Legislative Bulletin Bill Room (360) 786-7573 Legislative Hot Line 1-800-562-6000 March 10, 2000 http://www.wacounties.org Bulletin #9 Three Weeks Left! If you have a student in your household, you only have three weeks left to make sure they apply for a Washington Counties Scholarship. There will be five $1500 awards made in May for the 2000/01 school year. The child of a county employee must be enrolled in a full-time baccalaureate, associate degree, or technical/vocational certification program. The deadline is April 3. Call for an application now! ************************************** LEGISLATURE FAILS TO PASS BUDGET HEADS INTO EXTRA SESSION After 60 days of the regular session the Legislature adjourned late last night without passing either the supplemental or transportation budgets. The budget negotiations ran afoul of the 49-49 split in the House. After the Senate passed their budgets last week there was hope the House would pass at least the supplemental budget. However, the Republicans and Democrats were too far apart to reach agreement. Some headway was made, but they finally ran out of time. There appears to be much more disagreement over the transportation budget and it may take more time to complete. The Governor called the Legislature back into special session beginning today at 9:00 a.m. The Senate plans on sending their budgets back over to the House first thing in the morning and then both houses will adjourn for the weekend to allow budget negotiators time to workout the details. A critical piece of the Senate budget is the $200 property tax relief bill. The House is still opposing the size and direction of the bill, which only offers tax relief to residential property owners and not businesses. Until this issue is resolved the House is unlikely to address the budget. It is clear that the split in the House has made it more and more difficult to make significant policy decisions. There are still residual feelings from the passage of the budget last year when two Republicans bolted from the party and voted with the Democrats to pass the budget. Those feelings have spilled over several times this session including earlier this week when House Republicans began contacting many city and county officials claiming their budget was the best one for local governments. They did this in spite of never having shared the details with county or city association staffs. They are clearly frustrated by the split in the House and the appearance that the Senate may again prevail in passing a budget with little or no input from them. WSAC responded by emailing a message to all members of the Legislative Steering Committee and the Chair of those counties not on the Committee. It outlined the difference between the Governor, House Republican, House Democrat and Senate budgets. For those members who did not see the response it is reprinted below for your information. Late yesterday the counties and cities found-out that in order to implement the House Republican budget it would need to have separate billed passed authorizing the diversion of $48 million from the state's share of the sales tax to the sales tax equalization account. That bill never was introduced in the regular session. It is important to contact your legislators immediately and emphasize the importance of replacing lost MVET funds. Let them know the impacts on your county without these funds being replaced. These calls must be made no later than Monday because budget negotiators hope to have an agreement by the middle of next week. Other issues that remain unresolved are the shorelines bills dealing with GMA and shorelines integration, timelines and funding. Also, the budget needs to reflect a reduction in the LEOFF I retirement rates to offset increased costs of LEOFF Plan 2. See articles below. ************************************** WSAC RESPONSE TO BUDGET COMPARISONS (E-MAILED MARCH 7, 2000) Several of you have called the Association office indicating you have received phone calls from your representatives. Apparently the House Republican Caucus has targeted a number of counties and told them that the House Republican budget is better for them. As a matter of fact, it seems that as each budget was released it was better than the last one. According to our analysis the total dollars available to all counties for the replacement of public health, criminal justice, Becca funding and sales tax equalization was as follows: Governor- $92.4 million; House Republicans- $88.7 million; House Democrats- $90.9 million (includes $5.4 million for indigent dependency costs); and, Senate- $86.1 million. When you look at the Becca funding it looks like this: Governor - included $4.7 million Becca settlement and $6.8 million on-going; House Republican - no Becca settlement, but included $13.8 million on-going; House Democrats - $4.7 million for Becca settlement and $6.8 million on- going; and, Senate - $4.7 million Becca settlement plus $12.8 million on-going All budgets except the Governor's provided for on-going funding, but the House R's required the criminal justice dollars to be spent in that category, while the others had no strings attached. All in all, each budget provided a substantial replacement of the lost revenues. When you factor in the 90-94% level of public health replacement, counties on average are receiving about 65% of their lost revenues. However, when you analyzed each proposal they had different formulas to distribute the funds. The Governor, after providing on- going dollars for public health, only provided one-time dollars for criminal justice to all counties except Garfield and Columbia. The House D's followed a formula that would