Courthouse Journal: Legislative Session Wrap Up

Legislative Wrap Up

The 2023 was an interesting session. It is the first post-pandemic session to allow in person testimony. However, by and large the session felt in many ways like the 2022 session with restricted access to legislature office floors, online testimony clogging up time during hearings, and many people still opting to work remotely.

In addition, there were several newly elected legislators who had very different ideas on process and rules during session. This caused a lot more time to be spent on caucusing leaving less time for floor votes and time for lobbyists to meet with some key legislators.

This session was also marked by sharp divides not only between parties, but within parties, and between the two houses of the legislature. This caused a level of political gamesmanship we have not seen in the relative past when both the House and Senate were controlled by the same party. The impact of this was more time being spent on hot topic bills behind caucus doors, and less time for many bills to be able to move through the process. This atmosphere impacted all areas of policy development.

This year the legislature introduced a combined 2156 bills with only 485 clearing both chambers. This ought to give you an idea of how much was left on the cutting room floor to use a term from film. Time certainly was a factor to why so many policies failed to get advanced.

Despite this WACO was able to work well within this reality to move our priorities forward.
We started the session off with six priority bills, three of which were passed by the legislature; one of which also required being funded in the 2023-2025 operating budget.

WACO PRIORITY LEGISLATION

HB 1419 was a “good government” bill that modernized the process of registered warrants brining policy in alignment with current practice. In addition to amending the language to reflect updates in practice, the legislation provides a means for issuing warrants where there are insufficient funds; and updates the language to provide for current practices and making the process less cumbersome. This bill passed through the legislature relatively fast, a rarity in this year’s session for a bill that many deemed “small” compared to the big issues the legislature was dealing with.

SB 5392 fixed an oversight made in the revision of the uniform unclaimed property act that created a system where counties would possibly pay more money to reimburse small amounts (under $10) of court related overpayments than the actual reimbursement was worth to the recipient. The bill was a rare true bi-partisan effort and passed with relative ease.

SB 5523 creates a loan repayment program for board certified forensic pathologists providing services in identified shortage areas in WA state. The shortage areas are identified by FIC and the program is administered by the Washington Health Corps program. The program provides up to $25,000 in loan payment per year of participation for up to four years. You must complete your service obligation or be required to repay the program. This program is anticipated to fund four slots per year.

Additionally, the Department of Health must enter a two-year contract with WACME for a marketing plan advertising Washington State as a place for forensic pathologists to live/work. WACME is additionally tasked with conducting a study of the shortage due Oct. 1, 2024 to the legislature.

Finally, counties may receive up to 40% reimbursement on transportation costs for autopsies.
Effective July 23, 2023. SB 5523 Funded in the budget. Sec 222 (114) p. 341. Sec. 731 (3) Pg. 632

In addition to the three legislative priority bills that passed, we received positive feedback and assurances for the 2024 session on two additional priorities. HB 1241 – Addressing harassment of elections officials, and HB 1205 alignment of duties in dependency cases (notifications). Both bills were victim to time with a number of house bills being assigned to the Law & Justice committee with not enough time to hear them all. We look forward to swift action on the bills in 2024.

Finally, HB 1272 addressing standardization of voter pamphlets fell victim to being over amended to the point that the Auditors (and WACO) felt that they could no longer advocate for it to move forward. These amendments will be discussed in the interim for future consideration on the topic.

WSACA (Assessors) passed their priority bill (HB 1355), which updates thresholds for the senior citizen and disabled veteran property tax exemption, opening up the program in many more counties than is currently the case.

THE BUDGET

The 2023-2025 biennium budget was adopted by legislature April 23, 2023. Please note that all notes regarding the budget remain preliminary as the budget has yet to be signed by the Governor. Here are some quick highlights of what is in the budget.

BLAKE
51m to AOC to establish direct refund process (refund bureau) Sec. 114 (10) p. 8
38m to assist counties with compliance Sec. 114 (12) p. 9
44m to assist counties with resentencing costs sec. 1107 (5) p.720

CJTC Funding of Note:
CJTC received $1.59m to provide medical death investigation training.

