In light of the number of alcohol-related deaths over the past year at college campuses in Washington, lawmakers are considering a bill that encourages underage party-goers to call for help if a friend is in need.

House Bill 1404, sponsored by Rep. Marko Liias (D – Edmonds), is designed to encourage underage drinkers, who might otherwise be discouraged by the fear of an alcohol-related charge, to call 911 if a friend shows signs of alcohol poisoning.

“We want young people to know that when they call 911 the only thing that will come is help, not trouble,” Liias said Monday in front of the Senate Law and Justice Committee.

The measure is structured after a similar bill that came out of the 2010 legislative session which does the same thing for people who call 911 to help a friend they believe are overdosing on drugs.

Speaking on behalf of the Washington State Council of Firefighters, and as both a firefighter and emergency medical technician himself, Michael White said he believes the bill will help save lives. (more…)

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2.1.12

 A number of unmanned aircraft were on display at the state Capitol on Wednesday in an attempt by one lawmaker to inform his colleagues on the beneficial uses of the emerging aviation technology.

The event, organized by Sen. Jim Honeyford (R-Sunnyside), featured a presentation by Dr. Tad McGeer, the co-founder of Aerovel Corporation, a company based in Klickitat County which develops miniature robotic aircraft.

McGeer detailed the wide array of non-military uses for unmanned aircraft, including wildfire and weather monitoring, mineral surveys, and search and rescue efforts.

He then described what he calls the “horrors of federal regulation” which deny small companies like his access to export markets. Domestically, it’s regulations by the Federal Aviation Administration that cripple the industry, McGeer said.

“It forces people like me to become an arms dealer, there’s no other choice or market,” he said.

(more…)

Low-income families with pets may get a break on costs for spay or neuter procedures next year with a bill under consideration by the Legislature.

The House Agricultural Committee held a hearing Wednesday to discuss a bill that would create a statewide program to subsidize the procedures, for low-income pet owners. The surgeries typically cost from about $75-$400, depending on the type of animal and how much it weighs.

The program would be organized by the Department of Health and funded by a $1 surcharge on pet licenses sold in the state.

“We need a community solution,” said Andrea Logan of the Washington Alliance for Humane Legislation. “We need to have aggressive spay-neuter program in all areas of the state to make an impact on the overpopulation crisis.”

Logan worked on a pilot project in Yakima that she said had a tremendous response from the appreciative pet owners.

“However, as a non-profit, we have limited funds and resources. To really make an impact in that area we need community support,” Logan said. (more…)

Lawmakers prepare to start considering bills on the Senate floor Wednesday morning.

Wednesday marked a key legislative deadline in Olympia as lawmakers faced a 5 p.m. cut-off to move bills out of the chamber of origin. Here’s a roundup of key bills that lived to see another day and others that didn’t fare as well.

SURVIVORS:

Dream Act: A bill that would increase access to higher education for students who are undocumented immigrants cleared the House just minutes before the 5 p.m. deadline Wednesday. House Bill 1817 would extend the State Need Grant program, which provides aid to low-income college students, to undocumented graduates of Washington high schools. The proposal applies to students with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival status under the federal DREAM Act.

Inlsee’s climate change bill: The Senate passed a measure requested by Gov. Jay Inslee that would create a working group that can hire a consultant to create a cost effective strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Senate Bill 5802 passed 37-12, but not before Sen. Mike Carrell (R-Lakewood) delivered a fiery speech in opposition to the bill. Carrell said the legislation uses “pseudo science” to make assumptions about climate change. “I have no problem with the earth warming right now… but the thing is you’re making assumption that it is CO2 causing the earth to warm. The opposite could be the warming is causing the release,” Carrell said. A similar bill has cleared the House.

Reporting use of restraints in school: A bill that would require teachers and schools to report incidents of restraint or isolation of a student cleared the House. The bill would require the principal to tell parents about the disciplinary action within 24 hours.

Social networking passwords: A bill that would prohibit companies from asking job applicants for passwords to social-networking sites like Facebook and Twitter was passed unanimously by the Senate. Supporters say Senate Bill 5211 is about protecting privacy rights.

BILLS LIKELY DEAD:

Universal background checks: Despite days of closed-door negotiations, a bill that would require background checks for private gun sales never made it to the floor for a vote. The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Jamie Pedersen (D-Seattle), was not able to round up enough votes in the Democratic-controlled House to support the measure, even with help from Gov. Jay Inslee.

Repealing family medical leave act: A bill that would have repealed Washington’s Family and Medical Leave Insurance Act never made it to the floor on Wednesday. The bill would have eliminated the 2007 act, which gives new parents paid leave of up to $250 a week for five weeks. It was never implemented due to lack of funding. Sen. John Braun (R-Centralia), who sponsored Senate Bill 5159, argued that the current law is a liability and will never be funded. Sen. Karen Keiser (D- Kent) introduced her own bill which would fund an expanded version of the original act. It died in committee.

Training wage: A bill that would allow some businesses to pay new employees less than minimum wage did not come to the floor for a vote Wednesday. Senate Bill 5275 would establish a training wage equal to the federal minimum wage or 75 percent of the state minimum wage — whichever is higher. It would apply to a new employee’s first 680 hours on the job.

Toll revenues: A bill to hold back toll increases on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge never made it to the Senate floor, despite the efforts of the Democratic minority caucus on Tuesday. Senate Bill 5592, sponsored by Sen. Nathan Schlicher (D-Gig Harbor), would limit the amount of toll revenues spent on the operating costs of the toll bridge and help hold down the need for toll increases.

