State Legislature 2013 session

[eridani]

44. Labor supported bills that need a vote by 2/22

This Friday, Feb. 22 is the deadline for bills that are not budget related to advance from their policy committees. Call the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000 and leave a message urging that the following bills be advanced from their policy committees by Friday.

-- HB 1026 (Rep. Jim Moeller) -- Promoting the hiring of Washington resident workers on taxpayer-funded or subsidized public works projects. At least 75% of work hours on such projects would be state residents, although contractors could get a waiver if enough qualified local workers are not available. Hearing this Saturday (after cutoff) in House Labor and Workforce Development. Companion SB 5394 (Sen. Bob Hasegawa) has not received a hearing in the Senate.

-- HB 1085 (Rep. Sherry Appleton) -- Would establish a single-payer health system called the Washington Health Security Trust. In 2011, Vermont established Green Mountain Care, a single-payer system to be available to all of that state's residents. As in Vermont, HB 1085 would allow Washington to seek an "innovation waiver" under the Affordable Care Act to provide universal coverage for specific health services for all of our state's residents. Heard in House Health Care and Wellness. Companion SB 5224 (Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles) has not received a hearing in the Senate.

-- HB 1095 (Rep. Tami Green) -- Protects patient safety by establishing standards for safe nurse staffing levels at hospitals. This statewide safety standard would make sure that the heart of patient care -- having enough nurses to care for patients -- comes first and require CEOs to listen to their own staffing committee when more staff is required. Heard in House Health Care and Wellness.

-- SB 5360 (Sen. Steve Conway) -- Giving the Department of Labor & Industries some tools to provide for the collection of unpaid wages when those wages are illegally withheld by employers. Heard in Senate Commerce and Labor. Companion bill, HB 1467 (Rep. Tami Green), passed House Labor on Feb. 14.

-- SB 5029 (Sen. Bob Hasegawa) -- Establishing the Washington Investment Trust, which can advance construction loans to local government entities for public infrastructure projects. Modeled after a successful state-run institution in North Dakota, SB 5029 would enable the state’s money to be at its own disposal, instead of parked at Bank of America or some other commercial bank. Heard in Senate Financial Institutions.

-- SB 5395 (Sen. Steve Conway) -- Applying prevailing wage standards to publicly subsidized projects. This ensures that taxpayer-subsidized work doesn't reward contractors that undercut community wage standards. Heard in Senate Commerce and Labor. Companion bill, HB 1025 (Rep. Jim Moeller), passed House Labor on Feb. 13.

-- SB 5429 (Sen. Maralyn Chase) -- Creating some accountability for businesses that receive tax breaks for new or replacement machinery. This bill would require the subsidized business to demonstrate a net benefit to the state in terms of jobs created or maintained and the economic activity created. Heard in Senate Trade and Economic Development.

-- SB 5482 (Sen. Karen Keiser) -- Ensuring low-income workers have access to health coverage under the Affordable Care Act. It requires the state to monitor enrollment reports, by income and enrollment status, from the state's new Health Benefits Exchange. If more than 10% of workers at or near the poverty threshold are uninsured, the state would implement the Federal Basic Health Option. Heard Monday in Senate Health Care.


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