“The rate of change of momentum of a body over time is directly proportional to the force applied,and occurs in the same direction as the applied force.” ~ Sir Isaac Newton.

February 3rd was the deadline for policy bills to pass out of committees. February 7th is the deadline for fiscal bills. The most critical upcoming deadline is Feb. 15th when bills need to be out of their house of origin. It’s important that bills of import continue moving through the process.

As an annual reminder, no bill is ever ‘dead’ until Sine Die, and any bill deemed ‘necessary to implement the budget’ (NTIB) remains alive until the bitter end.

Below is a brief report on selected bills that are still ‘alive’ noting the caveat above. Because of the speed as legislators race to meet cut-off dates and the deadline of this report, the status of some bills may change. Just an FYI. (For Your Information). A reminder that many bills sitting in Rules’ Committees never make it to the floor for action.

Retirement Related Proposals

SHB 1699 | Permitting individuals retired from the public employees’ retirement system, the teachers’ retirement system, and the school employees’ retirement system additional opportunities to work for a school district for up to 1,040 hours per school year while in receipt of pension benefits until July 1, 2025.

Comment: This bill is on the floor calendar awaiting action.

HB 1721/SB 5676 | Providing a benefit increase to certain retirees of the public employees’ retirement system plan 1 and the teachers’ retirement system plan 1.

Summary: This bill would provide a 3% increase not to exceed $110/month for TRS1/PERS1 Plan retirees.

Comment: See SB 5676 below.

SB 5676/HB 1721 | Providing a benefit increase to certain retirees of the public employees’ retirement system plan 1 and the teachers’ retirement system plan 1.

Summary: See HB 1721 above. SB 5676 was moved directly to the Senate Calendar and passed the chamber 47/0/2. It has been sent to the House Appropriations Committee awaiting scheduling.

HB 1752 | Adding a Roth option to deferred compensation plans.

Comment: Passed the House 96/0 and has been sent to Senate Ways and Means for scheduling.

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Other Areas of Potential Fiscal Impact to Districts

HB 1486 | Concerning qualifications for unemployment insurance when an individual voluntarily leaves work.

Comment: This bill expands eligibility to receive unemployment insurance benefits to those who voluntarily quit their jobs. Under current law, there are a limited number of circumstances when an employee can receive UI benefits after voluntarily leaving their job. Under the bill, a person would be eligible for UI benefits if they leave a job due to a family member’s death or need to care for a child or adult.

The Rules Committee was relieved of further consideration and this bill was moved to the floor calendar awaiting action.

HB 1613 | Concerning shared reporting responsibilities for both the paid family and medical leave and the long-term services and supports trust programs to clarify that information collected from employer reports shall remain private.

Comment: This bill is in House Rules, but is likely ‘dead’.

SHB 1617: Aligning state and school holidays. The legislature intends to clarify that Juneteenth, like all other state legal holidays, is a school holiday on which school may not be taught.

Comment: This bill passed the House 88/8/2 and was sent to the Senate.

SHB 1644 | Expands allowable uses of school districts’ transportation vehicle funds to include purchase, installation, and repair of vehicle charging stations and other zero-emission fueling stations, and feasibility studies to transition to electric or zero-emission vehicles for pupil transportation.

Comment: This bill is in House Rules.

SHB 1732 | This bill delays the start date for the premium assessments under the Long-Term Services and Supports Trust Program (LTSS Trust Program) from January 1, 2022, to July 1, 2023. Delays the date benefits become available under the LTSS Trust Program from January 1, 2025, to July 1, 2026. Allows individuals born before January 1, 1968, who do not meet the LTSS Trust Program’s vesting requirements, to receive partial benefits based on the number of years of premium payments. Requires employers to refund employees any LTSS Trust premiums collected before July 1, 2023.

Comment: This bill has been signed by the Governor effective January 27th, 2022.

ESHB 1733 | Establishing voluntary exemptions to the long-term services and supports trust program for certain populations. This bill establishes exemptions from the payment of premiums under the Long-Term Services and Supports Trust Program for certain veterans, spouses and registered domestic partners of military service members, nonimmigrant temporary workers, and employees who work in Washington and maintain a primary residence outside of Washington.

Comment: This bill has passed both Houses and was signed by the Governor. Effective June 9, 2022.

SHB 1759 | Requiring school districts and other public education entities to make information from the department of health about substance use trends, overdose symptoms and response, and the secure storage of prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and firearms and ammunition, available through their websites and other communication resources.

Comment: This bill has been moved to Rules and is likely ‘dead’.

HB 1763 | Concerning injured workers’ rights during independent medical examinations. This bill allows an injured worker to make an audio and video recording of an independent medical examination (IME), and to have one person of the worker’s choosing present during the examination.

Comment: Passed out of committee on Feb. 2nd.

SHB 1795 | Makes void and unenforceable provisions in agreements between an employer and employee that prohibit the disclosure of conduct that is illegal discrimination, harassment, retaliation, a wage and hour violation, or sexual assault, or that is against a clear mandate of public policy, occurring in the workplace.

Comment: This bill is in House Rules.

SHB 1803 | Directs the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, beginning with the 2022–23 school year, to annually distribute legislatively appropriated funds to each school district in an amount equaling $3,000 for each member of the school district board of directors (Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose). Increases the maximum daily compensation that school directors may receive from $50 to $100, and the annual compensation limit from $4,800 to $7,800. Allows school directors to receive reimbursement for childcare costs associated with attending meetings. Directs the Department of Commerce to complete an examination of actual and potential school director compensation with a report.

Comment: This bill is in House Appropriations awaiting scheduling.

2SHB 1810 | Requires original manufacturers of digital electronic products sold on or after January 1, 2023, to make certain documentation, parts, and tools available to owners and independent repair providers on fair and reasonable terms.

Comments: School districts testified that this could aid them in doing self-repairs and saving money. The bill pass Appropriations and has been moved to Rules.

HB 1837 | This bill repeals the restriction on the regulation of work-related musculoskeletal disorders and ergonomics.

Comment: This bill has been sent to Rules.

HB 1900 | Improving school districts’ responses to complaints of discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying. This bill directs the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to update, and publicly post, model student handbook language to include information about policies and complaint procedures related to discrimination, including sexual harassment, and information about policies and complaint procedures related to harassment, intimidation, and bullying, as well as the overlap between the policies and complaint procedures. Requires that each school district to include the model student handbook language in any student, parent, employee, and volunteer handbook. Codifies an administrative rule requiring each school district and charter school to designate one person in the school district as the primary contact regarding compliance with state laws prohibiting discrimination in public schools.

Comment: Executive session has been scheduled for Feb. 3rd.

HB 1992 | Concerning vacation leave accrual for public employees. This bill increases the cap on accrued vacation leave for state employees from 240 hours to 280 hours. Removes limits on the maximum amount of sick leave a school district employee may accumulate or use for the purposes of unused-leave compensation. Requires school districts to establish an emergency leave pool for staff who become ill or need to quarantine.

Comment: Executive action was taken Feb. 2nd.

E2SSB 5155 | Concerning prejudgment interest. This bill, as amended, starts interest running on a judgment entered following trial of the matter and arbitration awards for tortious conduct, other than medical malpractice claims, from the date on which the cause of action accrues for individuals and entities, but not public agencies. Starts interest running on a judgment for a medical malpractice claim from the date of entry of judgment.

Comment: This bill passed the Senate 31/18 and has been referred to the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee.

SSB 5326 | Concerning health and pension benefits for school bus drivers employed by private nongovernmental entities. This bill Provides that school districts may only enter into pupil transportation service contracts with nongovernmental entities that provide health and retirement benefit contributions to their employees equivalent to those received by school employees.

Comment: This bill was resurrected from last session and has been placed on the Senate floor calendar awaiting action. An amendment has been proposed and is being analyzed but a quick read is that it does not change the substance of the original bill.

SSB 5628 | Concerning cyber harassment, addressing concerns in the case of Rynearson v. Ferguson, and adding a crime of cyberstalking.

Comment: This whole area of internet ‘bullying’ either at or outside of school is a landmine of potential liability for districts. This bill has been moved to the Senate Rules.

SB 5539 | Concerning state funding for educational service districts. This bill requires that state funding be provided to each educational service district (ESD) for the employer cost of school employees’ benefits for employees of the ESD that are covered by collective bargaining.

Comment: It is scheduled for executive session on Feb. 4th.

SB 5562 | Concerning health care for non-represented employees of educational service districts. This bill requires that non-represented employees of an educational service district receive health care benefits through the Public Employees’ Benefit Board beginning January 1, 2024.

Comment: It has not been moved to WM executive session since the Jan. 27th public hearing. This bill appears to be ‘dead’.

SSB 5564 | Protecting the confidentiality of employees using employee assistance programs.

Comment: This bill is in Rules awaiting further action.

SSB 5649 | Modifying the Washington state paid family and medical leave act. This bill provides that an allowable purpose for family leave is any leave taken by an employee during the seven calendar days following the death of the family member for whom the employee would have qualified to take medical leave for the birth of their child or would have qualified for family bonding leave. Specifies that leave taken by certain employees in the first six weeks after giving birth must be medical leave, unless the employee chooses to use family leave.

Comment: It was referred to Senate Ways and Means on Jan. 27th and is not currently scheduled for a public hearing. The bill is likely ‘dead’.

SSB 5835 | Concerning workers’ compensation. This bill provides the same percentages of the worker’s wages to be received by an injured worker for a permanent and temporary total disability whether a worker is married or unmarried. Removes the requirement that an injured worker be married to receive an additional $10 per month when the worker is receiving the minimum monthly payments for a permanent or temporary total disability.

