How NCW legislators voted on recent bills (Y-yes, N-no, E-excused, NV-not voting):

Public Records Exemptions Accountability Committee

SSB 5295, which passed the Senate by a vote of 47-0, would enact the recommendations of the Public Records Exemptions Accountability Committee, also known as the Sunshine Committee. Exempted from public disclosure would be: findings from child mortality reviews, documents from wellness programs, personal information from transit passes and other fare payment media, and salary and benefit information for maritime employees. Other recommendations from the Sunshine Committee clarify that candidate lists for directors of the Work Force Training and Conservation Board and the Recreations and Conservation Board are subject to disclosure. The bill is now before the House State Government & Tribal Affairs Committee.

Sen. Bob Morton, R-Orient, Y; Sen. Linda Evans Parlette, R-Wenatchee, Y; Sen. Janéa Holmquist, R-Moses Lake, E

Notification requirements for escapees of mental health facilities

SHB 2422 requires the superintendent of a mental health facility to notify all local law enforcement in surrounding jurisdictions when a person escapes or disappears from a mental health facility. The bill also requires that victims, next of kin and witnesses who have testified in court be notified. Only those victims asking for notification in writing must be notified. The bill passed the House by a vote of 96-0 and is now before the Senate Human Services and Corrections Committee.

Rep. Joel Kretz, R-Wauconda, Y; Rep. Shelly Short, R-Republic, Y; Rep. Mike Armstrong, R-Wenatchee, Y; Rep. Cary Condotta, R-Wenatchee, Y; Rep. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, Y

Bail for felony offenses

HB 2625, which passed the House by a vote of 96-0, requires that bail be established by a judicial officer when a person is arrested or detained for a felony offense, and that bail be determined on an individual basis. The bill is now before the Senate Judiciary Committee for further consideration.

Kretz, Y; Short, Y; Armstrong, Y; Condotta, Y; Warnick, Y

Providing medical marijuana

SSB 5798 expands the definition of health care professionals who are allowed to distribute medical marijuana under current state law. The bill would allow for physician assistants, naturopaths and advanced registered nurse practitioners to prescribe medical marijuana to qualified patients. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 37-11 and is now before the House for consideration.

Morton, N; Parlette, Y; Holmquist, E

Defining rendering criminal assistance

SHB 1203, also known as Randy’s Law, passed the House by a vote of 96-0. It modifies the definition of rendering criminal assistance by clarifying that anyone harboring or concealing, warning, providing money, transportation or disguising an offender will be prosecuted to the highest penalty of the law. The bill would make offenses by relatives and nonrelatives the same. SHB 1203 is now before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Kretz, Y; Short, Y; Armstrong, Y; Condotta, Y; Warnick, Y

Source: WashingtonVotes.org