GOAL Post 2013-5

FROM: GOAL [goalwa@cox.net]

SENT: Fri 2/15/2013 7:28 PM

GOAL Post 2013-5 

Legislative Update from Olympia

15 February 2013

POLICY COMMITTEE CUT-OFF NEXT FRIDAY

MORE NEW BILLS FILED

PUBLIC HEARINGS HELD

EXECUTIVE SESSION HELD

BILL(S) PASS OUT OF COMMITTEE

EXECUTIVE SESSION SCHEDULED

PUBLIC HEARINGS SCHEDULED

First, a brief tutorial on bill action.  A committee chair has almost total control over whether he or she chooses to act on a bill (there is a procedure to "relieve a committee" of a bill, but it's rarely invoked).  To move through the process, a bill must normally receive a public hearing, where citizens (and lobbyists) have an opportunity to testify orally or submit a written statement about a bill.  After consideration of the public input, the bill may be scheduled for "executive action" (a vote out of committee, usually done in conjunction with public hearings on other bills).  This is typically when bills may be amended to reflect approved changes.  Again, it is the committee chair's call as to whether to move forward with a bill or not.  If a bill is voted out of committee, a "bill report" is published, outlining any changes, summarizing testimony, and what the vote was (which legislators voted "aye" or "no" to move the bill.  A bill then goes to the Rules Committee to await a pull to the full chamber (House or Senate) floor for a vote, or to one of the fiscal committees if the bill has fiscal impact.

Next Friday is the first chamber policy committee cut-off.  Nominally, all bills that have failed to get a hearing and be voted out of the policy committee are dead for the session (again, exceptions can be made).  Most of the gun bills filed this year have NOT had a public hearing and will likely die next Friday (22 February).  The following week I'll cull the "Bill Status" listing to reflect only those bills still in play -- still under consideration..

Several new bills were introduced this week (keep in mind there is only one week left before the policy committee cut-off).  HB 1839 by Rep. Roger Goodman (D-45) completes the action taken two years ago when successful completion of a federal NICS check was added to the requirement for issue of a Concealed Pistol License.  ATF approved Washington as a NICS-alternative state, meaning anyone with a valid CPL issued on or after 22 July 2011 did not have to undergo a new NICS check to purchase a firearm.  This final step amends Washington law to waive the NICS check.  HB 1840, also by Rep. Roger Goodman (D-45), expands the number of restraining or protective orders that include prohibition of firearm possession.  HB 1908 by Rep. Elizabeth Scott (R-39) amends Washington's "gun free school zone" law to allow firearm possession by contract security personnel and adds an exception for transiting school property to enter hunting areas.  SB 5737 by Sen. Ed Murray (D-43) is a reprise of the "assault weapon" ban bill that failed to pass out of committee several years ago, with a new twist: it bans ANY barrel with a threaded muzzle than can accept a suppressor.  Duh!  Suppressors are LEGAL in Washington, Senator.

One I missed last week was SB 5660 by Sen. Maralyn Chase (D-32) that would mandate an Eddie Eagle-style firearms training program starting in school year 2014-15.  One problem: the bill requires the program be targeted at the K-12 level.  Eddie Eagle is a gun avoidance program intended to be presented to K-6 students.  What 7-12 students need is the NRA's Home Firearm Safety program.

Public hearings were conducted on several bills this past week.  The big one was in House Judiciary on Wednesday, when testimony was taken on HBs 1147 (juvenile possession), 1588 (background checks), 1612 (firearm offender registry) and 1676 (mandatory safe storage).  HB 1588 drew most of the attention, with opponents calling attention to several flaws in the bill that would make it impossible to enforce.  A substitute version taking some of those issues into consideration was offered, but the problems persist.  Supposedly work is underway to further amend the bill.  Turnout for the hearing was significant, with an extra room opened for the overflow.  About 2/3 of the attendees were pro-gun, the remaining third anti or supporting the bad bills.  Something to keep in mind:  most of the anti-gun attendees were there on their boss's dime, drawing full pay to be there.  Most pro-gun attendees had to take time off from work to participate.  Which one demonstrates greater commitment to their side of the issue?  The Senate Law & Justice Committee also held a public hearing today on SB 5479 (law enforcement "safekeeping" of firearms). 

On February 12th, the House Judiciary Committee passed a substitute version of HB 1096 (juvenile illegal firearm possession).  Changes to address our concerns were made in the substitute bill, however our concerns about proper application of the bill remain. The bill now goes to House Appropriations because of its potential fiscal impact.  It also passed a substitute version of HB 1383 (stalking/protection orders), also addressing some of our concerns, but concerns remain.

At this time, the only bill scheduled for executive session (a committee vote) is an amended version of HB 1588. 

Public hearings are scheduled for three bills next week:  HBs 1839 and 1840 and SB 5660.  See details below.

Public hearings:  Unfortunately, at least two meetings of the Senate Law & Justice Committee have no scheduled bills to be heard in public testimony at this time. 

