Here is a look back at the 22nd day of the 2011 legislative session.

- Law enforcement argued for a bill that would extend benefits to those who died of a heart attack or stroke within 24 hours of stressful and strenuous duty.

- The bill to lower the unemployment insurance rate is on its way as the Senate Labor committee passed it unanimously.

- In a brief press conference on the Monroe correction officer killing Governor Chris Gregoire said that “This is not about budget cuts, this is about are we adequately staffed.”

- A Florida judge ruled that the federal healthcare act is unconstitutional. Rob McKenna and Gregoire both had something to say about this.

- A domestic violence bill was heard today that would make it harder for offenders to get out of the long-term protection orders against them.

- The Senate Ways and Means was briefed on the Disability Lifeline and their various options.

That’s it for now folks. Good night.

The Senate Ways and Means is getting an overview on the Disability Lifeline Cash Assistance Program. Here is the entire slide show.

According to staff the largest part of Disability Lifeline is Unemployable (DL-U), making up 55 percent of the entire program. Only those who are physically or mentally incapacitated, causing them to be unemployable, can be on it. One major stipulation is that they can not be chemically dependent.

Most DL-U clients are white, there are more males than females, and there are more in the 40-49 age range than any other. A little less than a third of them identified as homeless.

The exit rate for this program is pretty substantial, the staff said, with only 11 percent remaining on the program three years after joining it.

Because of their age and disabilities, DL-U recipients are one of the higher cost state medical coverage groups, with average spending of $7,100 per person per year.

The state estimates that by Jan. 1, 2014 almost all of those on Disability Lifeline will be federally covered under Medicaid. The Medicaid waiver does allow the state to retain its current benefit structure. It also does not prohibit the state from terminating the whole program – which has been proposed by Governor Chris Gregoire. As well, the state could cap enrollment for the program and put people on a waiting list.

You can watch the live hearing here.

Tags: Disability Lifeline, senate ways and means

When a victim of domestic violence is given a life-time protection order from their abuser it usually means they can begin to move on with their life – but a decision by the Washington Supreme Court changed that last year.

In the case, In Re Marriage of Freeman, the court reversed a life-long protection order based on the fact that Robert Freeman had moved out of the state and had not broken the order for over 10 years. However, Robin Freeman continued to fear her former husband. A bill brought before the House Judiciary committee today called on the Legislature to find that the Court’s decision established incorrect standards for ending long-term protection orders.

At the hearing today an advocate asked the committee to not just think about the trauma of coming back to court and having to face an abuser – after thinking they never had to worry about seeing them again – but also consider that the whole process puts them in danger all over again. “It is important that the burden [for the abuser] be high,” she said.

Next a victim of domestic violence spoke. Last year, she said, her abuser pointed a gun at her face and as she tried to crawl out the winder he told her “better the mess outside.” Now she is facing the possible amputation of her leg and can not use the right side of her body, she said. “I was told I had a permanent order of protection,” she said. “I can be safe.” Currently she is involved in the court case against her abuser. “Every time I get out of that car I am terrified of what is going to happen to me between the car and the court house,” she told the committee. She asked what would happen in five to ten years, if she has gotten over the night mare only to find out that he was able to get the protection order lifted? What purpose would lifting it serve, she asked. “In the end I would like to know that when he is convicted I can go one with my life.” (more…)

Tags: domestic violence

A judge in Florida has ruled the federal healthcare reform legislation to be unconstitutional — this is the case that Attorney General Rob McKenna joined last year with two dozen other states.

The District Court judge issued a nearly 80 page ruling. The law is also being challenged in other courts, and it may be on the way to the Supreme Court.

See what McKenna and Gregoire have to say after the jump. (more…)

Tags: federal healthcare reform, McKenna

Gov. Chris Gregoire and Eldon Vail just held a very brief press conference on the correction officer killing in Monroe.

The takeaway: Gregoire says there had been no staffing reductions there, but that’s not the issue. “This is not about budget cuts, this is about are we adequately staffed,” she said.

She only took a couple of questions and then left.

Tags: correction officer, Gregoire

The Senate Labor Committee just passed an amended version of the unemployment insurance reduction bill.

The original version, requested by Gov. Chris Gregoire, reduced the unemployment rate and extended training benefits to more unemployed workers. It also contained a provision to allow extended benefits — paid for by the federal government — to continue.

Instead of increased training benefits, labor leaders said during public hearings that they preferred a plan that would give unemployed workers with children an additional $15 per child.

The amended bill removes the extended benefits provision. That means it simply reduces the unemployment rate. Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles says they have until March to deal with the unemployment benefits extension.