Comment: It passed the House Labor Committee on Feb. 2nd. This bill is likely ‘dead’.

SSB 5873 | Concerning unemployment insurance, family leave, and medical leave premiums. This bill decreases the maximum Unemployment Insurance (UI) social cost factor for 2022 and 2023 (Approx. 33% decrease). Sets a maximum UI rate class for the purposes of the percentage of the social cost factor to be paid by small businesses in 2023.

Comment: This bill is in Senate Rules.

Lake Chelan Principal is Driven by Data but Sees and Values the Whole Student.

OLYMPIA — Brad Wilson, principal at Chelan High School in the Lake Chelan School District, was named this year’s Washington State Principal of the Year. Every year, the Association of Washington School Principals selects a state winner. Wilson will also be recognized at the national level by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). He will compete with winners from other states for the NASSP’s National Principal of the Year award.

Download the press release (PDF). 

For More Information  David Morrill | Communications & Technology Director | (800) 562-6100

LaVenture Middle School Assistant Principal is a Visionary Who Doesn’t Stop at the Vision.

OLYMPIA — Megan Mauro, assistant principal at LaVenture Middle School in the Mount Vernon School District, was named this year’s Washington State Assistant Principal of the Year. Every year, the Association of Washington School Principals selects a state winner. Mauro will also be recognized at the national level by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), where she will compete with winners from other states for the NASSP’s National Assistant Principal of the Year award, announced in early April. 

Described as a visionary leader who “walks the walk” and turns vision into action, Mauro focuses on social justice and raises the bar for students and staff alike, all with a positive attitude. A master of eliciting student voice, Mauro pushes all students to be challenged and has a passion for supporting the underdogs. 

LaVenture’s students come from diverse neighborhoods, help grow and harvest food that feeds the state and the country, speak multiple languages, and have incredible familial and cultural assets. Mauro and the leadership team support their students' preparation for a globally competitive society by providing access to engaging and challenging curricular programs, including dual language, AVID, highly capable, and an inclusive Life Skills program.

Mauro’s daily goal is to empower their staff to lean into opportunities to grow together, and to draw on their collective creativity and strength to make positive changes for their students. 

National Assistant Principal of the Year Program
NASSP selects a National Assistant Principal of the Year during National AP Week, held this year during the week of April 4–8, 2022. Mauro will be honored in July at the National Principals Conference with winners from each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Department of Defense Education Activity, and the U.S. Department of State Office of Overseas Schools.         

Download the press release (PDF). 

For More Information  David Morrill | Communications & Technology Director | (800) 562-6100

Find yourself frustrated with your current situation as a school-level leader? Ever wonder who makes some of the big statewide decisions impacting the work you do in your school? Ever consider getting more involved in influencing the P-16 education system? How about just getting better connected with other principals and assistant principals from around the state? Well, guess what? It’s easy to get more involved with AWSP, and WE WANT YOU!

How It Started and How It's Going

This year, we celebrate our 50th anniversary as one of the country’s premier professional membership organizations for principals. Our humble beginning started in 1972, thanks to a handful of courageous leaders who believed “principals” needed their own voice in the P16 educational system. And 50 years later, AWSP has maintained that vision and continues to be a leading voice for principals and assistant principals throughout our state and across the country. However, we’ve only maintained our powerful influence thanks to members taking leadership roles with AWSP year after year.

There has never been a more critical time for us to make a stand for the vital role and work principals and assistant principals do every day for students, staff, and school communities. As we embark on our 50th anniversary, we will spend the year celebrating you and the organization that has faithfully and consistently represented you. Your work for students, staff, and your community is too important not to be recognized and celebrated. We will use this 50th anniversary as an opportunity to continue sharing with the world the work and impact you have day in and day out. Principals matter.

Something Needs to Change

We will use this opportunity to fight for the principalship. It is often described as the best job in the world, yet most challenging. During the last ten years, it’s safe to say the job has become daunting, unrealistic, untenable, and borderline unbearable. Something needs to change because our students cannot afford ineffective or inconsistent leadership. They need you to be great and stay in your role. It’s time for action. It’s time for us to stand up and fight for more realistic working conditions and expectations. Everyone needs to be paying attention to the plight of our school leaders and coming together to brainstorm solutions that provide immediate relief before it’s too late. This is where you come in. We need more principals and assistant principals to join us in this advocacy effort.

Grade Level Leadership Committees: All Levels, All ESDs

For AWSP to maintain its strong presence and reputation in our state and across the nation, we are looking for more members to increase their level of engagement. One of the easiest ways to get involved with AWSP is by serving as an AWSP Regional Representative. We need elementary, middle, and high school grade level representatives from each of the nine Educational Service Districts to serve on our Grade Level Leadership Committees (GLLCs). Each year, positions open on these three committees; and each year, we try to fill those positions with a diverse group of principals and assistant principals throughout each of the nine regions. Is this your year? We hope so!

How Will YOU Help Shape Education?

In 2006, I was a high school principal, and I decided to get more involved with AWSP. I chose to serve as a Regional Representative for the High School Leadership Committee. Ultimately, that decision changed the trajectory of my career and had enormous benefits for my school and district. I instantly had access and the voice to influence changes at the state level, but most importantly, I joined a network of fellow school leaders walking the same leadership journey. Many of those colleagues have become lifelong friends. We have advocated together for the best interest of students in our state.

During the last few years, we’ve made long-overdue system changes at AWSP to make it easier and more accessible for any and all principals and assistant principals to get more involved. If you are in your 29th year or 1st year, your voice and input matter. If you’d like more information about what it means to get more involved, just give us a call. If serving as an AWSP Regional Representative sounds too daunting (which it is not), there are several other ways to get engaged as a member of AWSP:

• Serve on one of many AWSP Advisory Councils, 
• Launch and lead a local, regional, and/or state principal PLC, 
• Serve as an AWSP Ambassador,
• Represent AWSP as a liaison on various state-level stakeholder committees, 
• Write articles for our blog, website, and magazine, 
• Send us video ideas or a story about your school, 
• Serve as an AWSP Mentor/Coach, and/or
• Serve as a critical friend by providing feedback to us from the field.

Take the First Step

As you can see, there are lots of ways to be an active and engaged member of AWSP. Again, engaged leaders like you make our organization vibrant, relevant, and strong. Have questions about anything listed above? Just reach out to us.

On behalf of the teams at AWSP, AWSL, and Cispus, we thank you for your service to the students in our state. We also thank you for your membership. You make us strong!

AWSP is looking for an amazing elementary principal to be the National Association of Elementary School Principals’ (NAESP) National Outstanding Assistant Principal honoree from our state. This program promotes excellence in educational leadership and calls attention to the fundamental importance of the assistant principal.

Criteria established by NAESP requires that the individual:

1. Must be a member of NAESP at the time of nomination (NAESP membership is included for elementary-level AWSP memberships)

2. Is a practicing assistant principal with at least two years of experience in the role.

3. Demonstrates exceptional leadership in a particular school program.

4. Is respected by and sets high standards for students, colleagues, parents, and the community.

Learn more about the NAESP National Outstanding Principal Program.

Nominate Today

To nominate an outstanding elementary AP today, please send us an email and include:

• Your contact information
• The name and school of the elementary AP you’re nominating
• Provide a short-form answer (250 words or less) to the first two questions and at least one more of the following:
  
  
  • Why does this nominee deserve to be NAESP’s National Outstanding Assistant Principal?
  
  
  • What does this assistant principal do to create a sustain an amazing and positive school culture and climate?
  
  
  • What equity-focused leadership actions & systems are in place to promote ongoing improvement, closing access and opportunity gaps? How does this assistant principal support diversity, equity, and inclusion?
  
  
  • How does the principal promote the ongoing improvement of learning and teaching for ALL students and staff?
  
  
  • What accomplishments in student performance have come under this assistant principal’s leadership?
  
  
  • Describe the impact this assistant principal has made with students, staff, families, and the community as a whole.

Important Dates

• March 1, 2022 — End of the nomination window.
• March 14, 2022 — Applications are scored by the review committee and a winner is selected.
• March 25, 2022 — The winner's application is due to NAESP.

February 2022 School Safety Blog

The old English teacher in me is coming out. Thinking of safety planning, COVID, masking, bullying, and digital safety among other things — especially these days — one vocabulary word keeps rolling around in my head: risk.  

We know what it is. Paraphrasing Merriam-Webster, “risk”, as a noun, means the possibility of loss or injury, peril. It can be someone or something that creates or suggests a hazard. And as a verb, risk means to expose to hazard or danger, or to incur risk or danger.

When we begin comprehensive safety planning, we do a risk assessment for our district or our school. What are those risks and hazards which we might have to deal with? How much peril are we in because of them? We establish Threat Assessment teams to help identify potential risk factors impacting the life of a student. We insure our assets and help provide safe learning environments with the help of our excellent statewide risk pools.

And so on…

Let’s change courses a bit. Let’s consider technology. For our districts and schools, we minimize risk with firewalls, network use agreements, filters, etc.  Let’s also consider students, what it means to be tech-savvy — especially for them. Think hardware. Software. Think Instagram, Snapchat, Badoo, and Discord. Think 4chan, Grindr, Omegle, ooVoo, and Reddit. Don’t forget Telegram, twitch, Vine, Seekrets, and 8kun. The list goes on and on.

Let’s go back to risk. Two additional risk-related concepts are dynamic risk and risk compensation. Simply defined, dynamic risk is when one risk triggers other, perhaps even more dangerous situations. Risk compensation happens when someone feels safe, feels less danger, and thus is willing to try something even more dangerous.