SB 5660   Sen EL   2/21 1730 

HB  1096  approp  1530 2/21

BILL STATUS:

House Bill numbering begins with 1000; Senate Bills with 5000.  The following bills have been filed so far in the 2013-14 biennium:

Bill #	Subject	Sponsor	Status
HB 1096	Juvi illegal firearm possession	Hurst (D-31)	H. Approp
HB 1147	1st degree juvi unlawful possess.	Goodman (D-45)	H. Jud
HB 1184	Range protection	Takko (D-19)	H. Jud
HB 1318	CPL renewal notice	Taylor (-15)	H. Jud
HB 1371	WA Firearms Freedom Act	Taylor (R-15)	H. Jud
HB 1383	Stalking protection orders	Goodman (D-45)	H. Jud
HB 1561	Short barreled rifles	Blake (D-19)	H. Jud
HB 1588	Background checks	Pedersen (D-43)	H. Jud
HB 1612	Firearm offender registry	Hope (R-44)	H. Jud
HB 1676	Mandatory safe storage	Kagi (D-32)	H. Jud
HB 1703	Gun "safety" training and tax	Jinkins (D-27)	H. Jud
HB 1729	Street gangs	Warnick (R-13)	H. Jud
HB 1788	Firearms/school employees	Pike (R-18)	H. Jud
HB 1839	Background checks	Goodman (D-45)    H. Jud
HB 1840	Firearms/restraining orders	Goodman (D-45)	H. Jud
HB 1908	firearms on school property	Scott (R-39)	H. Jud
SB 5282	DSHS/WSP info exchange	Carrell (R-28)	S. HS&C
SB 5376	Juvi illegal firearm possession	Kline (D-37)	S. HS&C
SB 5452	Stalking protection orders	Conway (D-29)	S. HS&C
SB 5478	Firearms/mental health court	Keiser (D-33)	S. L&J
SB 5479	Safekeeping of firearms	Keiser (D-33)	S. L&J
SB 5485	Mandatory safe storage	Kline (D-37)	S. L&J
SB 5604	NRA license plates	Hatfield (D-19)	S. Trans
HB 5625	Background checks	Kline (D-37)	S. L&J
SB 5635	Restoration of firearm rights	Kline (D-37)	S. L&J
SB 5660	Firearm safety education	Chase (D-3)	S. Early Learn
SB 5711	Background checks	Kline (D-37)	S. L&J
SB 5737	Ban on sale of "assault weapons"	Murray (D-43)	S. L&J

Key to abbreviations:  SB = Senate Bill, HB = House Bill, Jud = Judiciary, L&J = Law & Justice, HS&C = Human Services & Corrections, Trans = Transportation, Approp = Appropriations, Early Learn = Early Learning and K-12 Education

GOAL POSITION ON BILLS

HB 1096     CONCERNS

HB 1147     CONCERNS

HB 1184     SUPPORT

HB 1318     SUPPORT

HB 1371     SUPPORT

HB 1383     CONCERNS

HB 1561     SUPPORT

HB 1588     AWAITING AMENDMENTS

HB 1612     CONCERNS

HB 1676     OPPOSE

HB 1703     OPPOSE

HB 1729     SUPPORT

HB 1788     SUPPORT

HB 1839     SUPPORT

HB 1840     OPPOSE

HB 1908     SUPPORT

SB 5282     SUPPORT

SB 5376     CONCERNS

SB 5452     CONCERNS

SB 5478     CONCERNS

SB 5479     OPPOSE

SB 5485     OPPOSE

SB 5604     NEUTRAL

SB 5625     OPPOSE

SB 5635     OPPOSE

SB 5660     SUPPORT

SB 5711     OPPOSE

SB 5737     OPPOSE

HEARING(S) SCHEDULED

20 Feb      HBs 1839, 1840             House Judiciary Committee

8:00 a.m.  House Hearing Room "A"    John L. O'Brien Office Building

21 Feb      SB 5660                          Senate Committee on Early Learning and K-12

5:30 p.m.  Senate Hearing Room "1"      John A. Cherberg Senate Office Building

LEGISLATIVE HOT LINE:  You may reach your Representatives and Senator by calling the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000.  Toll free!!!  The hearing impaired may obtain TDD access at 1-800-635-9993.  Also toll free!!!

1-800-562-6000   TDD 1-800-635-9993

OTHER DATA:  Copies of pending legislation (bills), legislative schedules and other information are available on the legislature's web site at "www.leg.wa.gov".  Bills are available in Acrobat (.pdf) format.  You may download a free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader from Adobe's web site (http://www.adobe.com).  You may also obtain hard copy bills, initiatives, etc, in the mail from the Legislative Bill Room FREE OF CHARGE by calling 1-360-786-7573.  Copies of bills may also be ordered toll free by calling the Legislative Hotline at (800) 562-6000.  You may also hear floor and committee hearing action live at http://www.tvw.org/ (you need "RealAudio" to do this, available free at the TVW web site).

By reading the House and Senate "bill reports" (hbr, sbr) for each bill, you can see how individual committee members voted.  By reading the "roll call" for each bill, you can see how the entire House or Senate voted on any bill.  The beauty of the web site is that ALL this information is available, on line, to any citizen.

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Upcoming WAC gun show(s):

             Monroe               16-17 February

             Puyallup             23-24 February

"The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired, but nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing individuals or corporations to organize, maintain or employ an armed body of men."

                Article 1, Section 24

       Constitution of the State of Washington

Copyright 2013 Gun Owners Action League of WA