provide the highest percentage replacement to those counties losing 7.5% or more of their revenues and a smaller percentage for those losing less. The Senate, after providing 94% replacement for public health, provided a minimum of 35% to each county and then said that any county who suffered greater than a 5% loss would get an additional distribution. They also said no county could receive more than 95% of their loss. The Senate put $7.25 million (part of the $86.1 million total) in a distribution fund to be determined by WSAC, WACO, CTED and OFM. The priority is first, distressed counties; second, potential future sales tax equalization counties; third, mistakes in the formula; and fourth, emergencies. The funds are only for county use and are to be expended within the biennium. I need to emphasize that the Association has worked tirelessly to get the best deal for counties we can. We have testified in favor of the Governor's budget and the Senate budget. There was no public hearing on either of the House budgets. The Senate budget passed the Senate last Sunday by a 32-16 vote with seven Republicans (Deccio, Hale, Horn, Long, McCaslin, McDonald, and Winsley) voting for and two Democrats (Tim Sheldon and Jacobsen) voting against. This indicates bi-partisan support. If either the House Republican or Democrat budgets were to be heard in committee, the Association would testify in favor of them also. The point is that all of these budgets have significant replacement dollars and Becca funding for counties. At this point there is only one budget available, the Senate budget, (ESB 6404). Yesterday, several of you began to get calls from your House Republican members. The Association did not receive any of the county-by-county numbers from the House Republican budget until after those calls had been made, and then only after we had gone to a member's office and asked for a copy. If we had seen these numbers in advance, we would have told them the Association likes them. However, it still takes 50 votes to pass any budget in the House and neither the Democrats nor the Republicans have been able to produce that elusive vote yet. I hope everyone realizes the Association is trying to get everything we can for the counties. There are only three days left in the session and feelings are getting thin as the session winds down. What one caucus wants and another doesn't often spills over on to innocent bystanders. We will let you know what happens by the end of the week or as soon as we know. ************************************** PENSION REFORM CREATES NEW PLAN AND EXTENDS BENEFITS In one of the final actions taken by the Legislature sweeping pension reform was passed without any dissenting votes and sent to the Governor for approval. He is expected to sign the bill. SB 6530 will create a new plan 3 for PERS employees with a split defined benefit and contribution plan. It will allow more flexibility to employees who want to retire before age 65. The bill also lowers the early retirement reduction factor from 8% to 3% and allows any member with 30 years of service and age 55 to take an early retirement. For LEOFF 2 employees it lowers the retirement age from 55 to 53 and allows any member who has 20 years of service and is age 50 to retire early with an early retirement reduction factor of 3% rather than 8%. Unfortunately, it does not include a new plan 3, a position supported by the Association. The benefits for the PERS 2 employees will be offset by lower retirement contributions in 2000. It is more problematic for the LEOFF 2 benefits. The total cost to local governments of the LEOFF 2 enhancements is $8.9 million above the retirement contribution reductions. This amount is supposed to be offset by eliminating the LEOFF I contributions so local governments will make none. However SB 6792, authorizing the reduction in these contribution rates and a study of the long-term care costs of the LEOFF 1 employees did not pass. There is a commitment from the budget negotiators to include the rate reduction in the final budget. ************************************** PROPERTY TAX REFORM As the legislature drew to a close, it appeared that the likelihood of significant property tax reform is a mere flicker of a flame. The Senate maintains the position that the House should take a vote on the $200 property tax credit. Keep in mind that it would require a two- thirds vote to pass the House, since it is a constitutional amendment. Senator Loveland has stated that it is a integral part of the Senate budget and it needs to be passed along with the budget. In the meantime, the House Republicans maintain their support for a phase out of the State levy, although there was some recent reports to the media that there had been some agreement between the House Republicans and the House Democrats on a value-averaging type proposal. The House Democrats continued to talk about relief for senior citizens, saying the Senate $200 tax credit costs too much. The reason property tax reform is all tied up with the budget is because the cost of the $200 credit runs into the hundreds of millions of dollars. I have heard estimates ranging from $163 million to as high as $300 million. Both caucuses in the House have a desire to use most of those funds to balance the budget and claim the State cannot afford to give this much of a reduction at this point in time. The most likely outcome is that at some point they will agree to a supplemental budget and there will be no major property tax reform included. I do not think the Senate will yield to the House proposals and I don't think the House will give in to the $200 credit approach taken by the