HB 1116

Creating a plan to increase the homeownership rate to 75 percent by 2020.

By a vote of 65 to 31 on Feb. 12, the House approved HB 1116, which would require the Washington State Housing Finance Commission to develop a plan for increasing homeownership rates to 75% by 2020. The plan must be a joint effort between the Affordable Housing Advisory Board, the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development, and other housing stakeholders. The Commission is required to present the plan to the legislature December 31. The bill is now under consideration in the Senate.

Rep. Eileen Cody , D - West Seattle, y

Rep. Joe McDermott, D - West Seattle, y

Rep. Helen Sommers, D - Ballard, y

Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson, D - Ballard, y

HB 1097

Protecting frail elders and vulnerable adults and persons with developmental disabilities from perpetrators who commit their crimes while providing transportation, within the course of their employment, to frail elders and vulnerable adults.

By a vote of 96 to 0 on Feb. 12, the House approved HB 1097, which would expand certain sex crimes committed against vulnerable adults. A person would be guilty of second degree rape by having sex with a vulnerable adult while employed to provide transportation to the victim at the time of the offense. A person would be guilty of indecent liberties by engaging in sexual contact with a vulnerable adult while employed to provide transportation to the victim at the time of the offense. The bill is now under consideration in the Senate.

Rep. Eileen Cody, D - West Seattle, y

Rep. Joe McDermott, D - West Seattle, y

Rep. Helen Sommers, D - Ballard, y

Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson, D - Ballard, y

HB 1556

Designating the Walla Walla sweet onion as the official Washington state vegetable.

By a vote of 95 to 0 on Feb. 14, the House approved HB 1556, which would designate the Walla Walla sweet onion as the official Washington state vegetable. The designation would take effect 90 days after adjournment of session. The bill is now under consideration in the Senate.

Rep. Eileen Cody, D - West Seattle, y

Rep. Joe McDermott, D - West Seattle, y

Rep. Helen Sommers, D - Ballard, y

Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson D - Ballard, y

SB 5191

Modifying missing persons provisions.

By a vote of 40 to 0 on Feb. 9, the Senate approved SB 5191, which would change some provisions relating to missing persons. The bill removes the 12 hour requirement, in favor of the more general time frame of "without delay," to enter biographical information into the state's missing person computer system. The bill also eliminates the requirement of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs to remove information about missing persons from the web site after 30 days. The bill is now under consideration in the House.

Sen. Erik Poulsen , D - West Seattle, y

Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, D - Ballard, nv

SB 5093

Concerning access to health care services for children.

By a vote of 38 to 9 on Feb. 14, the Senate approved SB 5093, which would repeal children's health program statutes and replace them with a new initiative. Among other provisions, the new program requires the Department of Social and Health Services to provide affordable health care coverage to all children under the age of 19 whose household income is below 250% of the federal poverty level. The bill also requires that after January 1, 2009, DSHS must cover all children under 300% of the federal poverty level. The bill also establishes a goal of improving children's health through public schools by offering healthier food selections and increasing physical education by the year 2010. The bill is now under consideration in the House.

Sen. Erik Poulsen , D - West Seattle, y

Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, D - Ballard, y

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