Basic Law Enforcement Academy - One-time funding is provided to increase the number of classes from 20 to 23 for Basic Law Enforcement Academy courses. $2.5M

Mental Health Field Response Team (CJTC) $8 in response to Trueblood. Sec 218 (5) p. 298

CJTC Trueblood Crisis Intervention Training - $1.7 m sec. 218 (6) p. 298

Regional Training Academies – 11.3m in funding is provided for an additional four basic law enforcement academy classes per year at two new proposed regional training academy (RTAs) locations in Pasco, and in Skagit and Clark Counties. Sec 218 (12) p. 300

Jury Diversity
AOC received $743,000 for the implementation of SB 5128 regarding jury diversity.

Trueblood:
In addition to the funds noted in the CJTC section, an additional 174.6m is provided to DSHS mental health services to phase in the settlement agreement and implementation efforts. sec 1202 (h) p. 894. Additional specific funding for program services is given to HCA, a grant to King County, and 8m to WASPC (for grants).

Vehicle Pursuit:
$3m in funding to Commerce for a grant program to provide law enforcement with vehicle pursuit management technology for tracking. Sec. 129 (93)(a) p. 78

ALL THAT TIME AND DIED ANYWAYS

SB 5536 Possession of controlled substances failed a post conference committee vote killing the bill on the final day of session. This means that beginning in July there is no law on the books regarding possession of controlled substances effectively decriminalizing all drugs at a statewide level. There are rumblings from the Governor's office that he may call a special session for a fix prior to July.

Introduced late in the session with 20 signatures, SB 5770 declared the 1% limitation on property tax collections “arbitrary” and proposed change the definitions and limit factor from 101% to 100% plus population change and inflation, not to exceed 103% for all governments and taxing districts. Counties held this as a high priority but the bill failed to advance past its late introduction.

With the support of 31 House members, HB 1628, would have given state and local government new authority to increase real estate excise tax, with proceeds to be used for affordable housing. It included a proposal to raise real estate excise tax on homes with sales prices in excess of $5 million, with new revenue dedicated to several affordable housing programs. Housing advocates cheered the anticipated $288 million that would be generated, while real estate advocates fought hard for the bill’s defeat. It died in House Rules.

Register soon, seats are filling fast

COMMUNICATIONS

Access for All: Written Information and Info Technology
May 30
Ensure all people can access what you write—learn how to create and test accessible text and visuals in the most common formats for public sector work. Ensure your content and structure works for all physical, sensory, and cognitive abilities to the fullest extent possible.

Editing & Proofreading for Public Sector Professionals
June 6-7
Acquire essential editing and proofreading skills for every form of writing in the public sector. Produce error-free work that stands up to scrutiny in a regulatory environment. Learn how to convey complex information in clear, focused content. Lead others to find, understand, trust, recall, and use what you and your peers write. Gain confidence and technical competence to edit your work and the work of others.

CUSTOMER SERVICE

Secrets to Providing Exceptional Customer Service
June 6
Effective communication and people skills are critical in providing exceptional customer service. In this training, participants learn how to not take customer’s needs, demands, and anxiety levels personally. You will learn how to make the customer feel valued and important.

FACILITATION & PRESENTATION

Facilitating Difficult Conversations
May 16
This course is designed to teach methods for leading and managing difficult conversations. The students will understand the basis of communicating when the topic or response might be challenging, and how to appropriately work through the conversations for mutual beneficial outcomes when possible.

Facilitation Fundamentals
June 13
In this interactive workshop, you will learn to facilitate group discussions and meetings that help groups make decisions together that engages all the voices in the group across difference. The workshop will cover the fundamentals of facilitation: Content Neutrality, Asking Good Questions, and Stay on Track.

Virtual Meeting Facilitation
June 6
In this course, we'll focus on how to actively engage meeting participants using Zoom as our virtual platform. MS Teams modules can also be made available You'll learn techniques for keeping everyone on track and ensuring that the meeting is productive. By the end of this course, you'll be able to confidently lead virtual meetings that get results.

GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY

Problem Solving the Washington Way
June 8
This 4-hour foundational course introduces all employees including line staff, supervisors, managers and executives to the 9-step problem solving methodology used in a lean workplace. This class covers problem identification and a practical scientific methodology for solving process problems with hands-on, skill building experience in the class.