Erasing misdemeanor marijuana offenses: A piece of legislation that would allow people convicted of misdemeanor marijuana offenses to have the crime speedily removed from their records never made it to the floor for a vote. House Bill 1661, sponsored by Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon (D-Burien), would have created a method to have the convictions removed without waiting the standard three-year period.

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The Senate on Thursday passed a bill that would allow some Washington students to sip alcoholic drinks as long they don’t swallow it.

Senate Bill 5774 would allow students between 18 and 21 years old and enrolled in a culinary, wine technology, beer technology, or spirituous technology-related program to sample alcoholic drinks, but not ingest them. The law would only apply to students at community and technical colleges.

Other restrictions would apply, including tasting the alcoholic drinks under the supervision of an instructor who is at least 21 years old. Illinois, Colorado and Rhode Island have passed similar legislation, often labeled academic “Sip and Spit” laws.

Sen. Mike Hewitt (R-Walla Walla), the bill’s prime sponsor, said the legislation would help students who are studying to work in the state’s robust wine industry.

Opponents worry the bill is moving in the wrong direction, opening the door to more legislation that expands access to alcohol.

“We have lots of societal issues with too much drinking,” said Sen. Jim Hargrove (D-Hoquiam). “I’m really concerned about the proliferation of alcohol licenses with the senior citizens centers now. I”m sure day care centers will be next. We have tastings in grocery stores and now we are going to be moving below age 21.”

The bill passed by a 42-to-7 vote and now heads to the House, where a similar bill is being considered.

Sick Washingtonians may feel a little better soon, as they may be able to stay home without giving up their pay. The House Appropriations Committee passed a bill on Friday that would require employers to allow employees to take paid sick days.

“It’s estimated that we have over a million workers in this state that don’t have the ability to take paid sick leave when they need to stay home to take care of themselves or a family member,” said sponsor Rep. Laurie Jinkins (D-Tacoma).

House Bill 1313 would require employers with more than four full-time employees to provide paid sick leave for workers, or sick members their family. It also allows employees to take sick leave in cases of domestic violence, or if a public health emergency shuts down businesses or schools.

Jinkins said the bill will help the state’s low-wage workers. “They are frequently making choices about whether or not to got to work sick or put food on the table,” she said.

HB 1313 passed out of committee along a party line vote of 18-13.

Before voting no, Republican Rep. J.T. Wilcox of Yelm said the bill would weaken the state competitively, and that isn’t something Washington’s economy can afford right now.

“We all know that we have a very fragile economy and that a lot of people are hurting,” Wilcox said. “I believe building the economy and providing more jobs for people to go to work is the most important way to help those most in need.”

The bill now goes to the Rules Committee before heading to the House Floor.

Three years ago lawmakers in Olympia passed a measure to make it easier to detain potentially dangerous individuals for mental illness treatment, but the Legislature did not pay for it because of budget constraints.

On Tuesday, members of the Senate Ways and Means Committee heard testimony on a bill that would provide funding to put the law in place by July 2014.

Senate Bill 5480, sponsored by Sen. Karen Keiser (D-Kent), would implement the 2010 law which allows the involuntary civil commitment of potentially dangerous individuals based on a patient’s past behavior. The current system requires a patient to pose an immediate threat or danger.

“The change would take us in the right direction in getting people who are a danger to the community into treatment,” Keiser said.

Implementing the program would cost the state between $16 million and $23 million in the next two-year budget cycle.

The bill would allow the use evidence-based community services to treat individuals at the local level, which supporters say brings down the cost and makes the state eligible for matching Medicaid dollars. The 2010 legislation called for more beds at Western State Hospital.

Supporters say any delay will end up costing lives.

“Right now, we have more people in jail awaiting evaluations than we have beds to serve them,” said Larry Thompson, who works at Western State Hospital. He said many of his patients ended up incarcerated because the state Legislature “kicked the can down the road” by not funding the original law.

The legislation is part of a package of proposals Senate Democrats have introduced to prevent gun violence.

No one testified against the legislation during the hearing Tuesday. The committee did not take action on the bill.

A bill that would allow the introduction of an industrial hemp industry in the state was approved by the House Government and Accountability Committee on Thursday.

House Bill 1888, sponsored by Rep. Matt Shea (R-Spokane Valley), would allow the state to issue licenses to industrial hemp growers.

Shea introduced the legislation after learning that the state imports a large amount of sisal twine made from hemp to tie up vineyards and hop fields. The twine is one of many products the state imports from countries like Indonesia, where hemp production is legal.

“Industrial hemp is a kissing cousin of hops. Why don’t we grow it here, create a new agricultural industry in the state of Washington so we can supply our own sisal twine,” Shea said.

Although the U.S. doesn’t allow the production of industrial hemp, it is a leading importer of hemp products like clothing, paper, fabric, rope, fuel, soaps and shampoos.

Many other states – Montana, Hawaii, Kentucky, Vermont, Maryland and West Virginia – are considering similar legislation this year.

Federal legislation has also been introduced to clarify the difference between industrial hemp and cannabis used for smoking. The bill would also authorize Washington State University to start an industrial hemp research program.

“The economic impact of a crop like this in Washington State is in the tens of millions of dollars and instead of importing, I think it is time indeed to start growing our own industrial hemp,” Shea said.

The bill passed unanimously and will now head to the House Rules Committee for consideration.