2010 Regular (and Special) Legislative Session Wrap-Up

Overview

With a nearly $3 billion deficit facing the state, the Governor and the majority party concluded that some package of new taxes was needed to prevent an all cuts budget. This was the focus of the legislature from the beginning of the regular session in January to the last day of the special session. There was room, occasionally, for important policy adjustments.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle continued its tradition of advocating for our community's policy priorities and social service programs. From changing the definition of threat in the state's malicious harassment statute to raising roughly $800 million in new revenue, a summary of key accomplishments are highlighted in this government affairs wrap-up by our Government Relations and Public Affairs Director Zach Carstensen, who spent many months in Olympia on behalf of our Jewish community.
 

Jewish Federation policy victories

Changing the definition of threat in WA’s malicious harassment statute (SB 6398)

This item was a priority for the Jewish Federation, ADL, and the King County Prosecutor’s office. The legislation changed the definition of threat under the statute to include immediate and future threats. Previously, only future threats were included in the statute even though judges, prosecutors and juries interpreted future threats to include immediate threats as well.

Allowing private schools easier access to OSPI’s background check system (HB 2996) 

While many private school teachers are required by their employer to be certified and a background check is part of this process, there was no specific authorization for Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to provide private schools access to this information. HB 2996 changes this.

Changing the GAU program to the Disability Lifeline Program (HB 2782)

HB 2782 changes General Assistance Unemployable GAU, a program helping the temporarily disable achieve self sufficiency, to the “Disability Lifeline Program” and makes some cost saving reforms, for instance creating a housing voucher program for homeless clients, prioritizing chemical dependency services, and mandating a managed care system for clients on Disability Lifeline. It will save Washington approximately $32 million annually and hopefully serve this vulnerable client population better.

Changing the tax rate for private duty home care services (HB 3186)

If HB 3186 had passed, it would have imposed an additional tax of $80,000 on Jewish Family Service's home care program. It is very likely JFS would have closed their homecare program. We successfully opposed this legislation.

Imposing a bed tax on nursing homes (HB 3021)

This bill would have imposed a per day tax on residents in a nursing home. The Jewish Federation, along with the Kline Galland and their trade association, successfully opposed this legislation.

Budget and Revenue

The Jewish Federation, along with a myriad of other organizations, supported a proposal to raise roughly $800 million in new revenue from imposing temporary tax increases on soda, beer, cigarettes, bottled water, and candy. There were additional changes that bring the tax rate for out of state businesses in line with the tax rate for in state businesses.

This increase in revenue meant the following programs were either saved entirely or cut less than originally planned.

• General Assistance/Disability Lifeline
• Basic Health Plan: maintain enrollment
• Basic Health Plan bridge
• Adult dental services for low income people
• Nursing home rate payment
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
• Eliminating Community Works Program
• New Americans program for refugees and immigrants
• Universal vaccine program
• Working Connections Child Care
• Limited English Proficient Pathway
• State Food Assistance
• Refugee assistance
• Career Services for non-TANF recipients
• Apple Health/Children’s Health Program
• Job search requirement for TANF recipients
• TANF grant and TANF housing grant