LifePac of SW Washington

Life Issues / Family Ethics Political Action Committee of Southwest Washington

Washington State Legislation Watch

Washington State Legislative Hotline 800-562-6000	Legislature Bill Information Page

The legislative bill links below will take you to the Washington State Legislature bill information page. From there one can go to the text of the bill, the bill digest, the companion bill for either the House or Senate, and the votes of legislators.

2010/2011 Legislative Session

HB 2837 / SB 6452: Concerning limited service pregnancy centers

Introduced by Sen. Rodney Tom, (D-Medina) (D) on January 14, 2010, requires limited service pregnancy centers to disclose certain information to its customers, including that they do not provide abortions or medical care for pregnant women. The act also requires the centers to provide free written statements for pregnancy tests. (Washington Votes)

Call the legislative hotline (1-800-562-6000), tell the operator who answers that you have a message for the two representatives and one senator who represent you in Olympia: Vote No on HB 2837 and SB 6452. They unfairly target prolife pregnancy resource centers.

Commentary:

SB 6452 Limited Service Pregnancy Centers

In our state, there are pregnancy resource centers and pregnancy help medical clinics. Last year 60,000 women were served at these facilities. 34,000 women received free medical and social services, including pre-natal classes, diapers, maternity and baby clothing.

SB 6452 would require these centers to disclose immediately that they do not provide abortion or comprehensive birth control services, referrals for abortion or comprehensive birth control services, or medical care for pregnant women. This must be communicated understandably upon initial contact with the person seeking services, and in writing posted at the main entry door of the facility.

In addition, these centers must inform a woman that she is about to receive an over the counter pregnancy test, and allow her to self-administer it. Violations of the conditions of this act are considered violations of the Consumer Protection Act. Anyone who is injured under the consumer protection act can bring a lawsuit to recover actual damages, together with the costs of the suits. The court can award triple damages, up to $10,000. Many clinics may have to close as a result of a lawsuit.

None of these requirements apply to pregnancy centers that offer abortion services, e.g. Planned Parenthood.

Please ask your Senator to oppose SB 6452 as a discriminatory and unfair act.

Further Resources:

Video of Legislative Hearing on the Bills, Jan. 27, 2010

Protect Pregnancy Centers in Washington State Blog

SHB 2793: Clarifying and expanding the rights and obligations of state registered domestic partners and other couples related to parentage.

Introduced by Rep. Lynn Kessler, (D-Hoquiam) (D) on January 14, 2010, changes the wording in parenting legislation to become gender-neutral, such as defining father-child relationships as parent-child relationships. Clarifies that all provisions that apply for parents in a marriage, apply to those of a domestic partnership. The bill further amends surrogate parenting laws by applying all standards for married couples to those of domestic partners. (Washington Votes)

HB 1688: Addressing abortion procedures or treatments performed on minor females and females subject to guardianship

Introduced by Rep. Matt Shea, (R) on January 27, 2009, requires consent of parents of guardians of minor females seeking an abortion, with some exceptions, such as medical life threatening emergencies, among others. (Washington Votes)

SB 6476: Revising provisions relating to sex crimes involving minors.

Introduced by Sen. Val Stevens, (R-Arlington) (R) on January 14, 2010, requires connecting a sexually exploited child with services and treatment when there is available funding. The act allows minors who have been sexually exploited to be regarded as victims of a criminal act, which allows for greater benefits. The act also raises the offender score of commercial sexual abuse of a minor from 3 to 12, meaning the offense would be punishable for between 9 and 23 years in prison. (Washington Votes)

HB 1329: Providing collective bargaining for child care center directors and workers.

SB 5476: Abolishing the death penalty.

2009/2010 Legislative Session

Color coding denotes LifePac's position on legislation. Green denotes definitely good legislation or votes. Those in red are clearly objectionable.

SB 5674 - Addressing civil marriage equality.
HB 1745 - Concerning civil marriages.

SB 5688 and HB 1727 - Expanding the rights and responsibilities of state registered domestic partners. Declares that for all purposes under state law, state registered domestic partners shall be treated the same as married spouses. Any privilege, immunity, right, benefit, or responsibility granted or imposed by statute, administrative or court rule, policy, common law or any other law to an individual because the individual is or was a spouse, or because the individual is or was an in-law in a specified way to another individual, is granted on equivalent terms, substantive and procedural, to an individual because the individual is or was in a state registered domestic partnership or because the individual is or was, based on a state registered domestic partnership, related in a specified way to another individual. Provides that the act shall be liberally construed to achieve equal treatment, to the extent not in conflict with federal law, of state registered domestic partners and married spouses.