Now throw in brain development. Maturation. Growing up. Wetware. 

With all the platforms and apps, with all the devices at hand, with all the stories, challenges, games, and such, it’s no wonder that many tech-savvy young people think, “I can send this.” “I can be anonymous.”  “I can just delete it.” “Nobody will ever know it’s me.” “It’ll disappear in 10 seconds.” “It’ll be fun.” Bottom line, “I can risk it!”

Truth be told, though, it is very important for youth to understand that once something is sent, it is released into the ether. The sender loses control. The number of recipients can grow; the message can evolve, be modified, or adapted to someone else’s purposes. Also, it never disappears. It doesn’t go away. And the sender leaves digital footprints, breadcrumbs. That person is never really anonymous. Hidden, maybe. Hard to find, maybe. But not anonymous. 

What’s the message? How safe are you, really? Is it worth the risk? 

These would be good conversations to have with students.  It’s really hard to mop the net.

“Goals are dreams with deadlines.” ~ Unknown

“Deadlines just aren’t real to me until I’m staring one in the face.”
  ~ Rick Riordan, The Lightning Thief

The first major deadlines of this short session are February 3rd for policy bills and Feb. 7th for fiscal bills with the ultimate deadline for bills to make it out of their houses of origin being February 15th.

As before, below is a brief report on selected bills that appear to have some support for advancing. Although any bill from the last or current session can always reappear. (See SSB 5326 below).

Retirement Related Proposals

SHB 1699 | Permitting individuals retired from the public employees’ retirement system, the teachers’ retirement system, and the school employees’ retirement system additional opportunities to work for a school district for up to 1,040 hours per school year while in receipt of pension benefits until July 1, 2025.

Comment: This bill passed committee and is now before Rules awaiting action. Two amendments were passed; one dealt with insuring that it applied to Plan 1 members; the other, was an addition of an emergency clause. With the addition of the emergency clause, if and when it passes both houses and the Governor signs, it will be in immediate effect. Swift passage of this is essential if it is going to help the current school year.

HB 1721/SB 5676 | Providing a benefit increase to certain retirees of the public employees’ retirement system plan 1 and the teachers’ retirement system plan 1. Summary: This bill would provide a 3% increase not to exceed $110/month for TRS1/PERS1 Plan retirees. The Governor included this one-time increase in his released supplemental budget.

HB 1721 | The Rules Committee was relieved of further consideration and the bill was placed on the floor calendar for second reading. SB 5676 is Senate Rules awaiting action.

Comment: Passage of either bills seems certain. The question becomes, “Which bill will be the one that passes which chamber?”. The answer often comes down to egos. Who wants credit? And sadly, this battle can end up killing the bill as time runs out.

SB 5676/HB 1721 | Providing a benefit increase to certain retirees of the public employees’ retirement system plan 1 and the teachers’ retirement system plan 1. Summary: See HB 1721 above.

HB 1752 | Adding a Roth option to deferred compensation plans.

Comment: The Rules Committee relieved it of further consideration. It has been placed on second reading/floor calendar awaiting action.

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Other areas of potential fiscal impact (often, unfunded) to districts:

HB 1486 | Concerning qualifications for unemployment insurance when an individual voluntarily leaves work.

Comment: This bill expands eligibility to receive unemployment insurance benefits to those who voluntarily quit their jobs. Under current law, there are a limited number of circumstances when an employee can receive UI benefits after voluntarily leaving their job. Under the bill, a person would be eligible for UI benefits if they leave a job due to a family member’s death or need to care for a child or adult. 

The Rules Committee was relieved of further consideration and this bill was moved to the floor calendar awaiting action.  

HB 1613 | Concerning shared reporting responsibilities for both the paid family and medical leave and the long-term services and supports trust programs to clarify that information collected from employer reports shall remain private.

Comment: This bill is in House Rules.

SHB 1617 | Aligning state and school holidays. The legislature intends to clarify that Juneteenth, like all other state legal holidays, is a school holiday on which school may not be taught.

Comment: This bill passed committee and before Rules awaiting a move to the floor calendar.

SHB 1732 | This bill delays the start date for the premium assessments under the Long-Term Services and Supports Trust Program (LTSS Trust Program) from January 1, 2022, to July 1, 2023. Delays the date benefits become available under the LTSS Trust Program from January 1, 2025, to July 1, 2026. Allows individuals born before January 1, 1968, who do not meet the LTSS Trust Program’s vesting requirements, to receive partial benefits based on the number of years of premium payments. Requires employers to refund employees any LTSS Trust premiums collected before July 1, 2023. 

Comment: This bill has been passed by both Houses and been delivered to the Governor.

ESHB 1733 | Establishing voluntary exemptions to the long-term services and supports trust program for certain populations. This bill establishes exemptions from the payment of premiums under the Long-Term Services and Supports Trust Program for certain veterans, spouses and registered domestic partners of military service members, nonimmigrant temporary workers, and employees who work in Washington and maintain a primary residence outside of Washington.

Comment: This bill has passed both Houses and is awaiting an expected signature from the Governor.

HB 1759 | Requiring school districts and other public education entities to make information from the department of health about substance use trends, overdose symptoms and response, and the secure storage of prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and firearms and ammunition, available through their websites and other communication resources.

Comment: This bill has been moved to Rules.

HB 1763 | Concerning injured workers’ rights during independent medical examinations. This bill allows an injured worker to make an audio and video recording of an independent medical examination (IME), and to have one person of the worker’s choosing present during the examination. Comment: Scheduled for executive session on Feb. 2nd.

HB 1803 | Updating school district director compensation through the revision and preservation of a uniform compensation structure and an examination of future needs. Districts may compensate school directors up to $128 per board meetings or other services for the district. Reimbursable expenses will also include childcare.

Comment: This bill has been moved to Rules.

HB 1837 | This bill repeals the restriction on the regulation of work-related musculoskeletal disorders and ergonomics.

Comment: This bill has been sent to Rules.

HB 1900 | Improving school districts’ responses to complaints of discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying. This bill directs the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to update, and publicly post, model student handbook language to include information about policies and complaint procedures related to discrimination, including sexual harassment, and information about policies and complaint procedures related to harassment, intimidation, and bullying, as well as the overlap between the policies and complaint procedures. Requires that each school district to include the model student handbook language in any student, parent, employee, and volunteer handbook. Codifies an administrative rule requiring each school district and charter school to designate one person in the school district as the primary contact regarding compliance with state laws prohibiting discrimination in public schools.

Comment: A public hearing is scheduled for Jan. 27th. Executive session has been scheduled for Feb. 3rd.

HB 1992 | Concerning vacation leave accrual for public employees. This bill increases the cap on accrued vacation leave for state employees from 240 hours to 280 hours. Removes limits on the maximum amount of sick leave a school district employee may accumulate or use for the purposes of unused-leave compensation. Requires school districts to establish an emergency leave pool for staff who become ill or need to quarantine. Comment: This bill is scheduled for executive session on Feb. 1st.

E2SSB 5155 | Concerning prejudgment interest. This bill, as amended, starts interest running on a judgment entered following trial of the matter and arbitration awards for tortious conduct, other than medical malpractice claims, from the date on which the cause of action accrues for individuals and entities, but not public agencies. Starts interest running on a judgment for a medical malpractice claim from the date of entry of judgment.

Comment: This bill passed the Senate 31/18 and has been referred to the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee.

SSB 5326 | Concerning health and pension benefits for school bus drivers employed by private nongovernmental entities. This bill Provides that school districts may only enter into pupil transportation service contracts with nongovernmental entities that provide health and retirement benefit contributions to their employees equivalent to those received by school employees.

Comment: This bill was resurrected from last session and has been placed on the Senate floor calendar awaiting action.

SSB 5628 | Concerning cyber harassment, addressing concerns in the case of Rynearson v. Ferguson, and adding a crime of cyberstalking.

Comment: This whole area of internet ‘bullying’ either at or outside of school is a landmine of potential liability for districts. This bill has been moved to the Senate Rules.

SB 5539 | Concerning state funding for educational service districts. This bill requires that state funding be provided to each educational service district (ESD) for the employer cost of school employees’ benefits for employees of the ESD that are covered by collective bargaining.

Comment: It is scheduled for a public hearing before Senate Ways and Means on Jan. 27th.

SB 5562 | Concerning health care for non-represented employees of educational service districts. This bill requires that non-represented employees of an educational service district receive health care benefits through the Public Employees’ Benefit Board beginning January 1, 2024.

Comment: This bill is scheduled for a public hearing on Jan. 27th.

SSB 5564 | Protecting the confidentiality of employees using employee assistance programs. It is unlawful for an employer to obtain individually identifiable information regarding an employee’s participation in an EAP. Individually identifiable information gathered in the process of conducting an EAP must be kept confidential. An employee’s participation or nonparticipation in an EAP must not be a factor in a decision affecting an employee’s job security, promotional opportunities, corrective or disciplinary action, or other employment rights.

Comment: This bill is in Rules awaiting further action.

SSB 5649 | Modifying the Washington state paid family and medical leave act. This bill provides that an allowable purpose for family leave is any leave taken by an employee during the seven calendar days following the death of the family member for whom the employee would have qualified to take medical leave for the birth of their child or would have qualified for family bonding leave. Specifies that leave taken by certain employees in the first six weeks after giving birth must be medical leave, unless the employee chooses to use family leave. Expires the collective bargaining exception contained in the Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program. Establishes an actuarial office within the Employment Security Department (ESD), which must report annually on the financial condition of the PFML program and requires ESD to report on specified fiscal areas of the PFML program. Requires ESD to publish a list of employers with approved voluntary plans on its website. Requires the Office of Financial Management to coordinate with another agency for actuarial services relative to the PFML program and report to the Legislature by October 1, 2022. Creates a legislative task force on PFML program premiums.