Senate. ************************************** PROPERTY TAXES Late last week, the House passed SSB 6115 which reinstates the property tax exemption for motor vehicles, campers and travel trailers. The measure is now on the Governor's desk and I have no doubt the Governor will sign it, since it is the Governor's request bill. Assessors can tell their personal property folks that they can relax...they no longer have to worry about having to do automobiles. Two other property tax bills passed this week and have been sent to the Governor; they are E2SHB 2109, which grants tribal housing authorities the same tax exempt status as city and county housing authorities; and E2SHB 1987, which provides for a property tax exemption for equipment used more than 50% of the time to reduce agricultural burning. Another measure of interest to Assessors is SSB 5924, which establishes a commission to oversee licensing of a real estate appraiser. The assessors suggested amendment to require that one of the commissioners have a mass appraisal background was incorporated in the bill before it passed. ************************************** TRANSPORTATION ************************************** TRANSPORTATION REVENUE BILL WOULD COST COUNTIES The Senate last weekend passed an omnibus transportation revenue bill that, among other things, would increase traffic fines but not adequately reimburse local governments for associated administrative and court costs. ESSB 6856 would add a new, nonwaivable $10 fine to all traffic infractions and a new, nonwaivable $50 fine to all traffic crimes. All proceeds from the $50 fine - an estimated $3.6 million - would be deposited into a newly created "traffic safety improvement account" to fund unspecified Traffic Safety Commission programs. Half of the $10 fine would go to the new traffic account and the second half would be split between local governments and the Public Safety Education Account (PSEA). (The PSEA funds a variety of programs, including the criminal justice training commission and compensation for crime victims.) This distribution would give Counties approximately $225,000 a year in new revenue, but with an estimated implementation cost at nearly twice that amount -- $533,000 a year. Since the Transportation Committee first raised this proposal, counties, cities, prosecutors and victims advocacy groups have opposed the new fines and how they are distributed. Traditionally, fines have been distributed between only local governments and the PSEA ************************************** SENATE TRANSPORTATION BUDGET A MIXED BAG FOR COUNTIES The transportation budget bill passed last weekend by the Senate, ESSB 6499, was presented by the Transportation Committee as a "tough love" bill, with cuts in nearly all programs and agencies due to lost MVET funds. The bill provides counties with some of their high-priority programs and projects, but cuts deeply in other areas. Following is a brief description of how the transportation budget treats several items important to counties: q Ferries. The transportation budget restores passenger-only service for one year. It restores car-ferry service over three years; however, this legislature may not encumber future legislatures, so any funding identified for the second and third years is not guaranteed. q Transit. The budget provides about $200 million in three-year "bridge funding" for local transit systems. The larger transit systems receive the greatest chunk of their funds in the first year; however, many of the smaller systems are not "front-loaded." Again, the second and third years of the funding is subject to change by future legislatures. q Transportation Improvement Board (TIB). The budget declines to provide TIB's request for the ability to sell $30 million in bonds with an associated $20 million increase in spending authority. This means that TIB will be forced to delay the progression of previously approved road projects that have not awarded bids. q Freight mobility. The budget takes the $30 million in bonding authority requested by TIB and appropriates it to eight freight mobility projects statewide. These projects are to be funded directly, without review by the Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board. q County Road Administration Board (CRAB). The budget cuts CRAB's funds for Referendum 49 projects, and substantially cuts administrative funds used to support the board's regulatory function. q Commute Trip Reduction. The budget funds the commute trip reduction program through the remainder of the biennium. ************************************** ENVIRONMENT, LAND USE & RESOURCES ************************************** SHORELINE MANAGEMENT RULES AND TIMELINES REMAIN IN DISPUTE At the end of the regular session, the Legislature failed to address the contentious issue of shoreline master program updates. Over the last week progress was made then lost over the issue of when Ecology would adopt rules, when the rules would take effect and how long counties and cities would have to revise their existing master programs to conform with the new rules. If no legislation is enacted in the special session, each county and city in the state will be required to revise its shoreline master program within two years after Ecology adopts a new rule - which is expected to happen in July. The Senate budget provides $2.7 million in grant funds to begin the revision process. The House Democrats' budget provides $3 million for local grant funds and $800,000 for Ecology technical assistance; the House Republicans' budget has no funding for shoreline updates. ************************************** ENVIRONMENTAL BUDGET ITEMS: FLOATING IN THE AIR OR