HOUSE
House Bill 1044, Engrossed House Bill 1044: Mandatory health plan coverage for voluntary abortions. Passed the House on Feb. 22 by a vote of 53-43. The bill, which is also known as the “Reproductive Parity Act,” requires health insurance plans that provide coverage for maternity care or services to also provide substantially equivalent coverage for voluntary abortions.
Voting yes: Rep. Luis Moscoso, D-Mountlake Terrace; Derek Stanford, D-Bothell; Rep. Marko Liias, D-Mukilteo; Rep. Mary Helen Roberts, D-Edmonds; Rep. Ruth Kagi, D-Lake Forest Park; Rep. Cindy Ryu, D-Shoreline; Rep. John McCoy, D-Tulalip; Rep. Mike Sells, D-Everett; Rep. Hans Dunshee, D-Snohomish.
Voting no: Rep. Dave Hayes, R-Camano Island; Rep. Norma Smith, R-Whidbey Island; Rep. Dan Kristiansen, R-Snohomish; Rep. Elizabeth Scott, R-Monroe; Rep. Mike Hope, R-Lake Stevens.
House Bill 1047, Substitute House Bill 1047: Allowing the use of electronic images from traffic safety and tolling system cameras by law enforcement. Passed the House on Feb. 22, by a vote of 78-18. This act allows law enforcement access to photos and other data from traffic safety and tolling cameras for crime investigation and prosecution. A search warrant must be obtained before such access is allowed. The bill arose out of a situation in which police were not allowed access to this evidence in a shooting incident because of the prohibition against use of these images for anything other than traffic or tolling infractions.
Voting yes: Moscoso, Stanford, Hayes, Smith, Liias, Roberts, Kagi, McCoy, Sells, Dunshee, Hope.
Voting no: Ryu, Kristiansen, Scott.
House Bill 1382, Substitute House Bill 1382: Establishing a program for the redistribution of unused medications to qualifying patients. Passed the House on Feb. 25 by a vote of 81-11. This bill is substantially similar to Senate Bill 5148. It establishes a program for health practitioners, pharmacists, medical facilities and drug manufacturers and wholesalers to donate, accept and redistribute prescription drugs and supplies without compensation. Uninsured patients have priority, but the drugs may be distributed to other qualifying patients. It provides immunity to participants in the prescription drug redistribution program and requires the Department of Health Services to establish rules for this program.
Voting yes: Moscoso, Stanford, Hayes, Smith, Liias, Roberts, Kagi, Ryu, McCoy, Sells, Kristiansen, Scott Dunshee, Hope.
House Bill 1268: Allowing local governments to accept contractor bids that are the lowest before local taxes are applied. Passed the House on Feb. 27, 62-35. This bill addresses the fact that local governments currently apply local taxes in determining the lowest contractor bid. If a local jurisdiction happens to have a higher tax rate, it is forced to accept bids from contractors outside their jurisdiction. Under the bill, local governments are authorized to determine which bid is lowest before local taxes are applied, provided it gives notice that it intends to do so.
Voting yes: Moscoso, Stanford, Liias, Roberts, Kagi, Ryu, McCoy, Sells, Dunshee.
Voting no: Hayes, Smith, Kristiansen, Scott, Hope.
SENATE
Senate Bill 5148, Substitute Senate Bill 5148: Permitting the redistribution of unused medications to uninsured patients. Passed the Senate on Feb. 25, by a vote of 49-0. The bill permits any health care practitioner, pharmacist, medical facility, drug manufacturer, or drug wholesaler to donate prescription drugs and supplies to a pharmacy for redistribution to patients who are uninsured and are at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Entities that redistribute such drugs are not subject to criminal prosecution, professional discipline, or civil liability for damages relating to the donation or distribution of unused drugs, unless gross negligence is involved.
Voting yes: Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe, D-Bothell; Sen. Barbara Bailey, R-Oak Harbor; Sen. Paull Shin, D-Edmonds; Sen. Maralyn Chase, D-Shoreline; Sen. Nick Harper, D-Everett; Sen. Kirk Pearson, R-Monroe; Sen. Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens.
SOURCE: WashingtonVotes.org
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