E2SSB 5688
Registered domestic partners
Senate vote on 3rd Reading & Final Passage

House: Yeas: 62 Nays: 35 Absent: 0 Excused: 1

Voting Yea:  Representatives Appleton, Blake, Carlyle, Chase, Clibborn, Cody, Conway, Darneille, Dickerson, Driscoll, Dunshee, Eddy, Ericks, Finn, Goodman, Grant-Herriot, Green, Haigh, Hasegawa, Hudgins, Hunt, Hunter, Hurst, Jacks, Johnson, Kagi, Kelley, Kenney, Kessler, Kirby, Liias, Linville, Maxwell, McCoy, Moeller, Morrell, Morris, Nelson, O'Brien, Ormsby, Orwall, Pedersen, Pettigrew, Probst, Quall, Roberts, Rolfes, Santos, Seaquist, Sells, Simpson, Springer, Sullivan, Takko, Upthegrove, Van De Wege, Wallace, Walsh, White, Williams, Wood, and Mr. Speaker
Voting Nay:  Representatives Alexander, Anderson, Angel, Armstrong, Bailey, Campbell, Chandler, Condotta, Cox, Crouse, Dammeier, DeBolt, Ericksen, Haler, Herrera, Hinkle, Hope, Klippert, Kretz, Kristiansen, McCune, Miloscia, Orcutt, Parker, Pearson, Priest, Roach, Rodne, Ross, Schmick, Shea, Short, Smith, Taylor, and Warnick
Absent:
Excused:  Representative Flannigan

SB 5629 - Concerning pregnancy prevention programs. Digest: Authorizes state agencies to apply for sexual health education funding for programs that are medically and scientifically accurate including, but not limited to, programs on abstinence, the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, and the prevention of unintended pregnancies. Eliminates the requirement for the state to maximize federal funding for abstinence programs and to contract with entities qualified to provide this education.

House: Yeas: 67 Nays: 31 Absent: 0 Excused: 0

Voting Yea:  Representatives Anderson, Appleton, Blake, Campbell, Carlyle, Chase, Clibborn, Cody, Conway, Darneille, Dickerson, Driscoll, Dunshee, Eddy, Ericks, Finn, Flannigan, Goodman, Grant-Herriot, Green, Haigh, Hasegawa, Hudgins, Hunt, Hunter, Hurst, Jacks, Johnson, Kagi, Kelley, Kenney, Kessler, Kirby, Liias, Linville, Maxwell, McCoy, Moeller, Morrell, Morris, Nelson, O'Brien, Ormsby, Orwall, Pedersen, Pettigrew, Priest, Probst, Quall, Roberts, Rodne, Rolfes, Santos, Seaquist, Sells, Simpson, Springer, Sullivan, Takko, Upthegrove, Van De Wege, Wallace, Walsh, White, Williams, Wood, and Mr. Speaker
Voting Nay:  Representatives Alexander, Angel, Armstrong, Bailey, Chandler, Condotta, Cox, Crouse, Dammeier, DeBolt, Ericksen, Haler, Herrera, Hinkle, Hope, Klippert, Kretz, Kristiansen, McCune, Miloscia, Orcutt, Parker, Pearson, Roach, Ross, Schmick, Shea, Short, Smith, Taylor, and Warnick
Absent:
Excused:

HB 1688 - Addressing abortion procedures or treatments performed on minor females and females subject to guardianship.

HJR 4204 - Ensuring only a marriage between a man and a woman is valid and recognized in Washington.

2007/2008 State Legislative Scorecard

Color coding denotes LifePac's position on legislation. Green denotes definitely good legislation or votes. Red are clearly objectionable. The 2007 session has ended. Bills without votes were held in committee.

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House Bill 1686 / SB 5585 - Concerning parent and child health services provided by the department of health

H Bill Summary
S Bill Summary

H Bill Digest
S Bill Digest

H Votes
S Votes

N
O

N
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N
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Y
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House Bill 1351 / SB 5336 - Protecting individuals in domestic partnerships by granting certain rights and benefits

H Bill Summary
S Bill Summary

H Bill Digest
S Bill Digest

H Votes
S Votes

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House Bill 3104 - Expanding rights and responsibilities of all couples recognized as domestic partners

N
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N
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N
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Y
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N
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N
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N
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Y
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Y
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House Bill 1297 / SB 5297 - Regarding providing medically and scientifically accurate sexual health education in schools.

H Summary
S Summary

H Digest
S Digest

H Votes
S Votes

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2005/2006 State Legislative Votes

Color coding denotes LifePac's position on legislation. Green denotes definitely good legislation or votes. Red are clearly objectionable.

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Homosexuality

ESHB 2661 - Expanding the jurisdiction of the human rights commission.

N
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N
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N
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Y
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N
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N
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N
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N
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N
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Y
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Y
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Children

HB 1441 - Providing access to health insurance for children.

House / Senate Votes

N
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N
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N
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Y
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N
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N
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N
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N
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N
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Y
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SB 5872 - Creating the department of family and children's services.

Votes

Y
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2003/2004 State Legislative Votes

Color coding denotes LifePac's position on legislation. Green denotes definitely good legislation or votes. Red are clearly objectionable.

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Further Information Resources

Washington Votes: Bill Information and Discussion	Human Life of Washington Legislation Watch	Washington State Catholic Conference Legislative Priorities	Faith and Freedom's 2007 Legislative Agenda