Comment: It has been referred to Senate Ways and Means for a public hearing.

SB 5835 | Concerning workers’ compensation. This bill provides the same percentages of the worker’s wages to be received by an injured worker for a permanent and temporary total disability whether a worker is married or unmarried. Removes the requirement that an injured worker be married to receive an additional $10 per month when the worker is receiving the minimum monthly payments for a permanent or temporary total disability.

Comment: It has been scheduled for executive session on Feb. 2nd.

SB 5873 | Concerning unemployment insurance, family leave, and medical leave premiums. This bill decreases the maximum Unemployment Insurance (UI) social cost factor for 2022 and 2023 (Approx. 33% decrease). Sets a maximum UI rate class for the purposes of the percentage of the social cost factor to be paid by small businesses in 2023. Decreases the Paid Family & Medical Leave employee premium rate, subject to appropriation.

Comment: Scheduled for executive session Jan. 31st.

Fred Yancey
The Nexus Group, LLC

Section 504
Long COVID to test limits of accommodations
Section 504 and Students with Disabilities
Protecting Students with Disabilities

Social & Emotional Learning
Self-Regulation Strategies for Young Students

Behavior
How de-escalation strategies can reduce disruptive classroom behaviors

Instruction
2 Key Math Strategies for Students with Disabilities

OSPI
January Special Education Update
Rules for the Provision of Special Education

For more information, contact Abby Bowers , Capital Region ESD 113's Director of Special Programs.

The third week of the legislative session was the last full week for new policy bills to be heard in committees and zipped by. Next week is the first significant cut-off date of this year’s short session. Bills must pass out of their committee of origin by February 3. Next week’s hearings are all about taking executive action, where bills may be amended and voted out of committee (or not).

Our focus next week will be on our Virtual Week on the Hill. We have about 15 meetings set up so far with legislators across the state. This is our chance to talk about our most important needs this session. As a reminder, check out our AWSP legislative platform for more information about our top issues. In our conversations next week, we’ll make sure to cover budget stability to support students and schools, mental health support for students and staff, and urge careful consideration of policy bills at a time when schools are overwhelmed.

In budget news, legislative leaders are having conversations to figure out how the supplemental budget can address enrollment stability for those districts that experienced a decline in enrollment. We want to ensure districts don’t have to cut staff positions this spring. There is good support for HB 1664, which would update the prototypical funding model to increase funding for school nurses, counselors, social workers, and psychologists. The two bills related to transportation funding (HB 1808 and SB 5595) continue to move, which is also good news.

HB 1226, related to the simple majority for bonds, is still out there waiting for action. Legislators across the state need to hear from people in their legislative districts about why a simple majority is needed for school construction bonds. Check out my Action Alert and take one minute to ask your legislators to support a simple majority for bond elections.

After next Thursday, I’ll have a better idea of which policy bills will keep moving. Our favorite policy bills this session are HB 2078 and SB 5925, which establish the Outdoor School for All program. These feel-good bills are companion bills (so only one will end up moving on), and they both received outstanding support in hearings this week in the House and Senate Education Committees. The best testimonies were from two students. Check them out below.

HB 2078 Student Testimony

SB 5925 Student Testimony

Important Bills

Budget

• HB 1816 | Operating Budget (companion bill SB 5693)
• HB 1590 | Enrollment Stability (companion bill SB 5563)
• HB 1664 | Prototypical Support (close companion bills HB 1985 and SB 5595)
• HB 1808 | Transportation Funding (close companion SB 5581)
• HB 1226 | Simple Majority (companion HJR 4200)
• SB 5487 | Small District Consolidation

Students

• HB 1611 | Highly Capable Students
• HB 1938 | Student Financial Literacy (similar to SB 5720)
• HB 2078 | Outdoor School for All (companion bill SB 5925)
• SB 5497 | Student Board of Education Members
• SB 5537 | Compulsory School Attendance (age 5)
• SB 5735 | Asynchronous Instructional Hours

High School/Dual Credit

• HB 1162 | Performance Exhibition Pathway
• HB 1687 | College Bound Scholarship GPA
• HB 1760 | Dual Credit Program Access (similar to SB 5719 Dual Credit Costs)
• HB 1835 | Postsecondary Enrollment (FAFSA completion support)
• HB 1867 | Dual Credit Data
• SB 5734 | PE and Health Credits
• SB 5789 | Innovation Challenge Program (similar to HB 1835)
• SB 5902 | Credit Flexibility

Health/Safety

• HB 1676 | Tobacco and Vapor Product Tax
• HB 1759 | Secure Storage Info on School Websites
• HB 1800 | Increasing Access to Behavioral Health Services for Minors
• HB 1834 | Student Mental Health Absences
• HB 1941 | Active Shooter Drills
• HB 2039 | Vapor Products (companion bill SB 5768)

Workforce/Staff

• HB 1699 | Educators Working in Retirement
• HB 1942 | Paraeducator Training

In this remote environment, it’s easy to share your voice in public hearings or via email. Learn more about testifying remotely. If there is a bill you are passionate about and you’re interested in testifying on behalf of AWSP, let me know.

Anyone can be an advocate! Our “Virtual Week on the Hill” will be next week, January 31–February 4, 2022. Send an email to your legislator or invite them to meet with you via Zoom so you can advocate on behalf of the principalship and the needs of your school.

Thank you for all that you are doing to support students and staff!

A Retirement Primer From The Nexus Group

Since covering pension/retirement/health insurance issues on behalf of WASA and AWSP, there are a few important points we have learned. This is just a brief summary of selected retirement-related topics. However, the importance of advance planning cannot be overstated. These are not issues to put off until the last month of either one’s impending retirement or approaching Medicare-eligible age. It’s best to complete your retirement application 30–90 days before you plan to retire.

1. The most important resource for planning one’s retirement pension and finding answers to questions is the website for the Dept. of Retirement Systems.
2. The next important link is the Retirement Planning Checklist.
3. Set up online account access.
4. Once you have established an account an individual can estimate/calculate one’s eventual monthly retirement benefit. Once you log into your own retirement account, you can view the actual data that is in the DRS system. Using the benefit estimator within their account will pull the actual data for a very accurate estimate of the retirement benefit.
5. Worth mentioning is that most people now retiring from schools are in Plans 3. There are two parts to that retirement: their defined benefit pension amount, and their defined contribution investment account. One’s retirement includes both sources of funding. The contribution account can be turned into a monthly income stream using the TAP annuity.
6. DRS encourages persons to first log into their online account and use the contact form. One can fill out a personal form with specific questions or make a phone call to talk to someone about your specific situation. DRS is very responsive in both cases. Caution: Avoid calling DRS on Mondays or after a Holiday weekend to avoid long wait times.

One issue that affects school administrators is the loss of two months of service credit. Let me explain: When I began as an administrator, I lost two months of service credit. What’s that about? If you are a teacher, service credit (years of experience) is calculated from a year that runs from September 1 through September 1. If you are an administrator, service credit runs from July 1 through July 1. So, if you were a teacher and moved into school administration, you ‘lose’ two months of service credit. For example, if you retired from being an administrator after 30 years of service, the Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) would show that you had 29 years, 10 months of service credit. In effect, you have ‘lost’ the two months credit for teaching. How can I make up those lost two months? There is little likelihood of a legislative fix, but there are some options. One of the first steps in planning for retirement is to estimate your benefit. How to access the Benefit Estimator tool:

• Log in to your online account.
• In the top navigation menu, you will see your retirement plan name (ie: PERS 2).
• Select your plan name to open the drop-down menu.
• Select Benefit Estimator.
• The next few pages will ask you a few simple questions about your age and when you would like to retire. We recommend the four-step process that will walk you through the steps, one at a time.

The final page will give you your Estimated Monthly Benefit (based on the information provided). This is an estimate of how much you can expect to receive in retirement based on your current salary. You can input your estimated date of retirement. You should input both July 1 of the year you expect to retire and have the estimator calculate your benefit, and you should input September 1 of the year you expect to retire and see the result. Technically, you have never ‘lost’ the two months as a teacher. They have just become phantoms in the system due to the calendar years for the different positions. You are still entitled to that credit. So you have a decision to make. If you forgo collecting your first retirement check until September 1, you will have full-service credit. If you choose July 1 as your retirement date, you will lose two months of pension checks. If the difference in the benefit is enough to justify the wait, then you may decide to do so. If not, then choose July 1.

Another related question is: Plan 2/3 teachers and school employees ask: What’s the best retirement month for me? DRS has recently updated an article regarding which is the best month to retire with additional information about how a July or September retirement will impact insurance coverage through SEBB and PEBB.

Some background: When it comes to retirement planning, teachers and school employees in Plans 2 and 3 often ask whether it’s better to retire at the end of June (when they stop working) or in September (when their contract ends). Many choose a July 1 retirement date if the last day worked is in June. Why? It all has to do with what’s gained from an earlier start to benefits and COLAs (cost-of-living adjustments) compared with what’s earned from two extra months of service. Although with the creation of SEBB, many now wait until September 1 as the retirement date so they can continue with SEBB coverage for July and August.