DROWNING IN THE SOUP? With the Legislature struggling to find 76 votes for a budget, land use and environmental budget items are as much up in the air - or tossing in the waves - as any other topic. A brief overview summary of items of interest to counties follows: Air Programs All of the budgets restore funding for the air program. The Senate budget and House Democrats' budget fill nearly $10 million of the $13.2 million loss due to I-695. The Senate budget also directs that grants to local air authorities be maintained at no less than a 90 percent funding level. The House Republicans' budget adds only $7.6 million, but does require that two-thirds of the appropriation go to local air authorities. Energy Facility Siting The Senate budget makes a $25,000 appropriation is made for a joint legislative task force review of the energy facility siting process, including local government participation. The task force is likely to include a county representative. Forest Management The Senate budget takes $10 million from the forest development account for distribution to counties and to the state. The state share is deposited to the salmon recovery account for the DCTED shoreline/riparian acquisition grants. The county share goes directly to the counties with forest board lands (see section 1030). It also funds independent staff to the Board of Natural Resources and takes another $2 million from the forest development account for immediate road decommissioning, maintenance and repair in the Lake Whatcom watershed. Growth Management The House Republicans' budget eliminates the Growth Management Hearings Boards and 5 FTEs from the Growth Management Program. Local Toxics Account The Senate budget "borrows" $3 million from the Local Toxics Control Account to help fund cleanup of the Everett smelter site. Moneys collected from a cost recovery action, if any, shall first reimburse the Local Toxics Control Account. Salmon Recovery All three budgets remove hoped-for but unrealized federal money from many provisos in last year's budget. All three budgets also add new money for implementation of the Forests and Fish Agreement. Additional money is provided for Agriculture Fish Wildlife negotiations Shorelines The Senate operating budget provides almost $2.7 million for grants to counties and cities to implement shoreline planning. This compares to $3.8 million in the House Democrat budget, of which $3 million is for grants. The House Republican budget contains no funding. A capital appropriation in the Senate budget also directs $5 million to DCTED for block grants to counties and cities for fish habitat restoration projects and acquisition and preservation of riparian habitat. The House Democrats are proposing up to $25 million for riparian easement acquisition. Water Resources All three budgets include an additional $1.1 million general fund appropriation for water right change and transfer applications, pending passage of SB 6525 or HB 2994. The House Democrat budget directed this allocation to watershed planning grants if SB 6525 failed. ************************************** TWO-PATH APPROACH TO SHORELINE GUIDELINES SUGGESTED FOR ESA 4(D) PROTECTION The Department of Ecology is interested in local government reaction to a proposal to incorporate Shoreline Master Program guidelines into an ESA 4(d) rule. Ecology will hold an open house for local governments in their auditorium in Lacey at 1:00 p.m., Monday, March 13 to explain and discus how new Shoreline Master Program guidelines might receive protection under the 4(d) process. The meeting is open to all counties. Ecology, the Governor's salmon office, and the National Marine Fisheries Service are currently discussing how Shoreline Management Act Guidelines and Shoreline Master Programs could receive protection under ESA 4(d) rule. Discussion topics include perceived gaps between the 12/17/99 draft proposed Shoreline Master Program guidelines and 4(d) protection and the possibility that a "two-path" approach might fill gaps of concern. The proposed "two-path" approach suggests the adoption of mandatory and voluntary elements within new Shoreline guidelines under WAC 173-26. Under this approach, mandatory elements (referred to as "Part A") would include provisions sufficient to achieve compliance with the Shoreline Management Act, but not provide protection under an ESA 4(d) rule. According to the proposal, in order to receive ESA 4(d) legal protections, local jurisdictions would have to comply with additional voluntary provisions ("Part B") contained within the guidelines. These additional voluntary elements will emerge from further consultation with NMFS ad USFWS. They will contain provisions designed to provide NMFS with added certainty that the development will not result in further degradation of the shoreline environment. NMFS has identified seven key gaps between the current proposed draft Shoreline Master Program guidelines and ESA 4(d) protection. These gaps include the topics of: (1) monitoring & adaptive management; (5) cumulative impacts; (2) regulatory enforcement; (6) vegetation conservation & riparian corridor management; and (3) inventory; (7) other issues not specified (4) restoration of degraded shorelines; Questions can be directed to Paul Parker at WSAC (pparker@wacounties.org) or Peter Skowlund at the Department of Ecology (psk0461@ecy.wa.gov). Ecology is approaching this issue with great speed ad asks for local government response as soon as possible. ************************************** COUNTIES MEET TO DISCUSS RELATION OF ESA LIABILITY AND REGULATORY AUTHORITY Attorneys from Puget Sound local governments are engaged in an ongoing discussion