ABATE of Washington
A Brotherhood Against Totalitarian Enactments
2011-2012 Legislative Overview – 2/6/11
Currently we have the profiling bill running from both directions (House and Senate). This Bill has National implications as nothing exists quite like this in any State:
HB1333 had a hearing in the House Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Committee on Feb 1st. This is the same committee that passed the bill (then HB2511) out witha 7-1 vote. The committee is a bit larger this year, with 11 Reps (instead of the 8 of last session). Since they had basically heard the spiel last year, the testimony was abbreviated. The entire portion of the Profiling hearing, including the Executive Session, lasted 14 minutes. The end result was a unanimous vote (9-0 with 2 excused). It is now in the General Government Appropriation & Oversight Committee to look at the ridiculous Fiscal Note submitted by the Police and Sheriff Association.
HB5242 had a hearing in the Senate Judiciary committee on Feb 2nd. Full testimony was offered, and well received. This is the culmination of 6 years of research and fact finding, and the concise presentation of the issue of Profiling is worth watching. The bill passed unanimously out of the committee and is now awaiting in the Senate Rules Committee to be placed on the calendar for Second Reading, and a vote of the assembly.
To view both hearings: http://abate-wa.org/blogs/legislative/post/2011/02/01/PROFILING-BILL-PASSES-HOUSE-AND-SENATE-COMMITTEES-212011-222011.aspx
We are not done putting pressure on the Legislators. Bills are known to die in Rules Committee. The additional committee step in the House should resolve itself however the tactic of falsifying costs has been used to confuse legislators and since the State budget is top priority we cannot be sure of the full effect.
The Parade Bill is designed to remove authority from the Chief of the Washington State Patrol in regard to restrictions of motorcyclists participation in parades. This Bill is an important step in restoring the Right of Equal Access. Motorcyclist in Washington are the only private citizen that has to obtain permission in regard to having traffic provisions suspended during public events.
HB1328 had a public hearing in the House Transportation Committee on January 25th, and passed out of Executive Committee on January 27th with a 28-1 vote. This bill is now assigned to House Rules Committee and should come up for Second Reading and a floor vote soon.
SB5185 had a public hearing in the Senate Transportation Committee on January 20th (Black Thursday), and passed out of the Executive Committee with a unanimous vote on January 25th. It is already out of the Senate Rules Committee and has been placed on the Senate Floor calendar for Second Reading. The Transportation Chair, Mary Margaret Haugen, says that she expects it to be voted (and passed by the Senate) very soon.
This is looking like a historical and monumental year in WA. The motorcycle community involvement in the Legislative process has grown, and we all seem to be on the same-speak in relating the issues to our individual Legislators. No bold predictions, however we are moving our issues in the right direction.
If you want to help, send an email to all of the members of the involved Committees and urge them to keep the bills moving toward the Governors desk.
House Rules Committee members: http://www.leg.wa.gov/House/Committees/RUL/Pages/MembersStaff.aspx for HB1328.
House General Government Appropriation & Oversight Committee members:
http://www.leg.wa.gov/House/Committees/APPG/Pages/MembersStaff.aspx for HB1333
Senate Rules Committee members: http://www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/Committees/RULE/Pages/MembersStaff.aspx for SB5242
Donnie ‘Mr. Breeze’
425-495-7000