• These two scenarios illustrate the differences:
  June 30th retirement scenario – Let’s say you decide to retire starting on June 30, 2022. In this circumstance, you’ll receive your pension benefits plus your salary for July and August. In addition, your cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will start in July of the following year (July 1, 2023). What you won’t receive is service credit for July and August.
• August 31st retirement scenario – If you retire starting on August 31, 2022, your COLA won’t go into effect until July 1, 2024. That’s one year and 10 months after your retirement. This is because you must be retired for an entire year before receiving your first COLA payment. And since COLAs only go into effect on July 1, you must wait for next July 1. You’ll earn service credit for July and August, but you’ll delay receiving your COLA (and forego pension payments for July and August).

So what’s best? The fact is, if you wait until September, the increase in your benefit from the service credit can be minimal compared to the increase you’d receive by retiring in July with an earlier COLA and the extra two months of pension payments. That decision is dependent upon inflation. If it is low, then it may be better to wait until August 31 and get the extra two months of service credit.

If you have any questions about your retirement date or COLAs, please contact DRS.

Regarding health insurance: Upon retirement, a person can choose to purchase insurance with the Public Employee Benefits Insurance Board. Their customer service number is 1–800–200–1004

If you decide to enroll in a PEBB offering, you have to option to sign on to set up an online account (Recommended).

Upon retirement, an individual has 60 days of school district coverage ending to enroll in a selected plan. If one does not do so, he/she will then forfeit any future option to enroll in any PEBB plan.

However, if one has a spouse, for example, whose insurance will continue coverage for you as a retiree, one can defer the PEBB option under certain conditions until such time that one would want/need coverage through the PEBB board. However, those deferring need to request proof of employer coverage to keep on file the longer they are deferred. This must be provided to PEBB upon their request to ensure continuous coverage.

Regarding the deferral process; three important caveats:

1. If you are covered through the AppleCare insurance option (which is generally free and income-based), the deferral option is not available, and more importantly,
2. If you want to move from the state exchange coverage or other non-PEBB insurance coverage, you must maintain continuous coverage until the PEBB selection comes into effect. If there is any gap in coverage, the PEBB option is forfeited.
3. If you have not retired but separated, you may not be allowed to defer coverage. Contact PEBB/HCA for more information.

Medicare enrollment timelines are tricky and timing is critical to ensure adequate coverage and access to Medicare Part B. Research and advance planning are needed here.

DISCLAIMER: This information is not intended to be for official, legal advice on retirement issues. As always, contact DRS or PEBB/HCA for definitive answers/confirmation of your status and situation.

Important: It is always better to call ahead regarding pension information and health insurance questions rather than making a wrong choice and then either trying to undo it or having to live with what may turn out to be a poorer choice.

Fred Yancy & Mike Moran
The Nexus Group

My husband and I both graduated college and landed our first teaching jobs in a rural Eastern Washington school district. After teaching for five years, we both completed our master’s programs and secured our continuing education certification. To make a long story short…in a very short turn-around, we added our first child to the family. Now, we were faced with the very interesting challenge of finding daycare for a 2-month-old colicky baby, which there was none of! Our solution was to have me stay home for those first few months. I quickly realized that being a “stay-at-home” parent was unbelievably challenging and to be honest, I wasn’t all that good at it! We engaged with the MOPS groups and had mommy and me dates, but I could never really figure out a schedule that worked for us. Thankfully at the end of winter break, the baby went to daycare, and I went back to the classroom.

During this time, many of the moms we interacted with would say, upon introductions, “I just stay home with the kids” or “I am just a stay-at-home mom.” This struck me as odd…because there was nothing “just” happening in my day-to-day schedule. It was difficult, it was challenging to navigate, it was isolating at best. The baby survived (lol) but I struggled to get dinner on the table, keep up with the laundry, grocery shopping, and deal with soothing a colicky baby to mention just a few things I was working to accomplish. I was exhausted and at times frustrated. They (whoever they are!) say hindsight is 20/20…and “they” were right! It was a season. There was a start and an end, and we made it!

Flash forward to 2022 and I am finding many parallels between that season and my life and the work AWSP is working to complete this year in supporting our hardworking school leaders. We are still amid managing a global situation that feels difficult, challenging to navigate; we feel exhausted and at times, frustrated. But have no fear…this IS a SEASON. It’s going to happen!

As I look to find inspiration for mentoring and supports, I ran across this Learning Forward article (membership required to read). I think it has some real merit. It is about one great school leader who was able to establish coaching and mentoring supports for team members on her administrative team. Principal Shannon Kersey doesn’t look at her assistants as “just an assistant principal” but as human beings with skills and talents she needs to nurture and tease out. Shannon and her team share the different mentoring strategies they employed and how this mentoring/coaching assisted them in being prepared to transition to a new leadership role in time. If you are a school leader who is interested in some great practice around growing your team members, I’d encourage you to give this short article a read!

January is Mentoring Month!! I want to thank all the AWSP-trained mentors who have willingly accepted the assignment to walk with a new/newly assigned school leader in our state. Although the 2021-22 school year has thrown all of us in K-12 education a few wrinkles, we greatly appreciate all mentors who have added additional responsibility to their plate by being a mentor to our amazing AWSP school leaders! 

As the school year continues, we’d like to take the opportunity to share a few things we are focusing on to refresh and enrich the mentoring supports we are able to provide our amazing AWSP members.

Currently, AWSP is launching critical work centered around its Principal Mentor Program in refreshing our existing mentor training program to include training and tools for mentors around issues of diversity, equity, race, and inclusion. We know school leaders are leaving their leadership positions for many reasons, but in large part due to the demands of the position.  

AWSP believes we can impact and sustain school leadership through a variety of supports. One of those supports is a robust mentor program that sustains and supports school leaders. The need to build cadres of experienced trained mentors who represent diverse intersections of identity, have similar lived experiences, and which represent multiple cultural and human differences will be needed to sustain school leadership in our state.

We believe, if we train experienced school leaders who represent diverse intersections of identity, then a diverse group of mentors will be prepared to walk alongside school leaders who have needs represented by a diverse population of school leaders. If each ESD region in our state has a cadre of experienced and trained leaders, access, opportunity, and hope can be easily accessed by school leaders across the state regardless of their local or regional context.

Additionally, we know that to advance racial equity, there is work for white leaders and leaders of color to do separately and together. We want to be intentional about providing spaces for people to work within their own racial/ethnic groups to support school leadership in our state. AWSP wants to increase statewide support for all leaders through a robust, intentional, and strategic statewide mentoring program with intentionality and focus for leaders of color, while also ensuring mentors have the skills and competencies to support seated school leaders.

We look forward to sharing updates to the AWSP mentor refresh, as well as the work of our stakeholders’ group. Updates will be posted here in blog format as the work unfolds. We are excited to get to work and best support the remarkable school leaders in our state!

“I don’t get political” ~ Betty White

“Everything is politics.” ~ Thomas Mann

We all can’t be Ms. White because the Washington State Legislature is in session and working hard at proposing and moving legislature of import and educators need to be involved.

Below is a brief report on selected bills that appear to have some support for advancing. A few newer ones are also added.

Other proposed bills as reported in last week’s TWIO that have not yet been scheduled for hearings or committee action are not part of this summary.

Retirement Related Proposals

HB 1699 | Permitting individuals retired from the public employees’ retirement system, the teachers’ retirement system, and the school employees’ retirement system additional opportunities to work for a school district for up to 1,040 hours per school year while in receipt of pension benefits until July 1, 2025.

This bill had a public hearing on 1/20 @ 3:30 PM before the House Appropriations Committee. School personnel or education lobbyists testified to the need based on current challenges.

Comment: It appears that the issue of adding building administrators does not have broad support by the committee. A couple of concerns that come to mind as this bill advances are: 1) It is not the full solution to the issue. Many testifiers implied with passage their problems would be solved. 2) There was no mention of the need to add an emergency clause so that it could apply this current school year. Legislators need to continue to hear from the field that this bill is needed and modified if supported. The House Appropriations Committee needs to move it to Executive Session for action. Swift passage of this is essential.

HB 1721/SB 5676 | Providing a benefit increase to certain retirees of the public employees’ retirement system plan 1 and the teachers’ retirement system plan 1.

Summary: This bill would provide a 3% increase not to exceed $110/month for TRS1/PERS1 Plan retirees. The Governor included this one-time increase in his released supplemental budget. Both bills had public hearings before the House Appropriations and Senate Ways and Means Committees on Jan. 17th. Both bills are scheduled for Executive Session on 1/20. There were no amendments offered to either of the two bills. The committees voted both bills out of their respective committees and forwarded them to Rules’ Committees.

SB 5676/HB 1721 | Providing a benefit increase to certain retirees of the public employees’ retirement system plan 1 and the teachers’ retirement system plan 1.

Summary: See HB 1721 above.

HB 1752 | Adding a Roth option to deferred compensation plans.

Comment: This bill had a public hearing before the House Appropriations Committee on Jan. 17th and was voted out of committee on 1/20 and sent to Rules.

Other areas of potential fiscal impact (often, unfunded) to districts:

HB 1485 | Designates March 22 to be a state legal holiday, recognized as Women’s Suffrage Day.

Comment: This will be another holiday to build into school calendars. A public hearing was on January 10th and no action was taken following Executive Session on 1/13.

HB 1486 | Concerning qualifications for unemployment insurance when an individual voluntarily leaves work. Sponsors: Berry, Bronoske, Wicks, Fitzgibbon, Lovick, Shewmake, Lekanoff, Senn, Peterson, Sells, Ramel, Callan, Valdez, Ormsby, Chopp, Harris-Talley, Berg, Pollet

Comment: This bill expands eligibility to receive unemployment insurance benefits to those who voluntarily quit their jobs. Under current law, there are a limited number of circumstances when an employee can receive UI benefits after voluntarily leaving their job. This bill was resurrected this week and moved immediately to the House Floor for a potential floor vote. Under the bill, a person would be eligible for UI benefits if they leave a job due to a family member’s death or need to care for a child or adult. 