regarding the legal implications of the negotiated NMFS/Tri- county ESA 4(d) package. Concerns at this time center on perceived conflict between court-imposed limits to local land use regulatory authority and the authority that NMFS is asking local governments to exercise on behalf of salmon. Currently, as part of the 4(d) negotiation, some governments are considering adopting regulations that would require a stormwater retrofit for the expansion or reconfiguration of existing uses. However, it is uncertain as to whether local governments have the authority to place new regulatory requirements, such as a stormwater retrofit requirement, where redevelopment would lack significant new impacts. Additional concerns include proposed land set-aside and tree retention requirements for the purposes of fisheries protection, water quality, and flood control. A further concern is that the current ESA 4(d) regulatory package may lead to delay in the redevelopment and recovery of sites with significant existing environmental damage. ************************************** HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES ************************************** NEARLY ALL HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES BILLS OF INTEREST HAVE PROGRESSED THROUGH BOTH HOUSES AND AWAIT THE GOVERNOR'S SIGNATURE Excluding the methadone bill and the bill expanding the chemical dependency involuntary treatment act, nearly all the legislation tracked in the health and human services area has passed both houses and now awaits the Governor's signature. Only the atypical anti- psychotic bill, 2SHB 2663, ended up in a form which would have been improved if the funds flowed through the RSNs to remain consistent with the provisions of the community mental health services act, RCW 71.24. In the Human Services area the following have now passed the entire Legislature: HB 1218 - Nurse Delegation HB 2372 - Allowing detention of children in CRCs HB 2380 - Making permanent the transfer of boarding homes to DSHS HB 2454 - Family long-term caregiver HB 2510 - Rewrite of in-home care statutes HB 2520 - Mental patient release terminology HB 2637 - Background checks HB 2663 - Atypical antipsychotic medication HB 2807 - Blended funding projects HB 2912 - Evaluation of children receiving psychiatric medications SB 5805 - Expanded nurse practitioner authority SB 6067 - Individual health insurance coverage SB 6199 - Patient's Bill of Rights SB 6375 - Mental health competency SB 6382 - Vulnerable adults protection SB 6400 - Domestic violence SB 6487 - Exchange of mental health information with DOC SB 6502 - Expanded training for long-term caregivers In health, some of the bills that have now moved on to the Governor's desk include: HB 2420 - Gas/oil pipeline safety HB 2588 - Domestic violence fatality reviews HB 2675 - Child passenger restraint systems SB 6067 - Health insurance coverage SB 6121 - Diabetes cost reduction act SB 6194 - Rural garbage dumping SB 6199 - Patient's bill of rights SB 6255 - Penalties for anhydrous ammonia as used in methamphetamine labs SB 6264 - Intermediate drivers' licenses SB 6349 - Water well delegation A complete wrap-up of pertinent bills in the health and human services area will be done in several weeks after the Governor has an opportunity to sign them. At that time, the details of the supplemental budget will also be included. ************************************** LAW & JUSTICE ************************************** SENATE BUDGET INCLUDES BOTH BECCA SETTLEMENT, ONGOING FUNDING The supplemental budget bill passed last weekend by the Senate, ESSB 6404, includes $4.7 million to cover the settlement reached between 20 counties and the state in a lawsuit to recover costs for implementing the Becca law. In addition, the budget provides $12.8 million for the remainder of the biennium for county juvenile court administrators to pay Becca costs associated with processing truancy, children in need of services, and at-risk youth petitions. Most of this money is appropriated from the Public Safety and Education Account, with about one-quarter of the amount coming from the general fund. In comparison, the House Democrats' budget proposal includes the $4.7 million settlement and the House Republicans' proposal covers $13.8 million for ongoing Becca costs. Other specific criminal justice needs are addressed as follows in the various budget plans: q House Democrats provide $5.4 million for indigent defense in dependency cases; other budgets do not fund. q House Democrats provide $1.2 million and House Republicans provide $994,000 for drug courts; the Senate does not fund. q House Democrats provide $1.4 million for law enforcement training; other budgets do not fund. ************************************** GOVERNOR TO SIGN BILL CLARIFYING REQUIREMENTS FOR DUI COURT APPEARANCES When the legislature passed 13 drunk-driving related bills in 1998, it required a DUI defendant to appear in court within one day after arrest. The purpose was to have a judge consider conditions for pre- trial release. Problems arose where some courts did not meet everyday and could not follow the law. HB 2612 clarifies that a person charged with a DUI, but not served a citation or complaint at the time of the incident, can appear in court to consider pre-trial conditions within 14 days after the court is next in session. This bill has been delivered to the governor, and he is expected to sign it into law. ************************************** NO MONEY THIS YEAR TO ASSIST WITH LOCAL JAIL COSTS Despite early legislative interest in several bills that would have required state financial responsibility for state prisoners in county jails, all