“We have many ’99ers,’ as they’re called,” said Sen. Steve Conway. He said those unemployed workers — who have been collecting benefits for up to 99 weeks — would see their benefits disappear if the legislature doesn’t pass that portion of the bill later this session.

“This doesn’t mean that we are not going to actively pursue the second link,” said Sen. Adam Kline, referring to the benefits extension.

The bill passed out of committee unanimously.

Tags: unemployment benefits, unemployment insurance

When police officers and firefighters are killed in the line of duty, their families are eligible for benefits. But when they die off-duty — from heart attack or strokes — they are not eligible. A bill that’s getting a public hearing right now would change that.

Vanessa Walsh, spouse of a police officer who died of a massive heart attack near the end of his shift, said she was shocked to find out that her family didn’t qualify for survivor benefits. She said her husband was a dedicated public servant who was active and healthy in his off-duty time.

One officer said the adrenaline that police experience during the course of a shift can be damaging to their bodies — so heart attacks and strokes should be considered an occupational disease.

Steve Nelson, executive director of the Law Enforcement Officers Plan 2 Board, said the bill would not guarantee that heart attacks are always considered duty-related. He said use of tobacco products, weight, lifestyle and heredity can all be considered. He said a similar federal law has not lead to every heart attack being designated as duty-related. “Without this determination, there are no workers’ comp duty related benefits, there are also no LEOFF Plan 2 duty related benefits,” he said. (more…)

Tags: occupational disease, police

A week’s worth of news in 30 short minutes. Enjoy.

Monday’s schedule is packed with hearings. Here’s a sampling that we’ll be watching:

After perhaps a hearty breakfast of poached eggs, members of the Senate committee on Agriculture will take a look at a bill that would give egg-laying hens more space. The public hearing begins at 10 a.m. and you can watch the live webcast at TVW.org.

At 1:30, lawmakers are set to consider several controversial questions, including:

- What should it take to graduate high school? The Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education committee plans to dive into the question.

- Should flavored tobacco products be outlawed? The House Health and Wellness committee will look at restricting sales.

- What can the state do to protect the elderly and mentally disabled from abuse? The House Judiciary committee will hear a bill that would defend the vulnerable.

- What about the Mazama Pocket Gopher (at right)? One bill ahead for the Senate committee on Natural Resources looks at studying the threatened species.

At 3:30, the House Ways and Means committee could hear plans for deporting non-citizen criminals and restricting eligibility for the Basic Health Plan in order to cover people under the Medicaid waiver.

At that same time, the Senate Ways and Means committee is scheduled for a work session and public hearing on mental health and Disability Lifeline cash.

Tags: Budget, Disability Lifeline, flavored tobacco, high school graduation requirements, Mazama Pocket Gopher, vulnerable adults

If you find yourself at the end of week 3, wondering what’s just happened: Don’t worry. We’ve compiled much of it for you here.

Monday: Five bills on public records were up for hearing, bipartisan, bicameral ferry reform was introduced, the House debated and passed the early action budget savings, the Senate discussed canceling the 2012 presidential primary, the House held a hearing on regulating crisis pregnancy centers and the Senate Ways and Means discussed what’s next for public health. Here’s Monday’s Legislative Review.

Tuesday: The Senate considered banning synthetic pot, Gov. Chris Gregoire urged lawmakers to pass the unemployment insurance rate reduction, we talked to freshmen lawmakers, the Senate considered a way to get you to save more cash — that involves prizes!, and Gregoire also talked about budget cuts and Labor’s idea to add a dependent benefit to unemployment. Here’s Tuesday’s Legislative Review.

Wednesday: The held a hearing on a controversial bill aimed at decreasing health insurance rates, the Senate held a hearing on a bill to stem the tide of foreclosures, the House Public Safety Committee considered who should be notified when a juvenile sex offender registers for school, the Senate considered outlawing smoking in cars where children are present and Jessica Gao looked into the debate over the latest budget cuts. And here’s Wednesday’s Legislative Review.

Thursday: A House committee considered expanding toxic toys legislation, the House Community Development Committee heard about homelessness in Washington, Austin Jenkins interviewed business and labor leaders and a House committee looked at the 2011-2013 capital budget. Here’s Thursday’s edition of Legislative Review.

Friday: We’ve been very busy putting together tonight’s Legislative Review — a 30 minute show with all the week’s top headlines. You can watch that tonight at 6:30. In other news, the House agreed on their rules — including a mandated 24 hour breather between when the budget is introduced and when it gets a vote — and the Senate Higher Education Committee heard testimony about the governor’s proposed 2011-2013 budget.

Tags: week 3