HB 1594 | Repealing the long-term services and supports trust program.

Comment: This bill is sponsored by the Republicans and is likely dead. The R’s continue to push the narrative that the LTS program should be repealed and made voluntary. They were unsuccessful at moving this bill directly to the floor. They, however used floor debate on the D bills (see below) to continue to express their objections.

HB 1613 | Concerning shared reporting responsibilities for both the paid family and medical leave and the long-term services and supports trust programs to clarify that information collected from employer reports shall remain private.

Comment: This bill was heard on Jan. 11th and scheduled for Executive Session on 1/21.

SHB 1617 | Aligning state and school holidays.

Comment: The legislature intends to clarify that Juneteenth, like all other state legal holidays, is a school holiday on which school may not be taught. This bill passed committee and before Rules awaiting a move to the floor calendar.

SHB 1732 | Delaying the implementation of the long-term services (LTS) and supports trust program by 18 months.

Summary: As proposed, the LTS program will begin 7/1/2023. Individuals can qualify for partial coverage after one year at 1/10th of the benefit earned per premium year. This bill passed the House 91/6 with Republicans stating that the delay will allow time to fix the flaws of the bill. It is scheduled in the Senate Ways and Means Committee for a public hearing on 1/24 and Executive Session on 1/25. Clearly, LTS Democrat bills are on the fast track to the Governor’s desk.

ESHB 1733 | Establishing voluntary exemptions to the long-term services and supports trust program for certain populations.

Summary: AN ACT Relating to establishing voluntary exemptions to the long term services and supports trust program for certain populations, including for veterans with a service-connected disability of 70 percent or higher, the spouses or domestic partners of active duty service members, persons residing outside of Washington while working in Washington, and persons working in the United States under a temporary, nonimmigrant work visa.

This bill passed the House 67/29 and is scheduled for public hearing on 1/24 and Executive Session on 1/25 before the Senate Ways and Means Committee. See comments above on 1732.

HB 1754 | Concerning prejudgment interest. Sponsors: Hackney, Kirby, Berry, Valdez, Ramel, Simmons, Bergquist, Ormsby Comment: This bill modifies the accrual date for interest on tort judgments for tortious conduct of public agencies, individuals, and other entities from the date of entry of judgment to the date the cause of action accrues. This bill has the potential to increase the financial liability to school districts. Should a case be made that a child is due damages from the fault of the school, those damages are figured on the date of the injury to present. It had a public hearing but no action was taken following its Executive Session on 1/14. See E2SSB 5155 below.

HB 1757 | Concerning educational service district participation in health benefit plans offered by the public employees’ benefits board.

Summary: This will allow non-representative ESD employees to participate in benefit plans developed by the public employees’ benefits board. A public hearing was held on 1/17. Executive Session has not yet been scheduled.

HB 1763 | Concerning injured workers’ rights during independent medical examinations. Comment: Allows an injured worker to make an audio and video recording of an independent medical examination (IME), and to have one person of the worker’s choosing present during the examination. This bill had a public hearing on 1/14 and there has been no further action.

HB 1803 | Updating school district director compensation through the revision and preservation of a uniform compensation structure and an examination of future needs.

Comment: Districts may compensate school directors up to $128 per board meetings or other services for the district. Reimbursable expenses will also include childcare. A public hearing was held 1/18 before the House Education Committee. Executive Session has been scheduled for 1/25.

HB 2031 | Concerning unemployment insurance, family leave, and medical leave premiums. Sponsors: Berg, Sells, Berry, Ryu, Wicks, Stonier, Paul, Simmons, Walen, Dolan, Callan, Chambers, Harris-Talley

Comment: This bill would provide additional relief from increases in unemployment insurance taxes due to the COVID 19 pandemic by adjusting “social taxes” over the next year. These bills also use general fund money to relieve employees from the large increases in Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums anticipated because of the pandemic. It is scheduled for public hearing, Jan. 28th, in the House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards at 8:00 AM

E2SSB 5155 | Concerning prejudgment interest. Sponsors: Kuderer, Wellman, Das, Pedersen Comment: Starts interest running on a judgment entered following trial of the matter and arbitration awards for tortious conduct, other than medical malpractice claims, from the date on which the cause of action accrues for individuals and entities, but not public agencies. • Starts interest running on a judgment for a medical malpractice claim from the date of entry of judgment. This bill passed the House 31/18.

SSB 5628 | Concerning cyber harassment, addressing concerns in the case of Rynearson v. Ferguson, and adding a crime of cyberstalking.

Comment: This whole area of internet ‘bullying’ either at or outside of school is a landmine of potential liability for districts. (IMHO). A public hearing was held on 1/13 and Executive Session was scheduled for Jan. 20th.

SB 5649 | Modifying the Washington state paid family and medical leave act.

Comment: Provides up to 14 calendar days of paid family leave, within existing leave limits, in certain situations following the death of the employee’s family member or child. • Specifies that leave taken by certain employees in the first six weeks after giving birth must be medical leave unless the employee chooses to use family leave. • Expires the collective bargaining exception contained in the Paid Family and Medical Leave program. • Authorizes the Employment Security Department (ESD) to issue a predetermination of eligibility and benefits prior to the employee’s start of leave. • Requires ESD to publish on its website a list of employers with approved voluntary plans. A public hearing was held and the bill is scheduled for Executive Session on 1/20. This bill was heard on 1/13 and scheduled for Executive Session on 1/20 but no action was taken. It has been rescheduled for Executive Session on 1/24. Clearly, there are some issues to be resolved.

SB 5835 | Concerning workers’ compensation.

Comment: As proposed, it deletes references/qualifications related to marriage by removing those references related to payments. A public hearing before the Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce & Tribal Affairs was held on Jan.17th but no Executive Session has yet to be scheduled.

SB 5873 | Concerning unemployment insurance, family leave, and medical leave premiums. Sponsors: Keiser, Billig, Conway, Das, Dhingra, King, Kuderer, Liias, Lovick, Mullet, Nguyen, Nobles, Randall, Robinson, Rolfes, Stanford, Wilson, C. Comment: See HB 2031 above. Scheduled for public hearing, Jan. 24th, in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 4:00 PM.

The second week of this nine-week legislative session ends today. Things are moving fast. The education committees in both the House and the Senate continued to hear bills and take executive action this week. The first major deadline of this year is February 3rd. That’s when policy bills must pass out of their original committees. The first deadline for fiscal committees to pass their bills out of committee is February 7th.

The Senate Early Learning and K–12 Education Committee heard some significant bills this week, including SB 5719, sponsored by Senator Mark Mullet. This bill would: decrease costs associated with dual credit programs for high school students, remove language requiring Running Start students to pay mandatory fees at community colleges, and direct OSPI to create a grant program to cover up to $35 per credit of the per-credit tuition fee for College in the High School program courses.

A similar bill, HB 1760, sponsored by Representative Dave Paul, will be heard Friday morning in the House Education Committee.

The Senate also heard SB 5720, which would create positions at the ESDs to support more professional development for teachers, curriculum development, and outreach for schools related to financial literacy. This bill is also similar to HB 1938 by Representative Monica Stonier.

Senator Manka Dhingra introduced SB 5734, which would require students to complete one credit of PE and one credit of health, beginning with the class of 2026. This change from current graduation requirements was met with some concern by those who testified. Senator Dhingra also introduced SB 5735, which would allow school districts to provide up to 20 percent of the instructional hours per week using asynchronous instructional hours. Asynchronous instructional hours are defined as “time during the school day that students are provided the opportunity to engage in an educational activity under the direction of school staff, but this does not include two-way interactive communication.” This bill had some interesting discussions, with people expressing both concern and support for reimagining how time might be structured a bit differently, especially for older students.

The Senate ended the week by hearing SB 5820. It would require the Governor to appoint the Superintendent of Public Instruction with the consent of the Senate instead of this being a separately elected statewide office. Superintendent Chris Reykdal favors this change. As I write this update, the hearing has not yet taken place, but I am very curious to hear the discussion.

The House Education Committee heard HB 1226 by Representative Monica Stonier, which would approve school bond construction measures by a simple majority of voters. This would also require a change to the state constitution, which voters would have to approve in the next general election. This is a steep hill to climb, and your outreach to legislators can help make a difference. Check out my Action Alert here and take one minute to ask your legislators to support a simple majority for bond elections.

The House Education Committee also heard two bills related to school nutrition, student excused absences for mental health reasons, highly capable programs, and two bills related to dual credit. See my complete list of bills below for more information.

