CAPAA Public Board Meeting on March 19

Join the Commission on March 19 for a public board meeting at Tacoma Community House to learn about issues and resources impacting Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.

The public board meeting will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., but attendees may arrive or depart at any time. Members of the public will have an opportunity to provide public comment.

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Small Business Guide available in multiple languages

The Governor’s Office for Regulatory Innovation and Assistance (ORIA) provides a guide for small business owners and advice for those interested in starting a business. Translations of the guide are available in Korean, Vietnamese and Chinese.

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Office of Equal Opportunity Community Meeting 

The Department of Transportation’s (WSDOT) Office of Equal Opportunity is hosting a community meeting on March 24 at New Holly Gathering in Seattle.

The event is for individuals interested in working as a contractor or consultant for WSDOT. The Office of Equal Opportunity will share the services they provide and their plans to involve disadvantaged businesses.

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Legislative Update for the Week of 3/7

The House and the Senate passed their respective operating budgets and have begun the budget negotiation process. State lawmakers have until March 10 to pass a supplemental budget. In addition, legislators will be considering whether to concur on legislation that was amended by the second house during this final full week of the regular session.

The Governor signed the first bill of the session, SB 6195, which responds to the Supreme Court’s decision that the state is unconstitutionally underfunding basic education.

Below is the status of legislation CAPAA is tracking that may be of interest to APA communities:

Budget

  • ESSB 6246: Making 2016 supplemental operating appropriations. (House Appropriations)
  • ESSB 6201: Concerning the supplemental capital budget. (House 2nd Reading)
  • SHB 2380: Concerning the supplemental capital budget. (House Rules)
  • ESHB 2376: Making 2016 supplemental operating appropriations. (Senate Ways & Means)

Civil Rights & Justice

  • E2SHB 1390: Concerning legal financial obligations. (Senate 2nd Reading)
  • ESHB 2908: Establishing the joint legislative task force on the use of deadly force in community policing. (Senate Passed 3rd Reading)
  • E2SHB 1745: Enacting the Washington voting rights act. (Senate 2nd Reading)

Economic Development

  • SB 6180: Creating a disadvantaged business enterprise advisory committee within the transportation commission. (House Passed 3rd Reading)

Education

  • 4SHB 1541: Implementing strategies to close the educational opportunity gap, based on the recommendations of the educational opportunity gap oversight and accountability committee. (Senate 2nd Reading)
  • 2SSB 6408: Concerning paraeducators. (House Rules)
  • E2SHB 2573: Concerning the shortage of public school teachers and substitute teachers. (Senate 2nd Reading)
  • E2SSB 6195: Concerning basic education obligations. (Governor signed)

Health & Human Services

  • E2SHB 2793: Providing for suicide awareness and prevention education for safer homes. (Senate Passed 3rd Reading)
  • SB 5689: Concerning the scope and costs of the diabetes epidemic in Washington. (House Passed 3rd Reading)
  • SB 6398: Concerning certain cultural foods. (House Speaker signed)