these bills are dead due to estimated fiscal impacts. Also off the table for this session are efforts to provide state funding assistance to county and city jails that are experiencing extraordinary medical costs. According to a survey prepared by Representative Cathy Wolfe's staff, health-care expenses accounted for 6.46 percent of 1998 jail budgets statewide. Five counties (Asotin, Jefferson, Kittitas, Whatcom, Whitman) spent more than 10 percent of their 1998 jail budgets on health care. While the Legislature did not provide much help this session, many lawmakers expressed growing interest and concern in the capital and operational funding needs for local jails. These issues may be able to garner more attention, and money, in 2001. Please see the attached article from "American Jails" magazine for one example of how a Massachusetts county jail is meeting the health-care needs of inmates, lessening the disease burden of the local community, and reducing criminal recidivism rates. ************************************** LEGISLATIVE UPDATE ************************************** SENATE BUDGET INCLUDES USE OF COUNTY MANAGEMENT FEES FROM FOREST DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNT In a last minute surprise the Senate budget released last week included the use of $10 million from the Forest Development account to be split evenly between counties and the state, which would use it for shorelines protection by allowing easement acquisitions and other buffer protections. In addition, another $2 million was approved for road impr0ovements in the Lake Whatcom area to help resolve a potential litigation issue with area residents. This is not an unprecedented use of the funds. Three years ago when the first salmon legislation was passed $12 million was diverted. The distribution formula, a pro rata share of the county tax levies, would allow up to 47% of the moneys to go to forest board land counties on a on-time basis. The issue is whether there will be enough funds in later years to meet ESA obligations on forest board land roads in the future. If there isn't, then the possibility exists that the management fee cold be raised from 22% to 25% by a future action of the Board of Natural Resources. ************************************** BILLS WAITING FOR THE GOVERNOR SHB 2392, Joint task force on local government services and finance, WACO and WAPA Priority HB 2328, Lowering Anti-harassment filing fees, WACO and Clerk Priority HB 2329, Judgment Summaries, WACO and Clerk Priority HB 2330, Toxicology Laboratory Funding, WACO and WACME Priority SSB 6154, County clerks and credit cards, County Clerk Priority SSB 6244, Extending juvenile court jurisdiction, Clarification of previously passed County Clerk legislation. SHB 2903, Law enforcement sound recording, Sheriffs ESSB 6295, Garnishment proceedings, Clerks collaborated on this bill. HB 2595, Protection orders for vulnerable adults ************************************** OF INTEREST TO CORONERS, MEDICAL EXAMINERS, SHERIFFS AND PROSECUTORS SHB 2476, Child death investigations, was amended onto SB 5739, Death certificates, in the House late last week. When SB 5739 was returned to the Senate for concurrence, the Senate ruled that Representative Lambert's HB 2476 was beyond the "scope and object" of SB 5739 and refused to concur with the amendment and passed SB 5739 unamended. SHB 2476 is dead this session. ESSB 6404, the Senate supplemental budget bill, included the transfer of $110,000 to the Criminal Justice Training Commission for expanded and regional death investigations training, but the House versions do not. The expanded training is a WACO priority. You are urged to contact Representatives Tom Huff and Helen Sommers and all your representatives to encourage their support of ESSB 6404, Section 216 which makes the training possible. ESSB 6404, the Senate supplemental budget bill, does not include two items included in the House versions. Please contact Senator Valoria Loveland, Chair of Ways and Means, to enlist her support in 1) including the WSP agency request for two chemists for the Clandestine Drug Lab unit; and 2) appropriating $100,000 in Death Investigations Account monies to develop and implement networking capabilities between the State Toxicology Laboratory and the county coroners and medical examiners. ************************************** BUDGET ITEM FOR COUNTY CLERKS ESSB 6404, the Senate supplemental budget bill, in Section 208 (1) (d) directs the Division of Child Support to work with County Clerks to find ways to removed social security numbers from court files. Enlist the support of your representatives to make sure this provision is included in whatever budget is finally adopted. SSB 6856, the Senate Transportation Budget, in Section 32 includes new language which imposes new penalty assessments of $10 on each traffic infraction. The bill splits the monies with 50% going to the Traffic Safety Commission and 50% subject to the PSEA split, dedicating the PSEA share to crime victim advocacy and sexual assault programs. New section 33, imposes an additional $50 on misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor and felony traffic convictions with all the additional revenue being deposited in the traffic safety account. WSAC and WAPA have taken the lead on SSB 6856, but WACO has informed the legislature that WACO policy is to adhere to the traditional split of penalties in order to support the operations of local jurisdictions, but have no objection to funding crime victim advocacy and sexual assault units with the PSEA share. ESSB 6400, Domestic violence, includes language directed to the County clerk and sheriff. The