The Legislature begins its third week in full swing. More than 1,200 bills have been proposed and House and Senate committees are conducting public hearings for bills presented this session.

January 26 is India’s Republic Day, a day that celebrates the establishment of the Constitution of India. The Commission would like to take this time to recognize Indian Americans who have contributed greatly to the rich makeup of Washington state.

The Commission is pleased to announce its 2015-2018 Strategic Plan recently approved by the board at the previous public board meeting hosted in the City of Bellevue.

The Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs would like to highlight the following public hearings that may be of interest to the community

Education

The House Education Committee will hold a public hearing on HB1240 which would prohibit public schools from restraining or isolating children as part of their public school programs in nonemergency situations. HB 1293 would set common statewide standards, training and career development for paraeducators, as well as training for teachers and principals who have paraeducators in their classroom.

The House Higher Education Committee will have a hearing on HB 1138 that would charge the University of Washington to convene a task force on mental health and suicide prevention at Washington’s public and private institutions of higher education. This task force will determine what policies, resources and technical assistance are needed to support institutions’ practices and responses to mental health services and issues.

1/26/2015 – 1:30 PM

House Education Committee
House Hearing Rm A
John L. O’Brien Building
Olympia, WA

  • HB 1240 Concerning restraint or isolation of students, including students with disabilities, in public schools
  • HB 1293 Concerning Paraeducators

1/28/2015 – 1:30 PM

Early Learning and Human Services
House Hearing Rm B
John L. O’Brien Building
Olympia, WA

  • HB 1491  Improving quality in the early care and education system

1/28/2015 – 1:30 PM

Higher Education Committee
House Hearing Rm C
John L. O’Brien Building
Olympia, WA

HB 1138  Creating a task force on mental health and suicide prevention in higher education

Health & Human Services

Efforts on providing adequate funding for substance abuse and prevention programs, particularly in light of the legalization of marijuana, is underway this legislative session.

The Senate Human Services, Mental Health & Housing Committee will have a public hearing on SB 5245 which seeks to disburse all marijuana excise taxes in a number of ways, including funding to administer Washington state Healthy Youth Survey and research, production and dissemination of public educational materials.

1/26/2015 – 10:00AM

Senate Human Services, Mental Health & Housing Committee
Senate Hearing Rm 1
J.A. Cherberg Building

SB 5245 Funding recovery programs for persons with mental illness and chemical dependency disorders

Economic Development & Security

The House Committee on Labor will have a public hearing on HB 1354 which seeks to effectively protect employees from employer retaliation and discrimination when employees seek to exercise their wage and hour rights. The committee will also have a hearing on HB 1355 regarding increasing the minimum hourly wage to twelve dollars over four years beginning January 1, 2020.

1/26/2015 – 1:30 PM

House Education Committee
House Hearing Rm B
John L. O’Brien Building

  • HB 1354 Concerning the employee antiretaliation act

HB 1355 Increasing the minimum hourly wage to twelve dollars over four years