Weekly Legislative Update January 19-23

Date
News

The Legislature will begin its second week of session by honoring the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Legislative committees will continue to devote much of their time hearing overviews of state agency programs, services, and budgets.

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 two bills regarding the College in the High School program, which allows eleventh and twelfth grade students to earn college credit without leaving their high school. The bills would expand the program to include tenth grade students.

1/19/2015 – 1:30 PM

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

  • HB 1031 Expanding participation in college in the high school programs
  • HB 1081 Expanding participation in college in the high school programs

Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee
Senate Hearing Rm 1
J.A. Cherberg Building
Olympia, WA

  • SB 5082 Providing for career and technical education opportunities for elementary school students

1/22/2015 – 8:00 AM

Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee
Senate Hearing Rm 1
J.A. Cherberg Building
Olympia, WA 98504

  • SB 5179 Concerning paraeducators.

Health and Human Services

Increasing resources and access to mental health services will be a significant topic the Legislature will consider this session. Mental health affects Asian and Pacific Islanders (APIs) at an increasing rate, and yet the level of underutilization of services lends to the underreporting of APIs who face mental health challenges.

The Senate Human Services, Mental Health & Housing Committee will have a public hearing on SB 5078, which would provide funding for evidence-based or research-based intensive community interventions to address mental health and chemical dependency. The funds would come from Initiative 502 revenue dedicated toward the Basic Health Plan, which was eliminated with the state’s adoption of the Affordable Care Act.

1/19/2015 – 10:00AM

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

  • SB 5078 Funding recovery programs for persons with mental illness and chemical dependency disorders

1/22/2015 – 10:00 AM

Senate Health Care Committee
Senate Hearing Rm 4
J.A. Cherberg Building
Olympia, WA 98504

  • SB 5121 Establishing a marijuana research license.
  • SB 5052 Establishing the cannabis patient protection act.

Budget

1/20/2015 – 3:30PM

House Capital Budget Committee
House Hearing Rm B
John L. O’Brien Building
Olympia, WA 98504

  • HB 1115 Concerning the capital budget
  • HB 1116 concerning the supplemental capital budget

Opportunity Gap Meeting

The Educational Opportunity Gap Oversight and Accountability Committee (EOGOAC) will convene on January 20th to finalize their recommendations for the 2015 legislature and discuss a legislative proposal to implement its strategies. Prior and current recommendations include:

  • Reducing the length of time students of color are excluded from school due to suspensions and expulsions and provide student support for reengagement plans;
  • Parent and school engagement;
  • Certification endorsements for educators who teach English Language Learners;
  • Further data disaggregation of student demographic data
  • Enhancing cultural competence of current and future educators
  • Invest, hire and retain educators of color
  • Strengthen student transitions
  • The public is invited to attend and comment.

SAVE THE DATE: Asian Pacific American Legislative Day

Each year, Washington’s Asian Pacific American community convenes in Olympia to voice their concerns to state lawmakers. This year, APA Legislative Day will take place on Thursday, February 26.

Legislative Committees

Legislative committees have begun meeting. Many of the committees are hearing overviews of their respective issue areas to educate new committee members. Visit the the Committee links below for their agendas this week.

House of Representatives

Senate Committees

Resources