Bills

Budget

• HB 1816 | Operating Budget (companion bill SB 5693)
• HB 1590 | Enrollment Stability (companion bill SB 5563)
• HB 1664 | Prototypical Support (close companion bills HB 1985 and SB 5595)
• HB 1808 | Transportation Funding (close companion SB 5581)
• HB 1226 | Simple Majority (companion HJR 4200)
• SB 5487 | Small District Consolidation

Students

• HB 1611 | Highly Capable Students
• HB 1807 | Civics Education
• HB 1938 | Student Financial Education
• HB 2078 | Outdoor School for All (companion bill SB 5925)
• SB 5497 | Student Board of Education Members
• SB 5537 | Compulsory School Attendance (age 5)
• SB 5594 | Bone Marrow Donation Awareness
• SB 5720 | Student Financial Literacy
• SB 5735 | Asynchronous Instructional Hours

High School/Dual Credit

• HB 1162 | Performance Exhibition Pathway
• HB 1687 | College Bound Scholarship GPA
• HB 1760 | Dual Credit Program Access
• HB 1835 | Postsecondary Enrollment (FAFSA completion support)
• HB 1867 | Dual Credit Data
• SB 5719 | Dual Credit Costs
• SB 5734 | PE and Health Credits
• SB 5789 | Innovation Challenge Program (similar to HB 1835)
• SB 5902 | Credit Flexibility

Health/Safety

• HB 1676 | Tobacco and Vapor Product Tax
• HB 1759 | Secure Storage Info on School Websites
• HB 1800 | Increasing Access to Behavioral Health Services for Minors
• HB 1834 | Student Mental Health Absences
• HB 1941 | Active Shooter Drills
• HB 2039 | Vapor Products (companion bill SB 5768)

Workforce/Staff

• HB 1699 | Educators Working in Retirement
• HB 1942 | Paraeducator Training

In this remote environment, it’s easy to sign up to share your voice in public hearings. Learn more about testifying remotely. If there is a bill you are passionate about and you’re interested in testifying on behalf of AWSP, let me know.

Anyone can be an advocate! Our “Virtual Week on the Hill” will be from January 31–February 4, 2022. Click here to send an email to your legislator or invite them to meet with you via Zoom so that you can advocate on behalf of the principalship and the needs of your building.

Thank you for all that you are doing to support students and staff!

This content is emailed weekly to leaders in special education and Section 504. Each newsletter contains tips and resources on a variety of topics that are meant to keep you informed and up to date. Please consult your district attorney if you are looking for legal advice.  

This week’s email includes links to information on:

Section 504
New:Long COVID to test limits of accommodations
Section 504 and Students with Disabilities 
Protecting Students with Disabilities

Special Education Technology Center (SETC)
State Testing Accommodations (YouTube)
State Testing Accommodations (Slides)

IEPs
The Many Benefits of Strengths-Based IEPs

ADHD
The ADHD Brain vs. the Neurotypical Brain

Expanding Capacity for Special Education Leadership
ECSEL is accepting applicants

OSPI
January Special Education Update
Rules for the Provision of Special Education

For more information, contact Abby Bowers , Capital Region ESD 113's Director of Special Programs.

January is Mentoring Month! Thank you to the host of AWSP trained mentors who have willingly accepted the assignment to walk with a new/newly assigned school leader in our state. Although the 2021-22 school year has thrown all of us in K-12 education a few wrinkles, we greatly appreciate all mentors who have added an additional responsibility to their plate by being a mentor to our amazing AWSP school leaders! 

As the school year continues, we’d like to take the opportunity to share about a few things we are focusing on to refresh and enrich the mentoring supports we are able to provide our amazing AWSP members.

Currently, AWSP is launching critical work centered around its Principal Mentor Program in refreshing our existing mentor training program to include training and tools for mentors around issues of diversity, equity, race and inclusion. We know school leaders are leaving their leadership positions for many reasons, but in large part due to the demands of the position. 

AWSP believes that we can impact and sustain school leadership through a variety of supports, one specifically is a robust mentor program which sustains and supports school leaders. The need to build cadres of experienced trained mentors who represent diverse intersections of identity, have similar lived experiences and which represent multiple cultural and human differences will be needed to sustain school leadership in our state.

We believe, if we train experienced school leaders who represent diverse intersections of identity, then a diverse group of mentors will be prepared to walk alongside school leaders who have needs represented by a diverse population of school leaders. If each ESD region in our state has a cadre of experienced and trained leaders, access, opportunity and hope can be easily accessed by school leaders across the state regardless of their local or regional context.

Additionally, we know that to advance racial equity, there is work for white leaders and leaders of color to do separately and together. We want to be intentional about providing spaces for people to work within their own racial/ethnic groups to support school leadership in our state. AWSP wants to increase statewide support for all leaders through a robust, intentional, and strategic statewide mentoring program with intentionality and focus for leaders of color, while also ensuring mentors have the skills and competencies to support seated school leaders.

We look forward to sharing updates to the AWSP Mentor Refresh as well as the work of our stakeholder’s group. Updates will be posted here in blog format as the work unfolds. We are excited to get to work and best support the remarkable school leaders in our state!

There was a big hearing the morning of January 18th in the House Education Committee on HB 1226 and HJR (House Joint Resolution) 4200 for passing bonds with simple majority.Both the bill and resolutionneed to pass for the issue to go to the ballot for the general election in November, but there is momentum once again around the need for school construction bonds to pass with a simple majority so students can have safe and healthy schools.

Lend your voice to this issue with this year's first ACTION ALERT! Visit our Advocacy and Action Center, scroll down, and TAKE ACTION. Send an email and/or a tweet to YOUR legislators!

Thank you!

McMickenHeights Elementary principal provides a clear vision: To dream it, believe it, achieve it, and exceed it.

Alexandria Haas, principal at McMicken Heights Elementary in the Highline Public Schools, was named this year’s Washington State National Distinguished Principal. Every year, the National Association of Elementary School Principals recognizes one winner from each state. After reviewing nominations, Ms. Haas has been chosen to represent our state by the Association of Washington School Principals (AWSP). 

Haas is a courageous leader who embodies Zaretta Hammond’s — a leading author on culturally-responsive teaching — “warm demander” stance. She leads a culture of high expectations and excellence, while still promoting social-emotional learning and culturally responsive instruction to serve all students. She inspires all students and staff at McMicken Heights Elementary (McMicken) to aim high and achieve their fullest potential. 

“Alex’s strong leadership and encouragement have helped push my practice since my first day as a classroom teacher. She has helped me become a more effective teacher and our school become a more inclusive place for all students. She is always there when I need support, but also trusts me to know when to step back and encourages me to take risks and make my own choices,” said McMicken teacher Spencer Flanagan.

Under Haas’s leadership, collective efficacy embodies the belief that together we are stronger. Strong collaboration is apparent through professional learning communities (PLCs), teaching teams, and partnerships with families. Under Ms. Haas’s leadership, the school has made significant gains. Since 2014-15, student SBA proficiency rates jumped substantially, from 37.3% to 55.3% in ELA and 25.7 to 44.2% in Math.

McMicken serves a diverse community with 88% of students identifying as students of color and 41% identifying as multilingual learners. Haas has built a strong partnership with families through family advisory councils and Academic Parent Teacher Teams, gathering input from families to drive the work on diversity and equity at McMicken. She designs professional learning to support McMicken’s staff in embracing culture and identity in their practice while tapping into family and community knowledge to support this work. Haas is the driving force for McMicken’s shared vision for excellence, and as a result, the school has been recognized for its impact on student achievement, inclusion, family engagement, and more. 

When asked to name three of her favorite big accomplishments as principal, no easy task for a school with so many accomplishments, Haas mentioned breaking down barriers to an inclusive culture, impacting student growth, and developing a more equitable partnership with families. 

National Distinguished Principal of the Year Program
Haas will be honored next fall in Washington D.C. as part of the National Distinguished Principal of the Year program, sponsored by the National Association of Elementary School Principals in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Education. All state winners participate in a series of events and activities over the course of two days, culminating in a formal awards banquet. There is no national winner at the elementary level.      

Download the press release (PDF). 

For More Information  David Morrill | Communications & Technology Director | (800) 562-6100

This content is emailed weekly to leaders in special education and Section 504. Each newsletter contains tips and resources on a variety of topics that are meant to keep you informed and up to date. Please consult your district attorney if you are looking for legal advice.  

This week’s email includes links to information on:

Section 504
Returning to School Must Include a Reinvestment in 504 Plans
Long COVID under Section 504 and the IDEA
Section 504 and Students with Disabilities 
Protecting Students with Disabilities

TIES Center
Comprehensive Inclusive Education: General Education and the Inclusive IEP

Expanding Capacity for Special Education Leadership
ECSEL is accepting applicants

OSPI
January Special Education Update
Rules for the Provision of Special Education

For more information, contact Abby Bowers , Capital Region ESD 113's Director of Special Programs.

“The key to success is action, and the essential in action is perseverance.” ~ Sun Yat-Sen

The 2022 Session began virtually on January 10th. It will be 60-day, mad dash to a March 10th finish line. Numerous bills were pre-filed. In fact, in excess of 600, a record. Being introduced, however, being heard, and then advanced in committee are three different processes. One does not guarantee the others. Meanwhile, below is a brief report on these bills by title. Some titles are self-explanatory; others have a brief summary. And as a reminder to be involved, know that “If you are not at the table; you’re on the menu.”

General remarks/opinion: This session will move very quickly. Key themes that will dominate are working on the long-term care issue, reforming the previously implemented police reforms, housing/zoning/homeless issues, dealing with modifying the Governor’s power to issue emergency resolutions, and oh, yes…. building a supplemental budget when everyone has their hand out. Spending will be primarily focused on helping those in need.

Although, there will be a number of groups asking for funding ‘modest amounts’, after a while all that modesty totals a big grab of the extra dollars. Education funding, surprise! surprise!, will continue to be a battle for resources.

Retirement Related Proposals

HB 1699 | Permitting individuals retired from the public employees’ retirement system, the teachers retirement system, and the school employees retirement system additional opportunities to work for a school district for up to 1,040 hours per school year while in receipt of pension benefits until July 1, 2025.

Sponsors: Bergquist, Volz, Ryu, Leavitt, Chase, Robertson, Graham, Springer, Sells, Valdez, Dolan, Paul, Callan, Gilday, Goodman, Taylor, Macri, Ramos, Santos, Pollet, Griffey, Riccelli, Frame, Kloba.