bill provides that when a restraining order in a dissolution, legal separation or declaration of invalidity is modified or terminated, "the clerk of court shall notify the law enforcement agency specified in the order on or before the next judicial day." Upon receipt, the law enforcement agency "shall remove the order from any computer-based criminal intelligence system." ************************************** AUDITORS' BILLS Despite the valiant, last ditch efforts by Island County Auditor Suzanne Sinclair, ESSB 6363, the auditors' absentee/mail ballot bill died. The majority of last week was spent attempting to get the bill onto the House floor for a vote. On Friday, ESSB 6363 was placed on the House Floor Calendar and we were reassured it was going to the floor for a vote. It never happened. The Republicans and Democrats could not come to a compromise on a section in the bill regarding obtaining a voter's signature on absentee ballot envelopes after the day of the election if a voter had failed to sign his or her envelope. We reassured the Republicans we would handle this by administrative rule, but unfortunately, that wasn't enough to save the bill. The bill died. Thanks to all of you who worked so hard on this bill. ************************************** BUDGET AND VEHICLE AND VESSEL LICENSING In the Senate Transportation Budget is a provision (Sec. 213.) relating to the Department of Licensing's (DOL) service delivery methods for vehicle and vessel licensing. The directive is for "an examination of the available methods for providing licensing services directly to citizens either through department of licensing offices or electronically. The department must include the findings of the study as part of its 2001-03 biennial budget request." The bill allocates $300,000 (Sec. 215.) to DOL for the sole purpose of purchasing and implementing a revenue system for the department's e-commerce initiative. However, at this point there is no money in the budget for DOL's e-commerce initiative. We expect to be working on this process with the DOL during the interim. ************************************** MEETINGS, WORKSHOPS & TRAININGS ************************************** KEEP DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS SAFE The Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys (WAPA) and the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) are sponsoring free four-hour training regarding the new 1999 Foreign Protection Order Full Faith and Credit Act, throughout April, May and June. If you are a prosecutor, a police officer, a victims' advocate, or a court employee who has ever been called upon to assist a domestic violence victim, this class is for you. Nine locations have been chosen for the training, with two sessions at each location: Spokane Training Center, April 7 Yakima Co. Courthouse, April 12 Wenatchee Fire Service. Training Center, April 20 Hanford Training Facility, April 21 Criminal Justice Training Center, May 3 Jefferson Co. Courthouse, May 30 Whatcom Crisis Services, June 1 Clark Regional Comm. Center, June 29 Thurston County Courthouse, June 30 For further information and registration, please call WAPA at (360) 753- 2175. ************************************** ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES (ACHS) TO MEET IN VANCOUVER, MARCH 15 - 17 ACHS will be having its bi-monthly meeting on March 15 - 17 in Vancouver at the Homewood Suites Hotel in the Hudson Bay meeting room. The Mental Health Section will meet on Wednesday beginning at 10:00 AM and adjourning at 4:00 PM. From 10 - 1, the Mental Health Division will join the Section for discussions on the past legislative session and various pieces of mental health-related legislation, a progress report on the Performance Indicator Grant work group, uses for additional federal block grant funds, several specific children's mental health issues, and mental health budgetary issues including the past session. The children's issues include the availability of Fairfax Hospital, medicaid coupons for children in foster care, and status of the federal waivers special conditions regarding children with special needs. The budgetary discussion will include David Panken representing the Community Mental Health Council and cover the supplemental budget, family planning/medicaid eligibles and the capitation rates, and general funding issues. Lunch will be delayed and be from 1 - 2. The afternoon will include a discussion of the need for mental health-related WSAC policy statements or specific WSAC legislative positions for the 2001 legislative session. There will also be a discussion about how the ombuds function occurs in each RSN. There are some consumer advocates who are interested in pursuing an independent ombuds service at the state level like the currently existing LTC Ombuds program. The Chemical Dependency Section will meet on Thursday beginning at 9:30 and running until 4:30. In the morning there will be a Section roundtable without the DASA following by the various work group updates. These will include prevention, finance, legislative committee 2000, legislative strategy 2001, Title 19 workgroup, ADATSA, and the statewide assessment. Norma Jaeger, King, will lead a discussion on bridging the gap from research to practice. In the afternoon, Norma will talk about treatment retention rates, Jean Wessman will update us on the legislative session, central office will provide various updates, and SSI, Co-Occurring Disorders, methadone waiting lists, and TANF will be covered. DASA will discuss the satisfaction survey, counselor shortages, debrief the policy conference, ADATSA bed utilization, 7.01 planning, and