Legislation update

As Washington continues into Special Session the Legislative and Policy sub-committee will continue to update on the movement of bills. Items that are adopted into law or dead are not included in the list below.
ICSEW encourages each person to let your voice be heard and to be your own advocate. Start by reading through the bills identified below. And on your own time, contact your legislators to share your opinion.
List of Bills by Category
Equal Pay/Employment: HB 1506 Addressing workplace practices to achieve gender pay equity. May 5th:  First reading, referred to Commerce, Labor & Sports. Change from last week: In Senate
Public Safety and Health: SHB 1155 Making felony sex offenses a crime that may be prosecuted at any time after its commission. Apr 24th: By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
Family Medical Leave/Women’s Health: SHB 1434 Adding the use of shared leave for pregnancy disability or for the purposes of parental leave to bond with the employee’s newborn, adoptive, or foster child. Apr 24th: By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
Family Medical Leave/Women’s Health :HB 1796 Providing reasonable accommodations in the workplace for pregnant women. Apr 24th: By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
The following Public Safety and Health bills have passed and are law.
SSB 5618: Concerning Arrest of Sixteen and Seventeen Year Olds for Domestic Violence Assault ‐ Removes the requirement that police officers arrest 16 and 17 year olds for domestic violence assault that occurred in the last four hours when the arrest is requested by a parent or guardian. Removes the requirement that a juvenile detention facility must book into detention any person under age 18 brought to that detention facility pursuant to a domestic violence assault arrest.
ESHB 1153: Concerning Crimes Against Vulnerable Persons ‐ Lowers the requisite mental state for the crimes of Criminal Mistreatment in the first and second degree from recklessness to criminal negligence. Creates the crimes of Theft from a Vulnerable Adult in the first degree and second degree, applicable when a person commits theft of property or services from a person the defendant knows or should know is a vulnerable adult. Categorizes Criminal Mistreatment (first and second degree) and Theft from a Vulnerable Adult as crimes against persons. Encourages counties to develop written protocols for handling criminal cases involving vulnerable adults, and outlines requirements for vulnerable adult advocacy teams.
ESHB 1109: Supporting Victims of Sexual Assault ‐ Creates the Washington Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) Pilot Project to fund the creation of locally based multidisciplinary community response teams to conduct cold case investigations tied to previously unsubmitted sexual assault kits (SAKs). Requires the Criminal Justice Training Commission to incorporate victim‐centered, trauma‐informed approaches into existing training and develop new training.
ICSEW Legislation Update May 19