HUMAN RESOURCES

Changing World of Work & Employee Relations
May 23
Employee Relations is a one (1) day course designed to provide an overview of basic labor law right of employees, unions, and management. We will address the grievance process, the negotiation process, common elements of an MOU, and many other issues relating to employee relations.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Articulate Storyline 3 & 360 Beyond Essentials Level 2
May 23-24
This two-day, hands-on class takes your skills to the next level! In this course you will break free from the linear model thinking and think beyond the box for what you can do with Articulate Storyline 360. This class covers the more complex elements of Articulate Storyline to give you the ability to create eLearning content that goes to the next level.

LEADERSHIP

Art of Delivering Positive Feedback
June 7
At the center of this workshop is how to effectively prepare for and deliver feedback. Along with “what to say,” this workshop explores “how to say it” by better regulating our own defensiveness and more effectively managing the other person’s defensiveness.

Coaching with the LPI Assessment
May 12 & 19
Built around the evidence-based leadership model, The Leadership Challenge, this program equips you to coach other leaders so they will more frequently exhibit the five leadership practices that research shows make all the difference.

Creating Psychological Safety Through Conversations
June 6-8
This course focuses on building a team culture that is supportive, aware, and connected as well as developing roads to effective communication. Learn how to promote compassionate, inclusive, and respectful interactions by exploring the connections between biology and psychology when conversations go well and when they go poorly.

Elemental Leadership
June 6-7
This course applies the Elementary Leadership® model to facilitate participants’ leadership development. The Elemental Leadership ® (EL) model provides a structure for holistic leadership.

Leadership Command Presence II
June 14-15
Participants of this program will gain insights into leadership presence that gives them greater composure, situational awareness, credibility and believability, acceptance from others, clearer communications, rapport building strategies, methods of persuasiveness and influence, and much more.

Leading Effective Meetings
May 24-25
Are you wanting more team engagement and buy in during meetings? Do you struggle to lead meetings that are productive and collaborative while holding authority in the room? This course provides participants with mind and skill sets to lead meetings in the context of existing power imbalances and multiple priorities.

Leading Others Part II
June 15, 22, 29
This course fulfills Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 357-34-055 that requires new supervisors to attend management training within their first six months of assignment. You will learn tips, tools and techniques that you can use immediately. The Leading Others course focuses on the mindset, interpersonal skills, and technical knowledge it takes to successfully lead others in the public sector.

Motivational Conversations
May 24-25
We begin this course by examining the theoretical underpinnings of Motivational Interviewing (MI), such as its roots in the Humanistic theory of Carl Rogers and other person-centered approaches to behavior change. Participants will learn the most effective approach to facilitate change: discovering and strengthening the person’s own, internal motivation for change.

Organizational Change Management
June 8
This course provides the participants with hands-on, practical tools that are proven effective for leading individuals and teams through any change – big or small, professional, or personal.

PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Co-Resolve: Working with Differences & Conflict
June 15 and 22
This course teaches the participant how to skillfully harness contrasting points of view and use them as a catalyst for learning and growth. This course utilizes a combination of instruction, reflection, small group dialogue, and both between-class and during-class practice exercises.

Every Voice: Collaboration and Facilitation in the Workplace
May 23
Every employee influences their workplace culture, no matter their job description. For a positive workplace to truly be effective, every voice needs to be heard and skills need to be practiced. This workshop looks at 4 areas of collaboration growth for more effective connection, collaboration, clarity, and accountability.

Right RESPONSE Primer
May 23
This course teaches participants a holistic approach to establishing psychological safety in their workplaces: through preparation and management of oneself for success when needing to de-escalate an individual or avoid their potentially dangerous behavior.

Strengths of Differences
May 16-18
The most successful teams know and appreciate each other’s strengths and differences. They understand that the genius of any team is built primarily on how we relate to each other.

RISK MANAGEMENT

Investigator Training Core
May 16-17
June 13-14
This course is designed to provide you with foundational skills when you conduct civil investigations. It will provide you with basic, yet generic and widely applicable concepts, skills, and techniques needed to properly conduct an investigation from its beginning to its conclusion.

Sexual Harassment Prevention
May 17
This course meets Washington State requirements for training of all workers on individual and agency responsibility for preventing all forms of sexual harassment (WAC 357). All employees need to be aware of all forms of sexual harassment, recognize incidents and take responsibility for stopping them.