Granting the insurance commissioner the authority to review individual health benefit plan rates._The Senate passed ESB 5261 by a vote of 31 to 18, requiring that rates or modification of rates for individual health plans not be implemented until 60 days after the changes are filed with the State Insurance Commissioner. This act also establishes an actual declination rate schedule for the establishment of loss ratio, incurred claims expense as a percentage of earned premiums, which is to be reported annually to the State Insurance Commissioner. ESB 5261 would also remove the State Insurance Commissioners ability to approve or disapprove rates for individual products as of January 1, 2012. This bill is now in the House Health & Wellness Committee.

Sen. Joe McDermott voted Yes.

Regarding recruiter access to student records._In 2007, the House approved HB 2026 requireing school districts that provide student access or information to military recruiters to make the same access or information available to the Job Corps, Peace Corps and Americorps. HB 2026 failed to move beyond the Senate and was returned to the House for further consideration in the 2008 session. The House again approved HB 2026 by a vote of 64 to 32 returning it to the Senate.

Reps. Eileen Cody and Sharon Nelson voted Yes.

Allowing public funding of local office campaigns._EHB 1551 passed the House by a vote of 56 to 38. This act amends laws to prohibit school district officer campaigns from using public funding for campaigns. Additionally this act was amended to allow local offices to use public funding for political campaigns if a voter approved local funding source is established through taxes, fees, or penalties. EHB 1551 has been referred to the Senate Government and Operations & Elections Committee.

Reps. Eileen Cody and Sharon Nelson voted Yes.

Regulating motorcycles at traffic control signals._By a vote of 86 to 8 the House of Representatives passed SHB 1625. This act would allow motorcycles to turn left after one cycle at a signalized intersection equipped with a vehicle detection device, if that device fails to register the presence of the vehicle. In addition, motorcycle drivers that utilize free left hand turns under this act are required to carry appropriate levels of liability insurance required of other motor vehicles and are subject to penalties for non-compliance. This bill is now in the Senate Transportation Committee.

Reps. Eileen Cody and Sharon Nelson voted No.

Funding qualifying projects through the urban corridor program of the transportation improvement board._ESHB 2331 passed to the Senate from the House with a vote of 68 to 24. This bill establishes a new Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) program, entitled the City Planning and Growth Program, along with additional criteria for the TIB to consider when evaluating grant proposals for this new program. The new criteria applied for issuance of grants through the City Planning and Growth Program consists of measuring improvements to levels of service, the ability to enable local government to implement its comprehensive and capital facilities plans, and whether the local government has sufficient quantities of buildable land and development regulations to accommodate projected population and employment growth related to the project.

Reps. Eileen Cody and Sharon Nelson voted Yes.

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