HOTLINE 3/2/18

This is the Federation Hotline updated March 2.

House pushes interpreter services bill one step closer to law

The House Thursday night (March 2) passed our priority interpreter services bill on a vote of 53-44.

Because the House amended 2SSB 6245, it must go back to the Senate for concurrence on those amendments.

2SSB 6245 would spread the success of the 7-year-old program won for medical interpreters that has streamlined scheduling and services and has been cost-effective.

The bill would expand that successful model to interpreters tied to other agencies, like Labor and Industries.

"Please pass this bill and let's save a lot of money," Local 1671 member Milena Waldron testified in the Senate earlier this session.


Today is a major deadline for bills to pass House, Senate - GET CALLS IN!

Today is the day four of our remaining priority legislation must pass the House or Senate.

Those priority bills AFSCME Council 28 (WFSE) members have been following down to the wire still must pass the Senate today. Please get calls into your senator today on your own time and phone to pass these bills.

2SHB 1851: Bringing accountability and transparency in state outsourcing (the Taxpayer Protection Act). 2SHB 1851 is now on the Senate's Second Reading Calendar.

  • CALL TO ACTION on outsourcing transparency bill - 2SHB 1851. Dial 1-206-516-2072: Urge your senator to PASS 2SHB 1851, the Taxpayer Protection Act! Bring accountability and transparency to state contracting.

SHB 1558 to expand the Public Safety Employees Retirement System (PSERS) to include institutions workers. SHB 1558 is now on the Senate's Second Reading Calendar.

  • CALL TO ACTION on the PSERS bill - SHB 1558.  Call 1-800-562-6000. Urge your senator to PASS SHB 1558 to include state institutions workers in PSERS. This recognizes the high rates of assaults and injuries they face.

SHB 1559 to grant binding interest arbitration rights to campus police. SHB 1559 is now on the Senate's Second Reading Calendar.

  • CALL TO ACTION on the campus police binding arbitration bill - SHB 1559.  Call 1-800-562-6000. Urge your senator to PASS SHB 1559 to grant binding interest arbitration rights to campus police. It would level the playing field and give these law enforcement officers the same rights as other fully commissioned police officers.

SHB 2778 to protect the privacy of state employees who blow the whistle on sexual harassment. SHB 2778 is now on the Senate's Second Reading Calendar.

  • CALL TO ACTION on SHB 2778. Call 1-800-562-6000. Urge your senator to PASS SHB 2778 to protect the privacy of state employee victims of sexual harassment.


What's on tap for next week:

This short 60-day legislative session ends next Thursday, March 8. Legislators will meet every day until then, including this weekend. After today's deadline to pass the bills out of the House or Senate, lawmakers will then debate budget issues and bills and resolve differences on bills amended by one chamber or the other.

That's it for now.

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