Legislative Week Ahead

Here’s a tentative list of legislative hearings on selected topics this week. Schedules are subject to change on short notice. Consult the Legislature’s web site or the list of committee phone numbers at the end of this column for the current schedule:

Agriculture

Bill exempting from taxation sales and use of feed for livestock and poultry (HB 2581). House Agriculture and Ecology Committee: Wednesday, 8 a.m., House Hearing Room A.

Crime

Bills increasing the penalties for sex offenders; bill committing juvenile persistent offenders to the Department of Social and Health Services until their 21st birthday (HB 1296); bill imposing a fine on parents for support, treatment and confinement of their children (HB 1518). Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee: Tuesday, 10 a.m., House Hearing Room E.

Education

Bill declaring English to be the common language (SB 6339); bill setting aside at least one school day per school year to be devoted to the study of the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence (SB 6432). Education Committee: Thursday, 10 a.m., Senate Hearing Room 1.

Energy

Bill requiring electric utilities to unbundle the costs of their assets and operations (HB 2831); bill regarding the use and administration of the Hanford-area economic investment fund (HB 2577). Energy and Utilities Committee: Tuesday, 10 a.m., House Hearing Room B.

Families

Bill requiring the disclosure of the names of both parents of children as a condition of eligibility for temporary assistance for needy families (HB 2589); bill providing for pro rata calculation of temporary assistance for needy families grants (HB 2900). House Children and Family Services Committee: Tuesday, 1:30 p.m., House Hearing Room E.

Bill prohibiting some people with criminal backgrounds from becoming foster parents (HB 2606); bill authorizing disclosure of an adopted person’s original birth certificate at their request (HB 2810). Children and Family Services Committee: Thursday, 8 a.m., House Hearing Room E.

Taxes

Bill providing tax incentives for development of job opportunities in distressed counties (SB 6460). Commerce and Labor Committee: Wednesday, 1:30 p.m., Senate Hearing Room 4.

Keep in touch

The following telephone numbers all use area code 360:

House Agriculture and Ecology 786-7132; Children and Family Services 786-7192; Criminal Justice 786-7136; Energy and Utilities 786-7106.

Senate Commerce and Labor 786-7426; Education 786-7420.

A complete schedule of all committee hearings can found on the Internet at www.leg.wa.gov/www/calendar.htm