This bill has been scheduled for a public hearing on 1/20 @ 3:30 PM before the House Appropriations Committee.

Comment: It has been suggested and many legislators agree to amend this bill to include building administrators and to add an emergency clause that would it to go into effect during the current school year. Legislators need to hear from the field that this bill is needed with the proposed amendments. Swift passage is essential.

HB 1721 / SB 5676 | Providing a benefit increase to certain retirees of the public employees’ retirement system plan 1 and the teachers’ retirement system plan 1.

Sponsors: SCPP, Stokesbary, Ormsby, Leavitt, Sells, Johnson, J., Fitzgibbon, Robertson, Walen, Dolan, Valdez, Bateman, Callan, Goodman, Macri, Paul, Simmons, Wylie, Sullivan, Bergquist, Pollet, Young, Kloba, Frame.

Summary: This bill would provide a 3% increase not to exceed $110/month for TRS1/PERS1 Plan retirees. The Governor included this one-time increase in his released supplemental budget. (The Washington State School Retirees’ Association will be advocating for a higher percentage than the proposed 3% to account for lost purchasing power over time and current inflation. A reminder that these are the only two plans of the 15 offered by the State that do not grant automatic COLA’s.)

Both bills have been scheduled for public hearings before the House Appropriations and Senate Ways and Means Committees on Jan. 17th.

SB 5676 / HB 1721 | Providing a benefit increase to certain retirees of the public employees’ retirement system plan 1 and the teachers’ retirement system plan 1.

Sponsor: Conway.

Summary: See HB 1721 above.

HB 1752 | Adding a Roth option to deferred compensation plans.

Sponsors: Stokesbary, Bergquist.

Comment: This bill is scheduled for a public hearing before the House Appropriations Committee on Jan. 17th.

Other areas of potential fiscal ($$) impact (often, unfunded) to districts:

HB 1485 | Designates March 22 to be a state legal holiday, recognized as Women’s Suffrage Day.

Sponsors: Representatives Caldier, Chambers, Graham, Lekanoff, Volz, Sutherland, Jacobsen, Eslick and Pollet.

Comment: This will be another holiday to build into school calendars. A public hearing before the House Committee on State Government & Tribal Relations was on January 10th and an Executive Session was scheduled for 1/13.

HB 1594 | Repealing the long-term services and supports trust program.

Sponsors: Abbarno, Robertson, Maycumber, Boehnke, Corry, Chase, McCaslin, Caldier, Eslick, Walsh, Klippert, Dye, MacEwen, Stokesbary, Hoff, Barkis, Graham, Schmick, Chambers, Dufault, Gilday, Kraft, Jacobsen, Orcutt, Dent, Griffey, Young.

HB 1613 | Concerning shared reporting responsibilities for both the paid family and medical leave and the long-term services and supports trust programs to clarify that information collected from employer reports shall remain private.

Sponsors: Sells, Berry, Ryu, Wicks.

Comment: This bill was heard on Jan. 11th and is scheduled for Executive Session on 1/19 before the House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee.

HB 1617 | Aligning state and school holidays.

Sponsors: Morgan, Leavitt, Johnson L., Ramel, Callan, Davis, Taylor, Santos, Simmons, Riccelli, Ormsby, Harris-Talley.

Comment: The legislature intends to clarify that Juneteenth, like all other state legal holidays, is a school holiday on which school may not be taught. A public hearing was held Jan. 10th in the House Committee on State Government & Tribal Relations and an Executive Session was scheduled for 1/13.

HB 1732 | Delaying the implementation of the long-term services (LTS) and supports trust program by 18 months. Sponsors: Sullivan, Chopp, Johnson, J., Walen, Chapman, Berry, Cody, Dolan, Fey, Macri, Peterson, Ryu, Santos, Senn, Shewmake, Wylie, Simmons, Callan, Slatter, Ramos, Bergquist, Tharinger, Valdez, Thai, Pollet, Morgan, Taylor, Stonier, Ortiz-Self, Gregerson, Davis, Riccelli, Ormsby, Duerr, Orwall, Bateman, Kloba, Frame.

Summary: As proposed, the LTS program will begin 7/1/2023. Individuals can qualify for partial coverage after one year at 1/10th of the benefit earned per premium year. A public hearing was on Jan. 11th and an Executive Session was scheduled for 1/13. This bill is expected to be ‘fast-tracked’ given all the outcry legislators have heard from the public and the press.

HB 1733 | Establishing voluntary exemptions to the long-term services and supports trust program for certain populations. Sponsors: Paul, Macri, Johnson, J., Leavitt, Bronoske, Chapman, Senn, Berry, Cody, Dolan, Fey, Peterson, Ryu, Santos, Shewmake, Wylie, Simmons, Callan, Chopp, Slatter, Ramos, Bergquist, Tharinger, Valdez, Thai, Pollet, Morgan, Taylor, Stonier, Ortiz-Self, Gregerson, Riccelli, Davis, Ormsby, Duerr, Orwall, Bateman, Kloba, Frame.

Summary: AN ACT Relating to establishing voluntary exemptions to the long term services and supports trust program for certain populations identified in the long-term services and supports trust commission’s 2022 recommendations report, specifically including exemptions only for veterans with a service-connected disability of 70 percent or higher, the spouses or domestic partners of active duty service members, persons residing outside of Washington while working in Washington, and persons working in the United States under a temporary, nonimmigrant work visa. A public hearing was held on Jan. 11th and an Executive Session was scheduled for 1/13 before the House Appropriations Committee.

HB 1757 | Concerning educational service district participation in health benefit plans offered by the public employees’ benefits board.

Sponsors: Cody, Harris, Santos, Pollet, Riccelli.

Summary: This will allow non-representative ESD employees to participate in benefit plans developed by the public employees’ benefits board. A public hearing is scheduled before the House Appropriations Committee on Jan. 17th.

HB 1759 | Requiring school districts and other public education entities to make information from the department of health about substance use trends, overdose symptoms and response, and the secure storage of prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and firearms and ammunition, available through their websites and other communication resources.

Sponsors: Callan, Harris, Berry, Davis, Ramos, Santos, Senn, Sullivan, Valdez, Pollet, Peterson, Goodman, Macri, Dolan.

Comment: A public hearing is scheduled Jan. 20th before the House Education Committee.

HB 1762 | Concerning state funding for educational service districts.

Sponsors: MacEwen.

Summary: State funding shall be provided to each educational service district for the employer cost of school employees’ benefits that are provided to employees of an educational service district that are covered by a collective bargaining agreement.

HB 1803 | Updating school district director compensation through the revision and preservation of a uniform compensation structure and an examination of future needs.

Sponsors: Callan, Harris, Dolan, Davis, Ramos, Santos, Senn, Sullivan, Pollet, Frame.

Comment: Districts may compensate school directors up to $128 per board meetings or other services for the district. Reimbursable expenses will also include childcare. Scheduled for a public hearing Jan. 18th before the House Education Committee.

HB 1898 Providing property tax relief by reducing both parts of the state school levies.

Sponsor: Orcutt.

HB 1900 | Improving school districts’ responses to complaints of discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying.

Sponsors: Senn, Thai.

HB 1902 | Providing an exception to the process for reopening a workers’ compensation claim when the claimant submits a reopening application in a timely manner.

Sponsor: Schmick

HB 1935: Addressing workplace bullying by making it an unfair practice to subject an employee to an abusive work environment.

Sponsors: Wicks, Berg.

SB 5539: Concerning state funding for educational service districts.

Sponsors: Hunt. Summary: Companion bill to HB 1762 above.

SB 5562 | Concerning health care for nonrepresented employees of educational service districts.

Sponsors: Wellman, Mullet.

Summary: This is a variation on HB 1757 above.

SB 5628 | Concerning cyber harassment, addressing concerns in the case of Rynearson v. Ferguson, and adding a crime of cyberstalking.

Sponsors: Dhingra.

Comment: This whole area of internet ‘bullying’ either at or outside of school is a landmine of potential liability for districts. (IMHO). It was scheduled for a public hearing on 1/13 before the Senate Law and Justice Committee. Executive Session is scheduled for Jan. 20th.

SB 5649 | Modifying the Washington state paid family and medical leave act.

Sponsors: Robinson.

Comment: This adds post-natal eligibility for coverage and modifies other elements including a collective bargaining exception which would expire 1/31/23. A public hearing was scheduled for 1/13 before the Senator Labor and Commerce Committee.

SB 5718 | Concerning insurance benefits for retired or disabled school employees.

Sponsors: Conway.

Comment: This bill would have many future K–12 retirees stay in the SEBB risk pool while until they become Medicare eligible. It was intended to implement the recommendation made in a Dec. 2018 legislative report on this topic; see Retired and Disabled School Employees Risk Pool Analysis. However, the HCA is withdrawing it because of some unexpected complexities. They will resubmit next session.

SB 5737 | Suspending premium assessments for pending exemption applications for the long-term services and supports trust program.

Sponsors: Wilson, L.

SB 5833 | Increasing compensation options for directors of a school district board.

Sponsors: Carlyle.

Comment: This bill would allow reimbursement for $50/meeting or school business event not to exceed $5,000.See HB 1803 above.

SB 5835 | Concerning workers’ compensation.

Sponsors: Saldaña, Keiser.

Comment: As proposed, it deletes references/qualifications related to marriage by removing those references related to payments. It is scheduled for a public hearing before the Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce & Tribal Affairs on Jan. 17th.