31st, 5th and 47th Legislative Districts weekly roll call vote | State Legislature

The following is the weekly roll call vote from WashingtonVotes.org for the 31st, 5th and 47th Legislative Districts.

House Bill 2127, Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2127, making supplemental appropriations in the 2011-13 operating budget, passed 53-45 in the House on February 29, 2012.

This act decreases State General Fund appropriations for the 2011-13 biennium by $1.15 billion; the total budget is decreased by $1.0 billion. Fund transfers and other changes to the original 2011-13 biennial budget are also made. This act is now headed to the Senate for further consideration.

Senate Bill 5984, Substitute Senate Bill 5984, concerning local government financial soundness, passed 62-36 in the House on February 29, 2012.

This act requires an independent financial review of a Public Facilities District (PFD) prior to its creation, the issuance of debt by a PFD, or the lease, purchase, or development of a facility by a PFD. The independent financial review of debt issuances by a PFD is not required if the PFD is refinancing existing debt. Working with local governments, the State Treasurer and the State Auditor must examine the state’s local governmental entities to determine any indications of financial distress. The results of the examination and recommended legislation must be submitted to the Governor and the Legislature. If a PFD has defaulted on debt, the jurisdiction in which the public facility is located may impose a sales and use tax of two-tenths of 1 percent for the purposes of refinancing the debt. This is in addition to any sales tax imposed by the PFD. After the effective date of the act, a PFD may not agree to restrict its taxing authority. This bill was signed into law by the Governor on March 1, 2012.

House Bill 1627, Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1627, concerning the authority of boundary review boards, passed 25-24 in the Senate on February 29, 2012.

This act makes changes to provisions governing the authority of boundary review boards (boards) to modify annexation proposals. This act authorizes a board to increase no more than 100 percent the area of annexation for proposed annexations of less than 100 acres to a city or town. Additionally, if the annexation would result in modifications to zoning ordinances governing the area subject to the proposed increase, the board may not increase the area of a city or town annexation without first obtaining written consent from the owners of property equaling at 5 least sixty percent of the assessed valuation within the area subject to the proposed increase. There is no requirement that the Board hold a separate public hearing, preceded by at least 60 days notice to the registered owners and property owners residing in the area subject to the proposed increase (as was proposed in the original bill). This bill will now return to the House for further consideration of the changes added by the Senate.

House Bill 2373, Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2373, concerning the state’s management of its recreational resources, passed 55-44 in the House on February 29, 2012.

This act makes numerous changes to current law regarding the issue, purchase, possession, use, transferability, and distribution of the proceeds from the sale of the Discover Pass and day use passes. This act modifies provisions related to accessing public lands and facilities and when a pass is required. This act changes the Parks and Recreation Commission to the State Parks and Recreation Department and vests with the Department, in consultation and cooperation with the Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Department of Natural Resources, the regulatory authority over access to recreational lands. Complimentary passes are available to those who currently qualify for a lifetime veteran’s disability pass from the state Parks and Recreation Commission. This act allows the state to retain local hotel/motel taxes collected from lodging services within state parks. This bill was delivered to the Senate and referred to the Ways & Means committee on March 1, 2012, for further consideration.

Senate Bill 5895, Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5895, regarding certificated employee evaluations, passed 82-16 in the House on February 29, 2012.

This act establishes a four-level teacher and principal evaluation rating system. The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) must adopt rules that describe the ratings and set a common method for calculating the comprehensive and focused summative evaluation ratings. Beginning with the 2015-16 school year, evaluation results for certificated classroom teachers and principals are used as one of multiple factors in making human resource and personnel decisions. All teachers and principals must be evaluated each year. Every four years, the evaluation must be comprehensive and use all eight criteria. In the intervening years, evaluations are focused, zeroing in on a specific evaluation criterion for professional development. Annual, comprehensive evaluations must be given in certain cases. Subject to funds appropriated, OSPI must develop a professional development program to support implementation of the revised evaluation systems. Beginning in September, 2016, the Professional Educator Standards Board must incorporate evaluation training as a requirement for continued certification. This act has now passed both chambers and awaits signature by the Governor.