The Legislature will begin its fourth week of session on February 1. Many bills have been proposed over the last three weeks and House and Senate Committees are in full swing conducting public hearings for bills presented this session.
Below are a list of bills and public hearing opportunities that the community may find of interest:
EDUCATION
The House Education Committee will have a public hearing on HB 2881 which addresses the educator shortage crisis and lowering class sizes. Later in the week, the House Higher Education Committee will have a public hearing to discuss a program that provides universal and affordable access to community and technical colleges for all Washingtonians.
February 1, 2016:
- HB 2881: Responding to the educator shortage crisis by increasing training, recruitment, and retention, in order to enable Washington to lower class sizes.
- SB 6368: Creating a pilot project to provide middle and junior high school students strategic and intentional academic support beyond the traditional school day to promote accountability and responsibility.
February 2, 2016:
- HB 2769: Creating a pilot program for community and technical colleges to offer bachelor degrees.
- HCR 4415: Approving the 2016 state comprehensive plan for workforce training and education.
February 3, 2016:
- HB 2820: Establishing the Washington promise program which provides for universal and affordable access to community and technical colleges for all Washingtonians.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
The Senate Government Operations & Security Committee will have a public hearing on SB 6530 that addresses language access concerns. The bill would require public notices of public health, safety, and welfare to be made in the language that diverse residents can understand when a significant segment of the community speaks a language other than English and has limited proficiency in English.
February 2, 2016:
- SB 6529: Strengthening opportunities for the rehabilitation and reintegration of juvenile offenders.
- SB 6530: Providing public notices of public health, safety, and welfare in a language other than English.
February 3, 2016:
- HB 2744: Concerning certain cultural foods.
CIVIL RIGHTS & JUSTICE
The House Public Safety Committee will have a hearing on HB 2908 which would establish a joint legislative task force that includes the Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs to discuss community policing standards for a safer Washington.
February 1, 2016:
- SB 6548: Allowing the use of gender-segregated facilities. (Hearing is on the Proposed Substitute.)
February 2, 2016:
- HB 2822: Restoring the fair treatment of underserved groups in public employment, education, and contracting.
February 3, 2016:
