Published: Sunday, January 10, 2010
Eight issues legislators may tackle this session
OLYMPIA — Dealing with the budget deficit will dominate many but not every conversation in the 2010 session of the state Legislature.
Lawmakers' plates will be stacked high with other issues. Here is a handful:
Public safety: Offenders facing charges that could result in a third-strike conviction and life imprisonment may be denied bail under a proposed amendment to the state constitution. Judges could deny bail in other cases involving violent felons, too. This amendment, which would require voter approval, is one of the most prominent pieces of legislation spurred by the slaying of four Lakewood police officers.
The Jobs Act: This is a proposed $850 million bond measure to fund energy-saving renovations at public schools and universities and create up to 38,000 jobs. A larger bond proposed last year failed. With the economy in worse shape, this one could clear the Legislature and land on the fall ballot for voters to act on.
Education: Several reforms will be pursued to ensure the state is eligible for a slice of federal funds under its Race to the Top program. Two of the ideas deal with evaluation of teachers and assisting schools where students' academic performance is persistently below state averages.
Marijuana: A push is on to change how the state deals with marijuana. One bill would reduce penalties for adults found possessing small amounts of pot. More ambitious legislation would make it legal for adults to grow it and state liquor stores to sell it. It would be a heavily taxed product with proceeds earmarked for drug education programs.
Cell phones: Police could have an easier time ticketing people driving while holding a cell phone. Today, such an act is a secondary offense so that driver can't be stopped unless some other offense is committed, like an unsafe lane change. What's proposed would make it a primary offense — and apply the same rules to texting.
Boeing and aerospace: There are going to be new calls for developing a robust worker training center, more state dollars for research of evolving technologies and stepped-up marketing of the state as a hub for building planes. And there will be renewed calls for reforms to the workers compensation and unemployment insurance programs.
Tribes: Relations of state and tribal governments would be etched into law under a proposed bill. It would require Washington governors to meet annually with leaders of federally recognized tribes; state agencies have a tribal liaison and the Legislature form a committee on state and tribal Affairs.
Ferries: Part of the Washington State Ferries budget problem is too few dollars for fuel. Lawmakers are being asked to let state ferries add a ticket surcharge to deal with unexpected price hikes. If approved, they could pop up as early as May 1.
Lawmakers' plates will be stacked high with other issues. Here is a handful:
Public safety: Offenders facing charges that could result in a third-strike conviction and life imprisonment may be denied bail under a proposed amendment to the state constitution. Judges could deny bail in other cases involving violent felons, too. This amendment, which would require voter approval, is one of the most prominent pieces of legislation spurred by the slaying of four Lakewood police officers.
The Jobs Act: This is a proposed $850 million bond measure to fund energy-saving renovations at public schools and universities and create up to 38,000 jobs. A larger bond proposed last year failed. With the economy in worse shape, this one could clear the Legislature and land on the fall ballot for voters to act on.
Education: Several reforms will be pursued to ensure the state is eligible for a slice of federal funds under its Race to the Top program. Two of the ideas deal with evaluation of teachers and assisting schools where students' academic performance is persistently below state averages.
Marijuana: A push is on to change how the state deals with marijuana. One bill would reduce penalties for adults found possessing small amounts of pot. More ambitious legislation would make it legal for adults to grow it and state liquor stores to sell it. It would be a heavily taxed product with proceeds earmarked for drug education programs.
Cell phones: Police could have an easier time ticketing people driving while holding a cell phone. Today, such an act is a secondary offense so that driver can't be stopped unless some other offense is committed, like an unsafe lane change. What's proposed would make it a primary offense — and apply the same rules to texting.
Boeing and aerospace: There are going to be new calls for developing a robust worker training center, more state dollars for research of evolving technologies and stepped-up marketing of the state as a hub for building planes. And there will be renewed calls for reforms to the workers compensation and unemployment insurance programs.
Tribes: Relations of state and tribal governments would be etched into law under a proposed bill. It would require Washington governors to meet annually with leaders of federally recognized tribes; state agencies have a tribal liaison and the Legislature form a committee on state and tribal Affairs.
Ferries: Part of the Washington State Ferries budget problem is too few dollars for fuel. Lawmakers are being asked to let state ferries add a ticket surcharge to deal with unexpected price hikes. If approved, they could pop up as early as May 1.
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