CSAT applications. At midday, the ACHS Business Meeting and Cross/Systems Meeting will be held. The meeting will be from 11:30 - 1. Included on the agenda is a presentation from Clark County on their services targeted to those with both mental illness and chemical dependency. The Developmental Disabilities Section will meet from 9 - 3 on Friday, March 17. From 9 - 12, there will be a stakeholder group update, updates from the 0 - 3 group, the advocacy coalition, and Leslie Smith will cover brokerages in Washington. In the afternoon, headquarters and regional staff will join the Section. Subjects to be covered include community protection - the DDD policy and list; CHRIS billing instructions; APS/DDD reporting guidelines; the supplemental budget; and county service authorizations. If you have any questions about the meeting, please contact the Clark County Community Services Department at (360) 397-2130. ************************************** COMING EVENTS ************************************** March 27-31 Washington State Association of Coroners' and Medical Examiners' Spring Training, "Basic Death Investigation," PLEASE NOTE: The training will be held at the Des Moines Police Department. 28-30 Washington State Association of Sheriffs' and Oregon State Association of Sheriffs' Annual Joint Meeting, Red Lion, Port Angeles. April 5-7 WSAC Western District Meeting, Best Western Lakeway Inn & Conference Center, Bellingham 9-15 National County Government week. 17-19 County Auditors' Elections Conference, Campbell's Resort, Chelan. 19-21 WSAC Eastern District Meeting, Clarkston, Quality Inn 26-28 County Clerks' Spring Conference, Icicle Inn, Leavenworth. 26-28 County Prosecuting Attorneys' Annual Spring Training Program, Cavanaugh's Gateway, Yakima. ************************************** DIRECTORY CHANGE ************************************** On page 74, please make the following change to your 2000 Directory of County Official in Washington State: Brian Sonntag's telephone number should be 902-0370. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused. ************************************** JOBS ************************************** YAKIMA COUNTY, FACILITIES SERVICES SENIOR MANAGER, PUBLIC WORKS - There is one opening with the Yakima County Facilities Services Department. This position will be responsible for managing the planning, operation, renovation/construction and maintenance of County buildings and facilities. Requires a BA in Civil or Mechanical Engineering, Construction Maintenance or Architecture and 6 years experience in facilities design, maintenance management/construction or operations with at least 3 years at a supervisory or managerial level. To apply contact Yakima County Human Resources, Courthouse Room 412, Yakima, WA 98901 (509) 574-2220 by 5:00 p.m., Friday, April 14, 2000. ***** PARKS & RECREATION DIRECTOR, SPOKANE, WA - Organize, manage and direct the activities and programs of the Spokane County Parks and Recreation Department, including 3 golf courses. Requires related BA/BS plus 5 years experience, including 2 years in a supervisory capacity. Salary: $45,589 - $61,516/year plus excellent benefits. Closes: March 24, 2000, 5:00 P.M. For complete job description and application materials contact Spokane County Human Resources, (509) 477-5750, TDD; Equal Opportunity Employer. ***** RISK MANAGER, SPOKANE, WASHINGTON - Develop and implement sound self- insured risk management practices and safety programs to eliminate and/or reduce risk of loss caused by exposure to property, liability, and personnel perils; administrative and investigative work relative to safety and loss control programs; financial administration of risk management programs, including determining reserves on liability, property and w/c claims; budget admin., including cost allocation to departments; understanding and interpreting actuarial and statistical reports; analyzing use of insurance products. Requires a Bachelor's degree in Public or Business Admin, Risk Management, Safety Engineering, or related AND three years experience (including one year supervisory) OR equivalent combination; ARM, CPCU or similar training/designation desired. Open until filled; $46,152 - $62,280/year plus excellent benefits. For complete job description and application materials, contact Spokane County Human Resources at (509) 477-5750, TDD; Equal Opportunity Employer. ***** ASSISTANT ELECTIONS SUPERINTENDENT, SPOKANE, WA - Administrative and supervision work in direct assistance to the Elections Division Supervisor of the Auditor's Office. Requires two years of college including coursework in Political Science, Public Administration, Business or related AND three years office experience related to elections OR equivalent combination of education/experience. Lead or supervisory experience preferred. Certification as an Elections Administrator by the Office of the Secretary of State is preferable; $2510 - $3386/month plus excellent benefits; closes 3/17/00 at 5:00 P.M. For complete job description and application materials, contact Spokane County Human Resources at (509) 477-5750, TDD; Equal Opportunity Employer. ***** HUMAN RESOURCE ANALYST, SPOKANE, WA - Professional level strategic, technical and administrative human resources work; requires BA in Human Resources, Public or Business Administration, or related AND 2 years experience OR equivalent combination of education/experience; PHR or SPHR preferred; $2989 - $4033/month plus excellent benefits; closes 3/24/00 at 5:00 P.M. For complete job description and application materials, contact Spokane County Human Resources at (509) 477-5750, TDD; Equal Opportunity Employer. **** END ****