The following is a recap of how Kirkland legislators from the 45th and 48th Districts recently voted on several bills and resolutions (according to washingtonvotes.org) during the Special Session that adjourned on Dec. 14:
Relating to fiscal matters
House Bill 2058 – which passed the House by a vote of 86 to 8 and 4 excused, and passed the Senate by a vote of 42 to 6 and 1 excused, changes the 2011-13 biennial operating budget. State General Fund appropriations are decreased by $323 million; the total budget is decreased by $632 million. This act takes effect immediately. The bill has been delivered to the Governor.
Yes: Rep. Roger Goodman, D-Kirkland; Rep. Larry Springer, D-Kirkland; Rep. Deborah Eddy, D-Kirkland; Rep. Ross Hunter, D-Medina; Sen. Andy Hill, R-Redmond; and Sen. Rodney Tom, D-Medina
Delaying implementation of certain provisions related to evaluations of persons under the involuntary treatment act
House Bill 2131 – passed the House by a vote of 94 to 0 and 4 excused, and passed the Senate by a vote of 47 to 1 and 1 excused, postpones the effective date of Jan. 1, 2012, to July 1, 2015, for Designated Mental Health Professionals (DMHPs) and the courts to consider additional information and factors in determining whether to detain or commit a person for involuntary treatment.
This bill also requires that DMHPs consider information from credible witnesses regarding prior commitments or recommendations for evaluation, and prior determinations of incompetency or insanity, when making detention decisions beginning Jan. 1, 2012. The postponement takes effect immediately. The bill has been delivered to the Governor.
Yes: Goodman, Springer, Eddy, Hunter, Hill and Tom
Suspending annual examinations and show cause hearings for sexually violent predators convicted of a criminal offense or awaiting trial on criminal charges
House Bill 2148 – passed the House by a vote of 94 to 0 and 4 excused, and passed the Senate by a vote of 48 to 0 and 1 excused, suspends the requirement that the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) conduct an annual examination for a person civilly committed as a sexually violent predator (SVP) during any period the SVP is confined due to a criminal conviction or detained due to criminal charges.
This act also suspends the provisions regarding petitions to the court for conditional release to a less restrictive alternative or unconditional discharge during any period the SVP is confined due to a criminal conviction or detained due to criminal charges.
This act specifies the DSHS must initiate an examination upon the return of the committed person to the DSHS custody. This act contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately. The bill has been delivered to the Governor.
Yes: Goodman, Springer, Eddy, Hunter, Hill and Tom
Modifying the uniform unclaimed property act
House Bill 2169 – passed the House by a vote of 94 to 0 and 4 excused, and passed the Senate by a vote of 44 to 4 and 1 excused, authorizes the Department of Revenue (DOR) to sell all securities received under the unclaimed property program as soon as practicable unless, in the judgment of the DOR, the securities are worthless, cannot be sold, or are not cost effective to sell.
Owners of stock making a claim under the Unclaimed Property Act are entitled to the proceeds received from the sale less administrative costs, or the stock if the DOR has not yet ordered the sale of the stock. This bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately. The bill has been delivered to the Governor.
Yes: Goodman, Springer, Eddy, Hunter, Hill and Tom
Requesting adoption of the federal main street fairness act
Senate Joint Memorial 8009 – passed the Senate by a vote of 41 to 6 and 2 excused, and passed the House by a vote of 59 to 36 and 3 excused, requests Washington’s congressional delegation to support the swift adoption of the federal Main Street Fairness Act that would allow states to collect sales and use taxes on remote sales, regardless of the seller’s nexus to the State. The SJM has been filed with the Secretary of State.
Yes: Tom, Goodman, Springer, Eddy, and Hunter; No: Hill
WashingtonVotes.org, a free, non-partisan website to find plain-English explanations of bills and a record of each legislator’s votes. For information, visit www.WashingtonVotes.org.
