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Fifth Week
The fifth week of session came to a close today. Our priority legislative items are moving well through the process and we are working hard to see that they reach passage. The legislature is quickly coming up on its first bill cut-off date. February 20th is the last day to introduce policy bills in their house of origin, except for House fiscal committees, Senate Ways & Means and Transportation committees.
Brady List
HB 1512 was voted out of committee in executive session on Wednesday afternoon. It received a unanimous vote with a “Do Pass” recommendation from the Labor Committee. An unfriendly amendment was offered but did not come up for a vote. The bill is now in the Rules Committee. We are working on getting it through Rules for consideration on the House Floor. The bipartisan support from its committee of origin will be valuable when it gets to a floor vote.
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Surviving Spouses
HB 1194, regarding surviving spouses receiving benefits after remarriage, was also passed out of committee in executive session on Wednesday afternoon. The original bill extended L&I benefits after a surviving spouse remarried. The bill was amended so that the LEOFF 2 fund would provide the surviving spouse’s L&I benefit after it ceases upon remarriage. The amended bill language creates a new LEOFF 2 benefit so we are supporting it contingent upon support from the LEOFF 2 board, which meets next Wednesday.
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Fish & Wildlife
SB 5763 was heard today in the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee. WACOPS members and Fish & Wildlife officers and sergeants testified in favor of the bill that would grant their guilds binding arbitration rights. The House companion bill, HB 1964, will be heard on Monday.
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Bill Report
Click here for the bill report. It shows the issues we are tracking so far this year. We appreciate your input and welcome suggestions. Please feel free to contact us with questions or comments. We work for you and the greater input we get, the better we can represent you.
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Contact Us
If you have any questions or would like to testify on a bill, please contact us at 1-800-887-2677 or using the information below.
www.WACOPS.org | 200 Union Ave SE | Olympia, WA 98501
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