2007 Legislative Session Report
It took Washington State NOW as well as a coalition of other organizations 29 years to pass in 2006 a bill to amend Washington State’s anti-discrimination law to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in employment, housing, public accommodations, credit, insurance and commercial transactions. And it only took one year to pass and for Governor Gregoire to sign SB 5336 Domestic Partnership Bill. Beginning July 23, 2007, a domestic partnership registry is established for couples that are adult same sex partners, or heterosexual couples where one member is at least 62 years of age. Domestic partnerships, civil unions, or reciprocal beneficiary relationships registered in other states are recognized in Washington so long as all the Washington criteria for domestic partnership are met. Domestic partners of state employees are qualified to receive benefits covered by the Public Employment Benefits Board. Rights of spouses extended to domestic partners include
Washington State NOW also supported a number of other bills that successfully passed the legislature and were sent to the governor for signature as well. The bills that are marked with an ** below have been signed by the governor as of 4/22/2007.
HB 5659 Establishing family and medical leave insurance. A new partial wage replacement program is established. Beginning on October 1, 2009, benefits of $250 per week for up to five weeks are paid to individuals who are unable to perform their regular or customary work because they are on family leave. "Family leave" means leave for the birth of a child or the placement of a child for adoption.
**HB 5827 Regarding consumer privacy. Prohibits employers from checking consumer reports of people seeking employment unless the information is substantially job related and the employer discloses the use of the information to the consumer in writing.
SB 5063 Removing gender references. This bill brings a number of statutes into compliance with RCW 44.04.210, which requires statutes to be gender neutral. This is a technical bill that changes references such as firemen to firefighters and policemen to police officers.
SB 5470 Revising provisions concerning dissolution proceedings. Provides provision to support the courts’ ability to screen for complex cases, assist parties not represented by an attorney, and provide safe visitation & exchange alternatives for children. Provides for mediation at no or reduced cost in cases involving allocation of residential time and other matters relating to parenting plans. The bill also establishes a task force to 1) review and adopt best practices for a clear and concise dispute resolution process, 2) develop standardized and consistent sexual assault & domestic violence training curriculums, and 3) assess the need for additional changes in family law matters such as specialized evaluators, modification of forms, and fee assessments.
HB 1009 Establishing work groups to periodically review and update the child support schedule. Beginning in 2011 and every four years after a work group shall be convened to review the child support guidelines. The work group shall report its findings and recommendations for legislative action to the legislature. The bill also provides that, by August 1, 2007, the Division of Child Support convene a work group to examine the current laws, administrative rules, and practices regarding child support. The objective of the work group shall be to continue the work of the 2005 child support guidelines work group, and produce findings and recommendations to the legislature, including recommendations for legislative action, by December 30, 2008.
**SB 5093 Concerning access to health care for children. Expands coverage for children’s health insurance up to 250% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), adds time certain goals for schools to reach higher nutrition standards and requires at least ½ hour per day of physical activity for children in grades 1 to 8.
SB 5930 Providing high quality, affordable health care to Washingtonians based on the recommendations of the blue ribbon commission on health care costs and access. Provides a plan to develop high quality, affordable health care to Washingtonians based on the recommendations of the blue ribbon commission on health care costs and access.
**HB 1337 Regarding coverage for colorectal cancer examinations and laboratory tests. Requires health insurance policies to cover colorectal cancer screening for individuals over 50 and those at high risk of colorectal cancer.
HB 1569 Reforming the health care system in Washington State. The Health Insurance Partnership will provide a premium subsidy for low-income employees of small business with incomes below 200% of the FPL. By December 1, 2008, the Partnership must report to the Legislature and Governor on the risks and benefits of incorporating the individual and small group markets into the partnership; and by December 1, 2009, the Partnership must report to the Legislature and Governor on the risk and benefits of incorporating the high risk pool, Basic Health, Public Employees Benefits Board, and public school employees, as well as the impact of requiring all residents over 18 to be covered.
HB 1802 Providing information about the human papilmavirus disease & vaccine. Requires all public and private schools to provide information to parents of sixth grade and older children about the human papillomavirus including places where addition information and vaccine can be obtained.
HB 1096 Creating postsecondary opportunity programs. Directs the college board in coordination with business and labor to identify post secondary training programs that lead to a credential, certificate or degree in high demand occupations. Creates the postsecondary opportunity grant program to assist students whose family income is at the 200 percent of poverty level or below. Funds for the program are given to the post secondary program to assist the students in accessing individualized support services and access alternative financial resources for their education.
SB 5828 Regarding early child development & learning. Establishes the Early Learning Advisory Council to the Department of Early Learning. It also establishes, based on available funding, a voluntary rating system to give parents better information about the quality of childcare and early education programs and to increase the quality of early learning through out the state.
SB 5297 Regarding providing medically and scientifically accurate sexual health education in schools. By September 1, 2008, every public school that offers sexual health education must assure that it is medically and scientifically accurate; age appropriate; appropriate for students regardless of gender, race, disability status, or sexual orientation; and includes information about abstinence; however, abstinence may not be taught to the exclusion of instruction on other methods of preventing unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease prevention.
**SB 5118 Developing sexual harassment policies, procedures, and mandatory training for all state employees. Requires the Department of Personnel to develop rules establishing guidelines on policies, procedures, reporting, and mandatory training for all state agencies on sexual harassment for all state employees.