of workers' compensation benefits.
  10. SB 5671 - Addressing the payment of union dues by partial public employees.
  11. SB 5602 - Prohibiting public entities from giving or loaning public funds to bargaining unit representatives for nongovernment functions.
  12. SB 5515 - Excluding retirement as a subject of collective bargaining for individual providers under chapter 74.39A RCW.
  13. SB 5130 - Restricting marijuana producer and processor businesses from being located in certain residential and rural areas.
  14. SB 5450 - Expanding the restrictions on locating marijuana businesses.


If draft bills, proposed substitutes, or striking amendments are to be heard, they can be obtained from committee staff or on the committee's website, http://www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/Committees/CL/Pages/default.aspx, as soon as they are available. Other business.

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Energy, Environment & Telecommunications*
2/11/15 1:30 pm

Watch on TVWSenate Full Committee
Senate Hearing Rm 4
J.A. Cherberg Building
Olympia, WA

REVISED 2/10/2015 8:33 AM

Public Hearing:

  1. SB 5874 - Concerning regulatory and financial mechanisms and means to promote the retirement of coal-fired electric generation facilities.
  2. SB 5829 - Conducting remedial actions under the model toxics control act. (Hearing is on the Proposed Substitute.)
  3. SB 5577 - Concerning pharmaceutical waste.


Executive Session:

  1. SB 5310 - Addressing enforcement actions at facilities sited by the energy facility site evaluation council.
  2. SB 5330 - Concerning stage II gasoline vapor control programs.
  3. SB 5425 - Providing a sales and use tax exemption for qualified broadband equipment. (Proposed Substitute).
  4. SB 5446 - Requiring incentives for electric vehicle readiness in buildings.(Proposed Substitute).
  5. SB 5735 - Providing incentives for carbon reduction investments.


Work Session: Update on potential Washington Low Carbon Fuel Standard:

  1. Department of Ecology.
  2. Office of Financial Management.



If draft bills, proposed substitutes, or striking amendments are to be heard, they can be obtained from committee staff or on the committee's website, http://www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/Committees/EET/Pages/default.aspx, as soon as they are available. Other business.

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Financial Institutions & Insurance
2/11/15 1:30 pm

Senate Full Committee
Senate Hearing Rm 2
J.A. Cherberg Building
Olympia, WA

Public Hearing:

  1. SB 5259 - Improving voter registration by providing new residential tenants with voter registration information.
  2. SB 5376 - Concerning the disclosure of certain eviction records in certain reports.
  3. SB 5377 - Concerning the provision of time and assistance for tenants to relocate due to a rent increase or change of use of the residential unit.
  4. SB 5683 - Creating a short-form registration statement for small securities offerings.
  5. SB 5826 - Creating the Washington small business retirement marketplace.


Possible executive session on bills heard in committee. Other business.

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Natural Resources & Parks*
2/11/15 1:30 pm

Senate Full Committee
Senate Hearing Rm 3
J.A. Cherberg Building
Olympia, WA

REVISED 2/10/2015 12:13 PM

Public Hearing:

  1. SB 5712 - Addressing certain damage caused by wildlife.
  2. SB 5730 - Concerning access roads utilized by the department of natural resources. (Hearing is on the Proposed Substitute.)
  3. SB 5750 - Regarding payments to counties in lieu of property taxes by the department of fish and wildlife.
  4. SB 5769 - Concerning the management of noxious weeds on state lands.
  5. SB 5843 - Concerning outdoor recreation.


If draft bills, proposed substitutes, or striking amendments are to be heard, they can be obtained from committee staff or on the committee's website, http://www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/Committees/NRP/Pages/default.aspx, as soon as they are available. Possible executive session on bills heard in committee. Other business.

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Trade & Economic Development*
2/11/15 8:00 am

Senate Full Committee
Senate Hearing Rm 3
J.A. Cherberg Building
Olympia, WA

REVISED 2/10/2015 2:05 PM

Work Session: Local infrastructure funding overview.

Public Hearing:

  1. SB 5109 - Concerning infrastructure financing for local governments (Remote Testimony Opportunity from Pasco, WA).
  2. SB 5413 - Increasing the flexibility for industrial development district levies for public port districts (Remote Testimony Opportunity from Pasco, WA).
  3. SB 5761 - Providing for property tax exemption for the value of new construction of industrial/manufacturing facilities in targeted urban areas. (Remote Testimony Opportunity from Pasco, WA).


Executive Session:

  1. SB 5043 - Providing greater small business assistance by modifying the filing threshold for excise tax purposes.
  2. SB 5339 - Creating a business and occupation tax credit for new businesses.


See the following website, http://leg.wa.gov/Senate/Committees/Pages/RemoteTestimony.aspx, for opportunities to register for remote testimony. Registration forms must be submitted 48 hours prior to the committee hearing start time.. Other business.

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Transportation*
2/11/15 3:30 pm

Senate Full Committee
Senate Hearing Rm 1
J.A. Cherberg Building
Olympia, WA

REVISED 2/6/2015 3:10 PM

Work Session:

  1. Megaprojects update - SR520 floating bridge, Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement project, and I-405 Express Toll Lanes - WSDOT.
  2. Impacts of the maritime industry and ports on the state's transportation system - Washington Maritime Federation and Washington Public Ports Association.


Possible executive session on bills heard in committee. Other business.

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Ways & Means*
2/11/15 3:30 pm

Watch on TVWSenate Full Committee
Senate Hearing Rm 4
J.A. Cherberg Building
Olympia, WA

REVISED 2/6/2015 1:37 PM

Work Session: K-12 levies.

Public Hearing:

  1. SB 5723 - Concerning the amendment, recodification, decodification, or repeal of statutes relating to state capital construction funds and accounts and bond authorizations that are inactive, obsolete, or no longer necessary for continued publication in the Revised Code of Washington.
  2. SSB 5315 - Aligning functions of the consolidated technology services agency, office of the chief information officer, and department of enterprise services.
  3. SSB 5093 - Creating the nuclear energy education program.
  4. SSB 5010 - Restoring funding to the health professional loan repayment and scholarship program fund.


Possible executive session on bills heard in committee. Other business.

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