SAMMAMISH REVIEW
Roll Call Senate Bill 6239, Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6239. Redefining marriage to allow same-gender civil marriages, passed 28-21 in the Senate on Feb. 1, 2012. This bill redefines marriage as a union between two persons, and prohibits discrimination based on gender or sexual orientation. This bill requires the secretary of state to notify certain same sex domestic partners that the state law on the rights and responsibilities of state registered domestic partners will change in relation to certain same-sex registered domestic partners. Participation in such marriage ceremonies and related transactions is discretionary for public and private universities and religious-based organizations, and exempts individuals associated with same from civil liability. This bill was received in the House and referred to the Judiciary Committee. 5th District Sen. Cheryl Pflug (R) Yes 41st District
Pay
February 8, 2012 • Sen. Steve Litzow (R) 45th District Sen. Andy Hill (R)
Yes Yes
House Bill 1144, Second Engrossed Substitute Bill 1144. Concerning Renewable Energy Investment Cost Recovery Program, passed 81-15 in the House on Jan, 30, 2012. This bill expands the Renewable Energy Incentive Cost-Recovery Program to include hydrokinetic energy systems. This bill allows nonprofit housing organizations to host community solar projects. Specifies no new CostRecovery Incentive Program applications may be approved for a light and power business once the public utility tax credit capacity for the light and power business is reached. Adjusts the amount of incentive payments company-owned projects and utility-owned community solar projects may receive as part of the total allowable PUT credit available to a light and power business. This bill was received in the Senate and referred to the Energy, Natural Resources, & Marine Waters Committee. 5th District Rep. Glenn Anderson (R) Yes Rep. Jay Rodne (R) Yes 41st District Rep. Judy Clibborn (D) Yes Rep. Marcie Maxwell (D) Yes 45th District Rep. Roger Goodman (D) Yes Rep. Larry Springer (D) Yes House Bill 1900, Engrossed House Bill 1900.
Howard said it’s a balancing act for the council, which must keep wages and benefits in Continued from Page 3 check while ensuring that qualified employees don’t move to noted that each city operates difcushier jobs in neighboring ferently and the responsibilities cities. of similar positions in each city “We want to be fair to our don’t always employees, but line up. we also need “We want to be fair to Vance noted to be fair to the our employees, but we that taxpayers,” Sammamish Howard said. also need to be fair to still has a rela“(The council) the taxpayers.” tively small has to find that staff for a city sweet spot.” – Lyman Howard, of 45,000 Deputy city manager – because it conReporter tracts out many Caleb Heeringa projects instead can be reached of having full-time employees on at 392-6434. ext. 247, or hand to do them. cheeringa@isspress.com. To comCity analysis presented at the ment on this story, visit retreat shows that Sammamish www.SammamishReview.com. has 1.5 full-time employees per 1,000 residents compared to an average of 4.9 for Issaquah, Redmond, Bellevue, Kirkland and Mercer Island. “We contract out a lot of what we do,” Vance said. “So we end up with a professional core … of qualified, educated staff.” Howard said that come budget time the council will also be looking at employee health benefits and how much of an employee’s medical costs should come out of pocket. He said initial analysis by the city shows that Sammamish covers a bit more of their employees’ medical costs than other cities.
Establishing continuing education requirements for engineers, passed 66-29 in the House on Jan. 27, 2012. This bill requires registered engineers to complete at least 15 hours of continuing professional development per year. The bill takes effect July 1, 2013. This bill was received in the Senate and referred to the Labor, Commerce & Consumer Protection Committee. 5th District Rep. Glenn Anderson (R) Yes Rep. Jay Rodne (R) Yes 41st District Rep. Judy Clibborn (D) Yes Rep. Marcie Maxwell (D) Yes 45th District Rep. Roger Goodman (D) Yes Rep. Larry Springer (D) Yes House Bill 2210, House Bill 2210, extending contribution limits to school board candidates. Passed 71-24 in the House on Jan. 27, 2012. ?This bill adds school board offices to the list of public offices subject to campaign contribution limits. This bill was received in the Senate and referred to the Government Operations, Tribal Relations & Elections Committee. 5th District Rep. Glenn Anderson (R) Yes Rep. Jay Rodne (R) Yes 41st District Rep. Judy Clibborn (D) Yes Rep. Marcie Maxwell (D) Yes 45th District Rep. Roger Goodman (D) Yes Rep. Larry Springer (D) Yes
House Bill 1398, Engrossed House Bill 1398 Creates an exemption from impact fees for low-income housing, passed 53-42 in the House on January 27, 2012. This bill removes the requirement that local governments pay impact fees from qualifying public funds upon exempting low-income housing from impact fee requirements. This bill specifies that impact fee exemptions for lowincome housing require the developer to record a covenant prohibiting conversion of the property unless applicable impact fees are paid. This bill prohibits local governments from collecting mitigation fees under the State Environmental Policy Act for low-income housing in place of exempted impact fees. Prohibits local governments granting impact fee exemptions for low-income housing from increasing the costs of impact fees unrelated to the exemptions. This bill was received in the Senate and referred to the Financial Institutions, Housing & Insurance Committee. 5th District Rep. Glenn Anderson (R) Rep. Jay Rodne (R) 41st District Rep. Judy Clibborn (D) Rep. Marcie Maxwell (D) 45th District Rep. Roger Goodman (D) Rep. Larry Springer (D)
No No Yes Yes
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Health Continued from Page 1
Ask questions about personal training, driving lessons and prescription services. Learn the difference between retirement living and assisted living, and how long-term health insurance can help. Have a quick chair massage and have your child’s car seat checked for safety. Pickering Barn is located across from Costco, south of I90.
Yes Yes
SOURCE: WashingtonVotes.org, a free, non-partisan website to find plain-English explanations of bills and a record of each legislator’s votes.
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