Bills which passed into law.
SB 5289- Provides that a student receiving
home-based instruction enrolling in a public high school for the sole purpose of participating in Running Start shall not
be counted by the school district in any required state or federal accountability reporting if the student is a home-based
student (from bill digest).
History
of bill: Hearing scheduled for 1/27 at 3:30, Cherberg
Bldg. Hearing Rm. 1, CHN testified in support of this bill. This bill is scheduled to be voted on, Thursday the 10th, in the
Senate Education Committee. Senator Pflug introduced an amendment to clarify
homeschoolers exemption from education reform. Amendment was adopted in the substitute bill. SSB5289 was passed out of committee.
Thank you Senator Pflug. In Rules Committee, waiting to be scheduled for a vote. 3/11 CHN sent e-alert asking homeschoolers to makes calls urging their senator
to get this bill on the floor for a vote-, your calls worked, the bill was called to the floor on 3/15 and passed unanimous.
Bill
passed the Senate and House.
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Htm/Bills/Senate%20Passed%20Legislature/5289-S.PL.htm
Action: none needed.
Position: support
SB5922- This bill would change procedures for investigations of child abuse or neglect. The bill was introduced by CHN to insure
proper implementation of the Federal CAPTA law-which HSLDA drafted, lobbied for, and helped to pass into federal law. This
bill will help to strengthen parental rights in Washington State.
History
of bill: Hearing in Senate Human Services and Corrections on 2/21, CHN testified
in support of this bill. In Rules Committee waiting to be pulled for a vote, sent to the floor 3/12/05.Referred to House Children
and Family Services Committee on 3/16. Hearing is scheduled for Monday March 28 at 1:30 Hearing Room D. CHN testified in support of this
bill and asked for an amendment to strengthen the bill. The CFS committee added
some of CHN’s amendment but rejected some due to a possible veto by the governor. They also added language from another
bill, which CHN has some concerns with- this also added a fiscal note, which may kill this bill. 4/1 bill sent to House Appropriations committee, amendments removed.
Status: Bill passed the Senate and House.
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Htm/Bills/Senate%20Passed%20Legislature/5922-S.PL.htm
Action: none needed at
this time.
Position: concerns/ support
SB 5828- Allowing digital learning centers to continue
to operate. This bill is a roundabout way to allow for distance learning centers
(virtual charter schools) to receive funding under basic education dollars instead of under the alternative learning programs.
This bill is very vague and does not give full disclosure to homeschoolers, has no accountability for students in the program
and no fiscal accountability. If you think the alternative learning programs are out of control, wait until you see what these
programs can do.
CHN is working to add language to protect homeschooling.
Note we support SHB 1633 which includes language to protect homeschoolers.
History
of bill: The Senate Education Committee had
a hearing on Friday 2/18 at 8:00 am. CHN testified at the hearing with concerns, and suggested language be added to protect homeschooling.
CHN suggested that the same language be added to SB5828 as was added to SHB1633. After the hearing Senator Eide, prime sponsor of the bill, along with others told
CHN they would support the changes we requested. The substitute bill passed out of the Senate Education Committee 2/25.
Note:
CHN is working on an amendment to strengthen the “full disclosure” language of this bill to include ALL parents
not just home-based. Bill sent to the House Education Committee, hearing scheduled for Thursday 3/17 Hearing Room A at 1:30. CHN testified at
the hearing and introduced an amendment to strengthen the “full disclosure” language in the bill.
Status: Passed
the Senate and the House.
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Htm/Bills/Senate%20Passed%20Legislature/5828-S.PL.htm
Action: none needed.
Position: Neutral. It is not the function of CHN to endorse public school programs. Our concern with this bill is limited to protecting
homeschoolers and the homeschool movement.
Resolution 8622: This resolution is to set aside a day for the Senate to honor the hard work and success of homeschooling families.
CHN asked to have this resolution introduced
and has coordinated two days in Olympia for homeschool families to celebrate. The first day was on February 10th the annual Homeschool Day at the Capitol Event. The next day is on March 16th when the Homeschool
Resolution will be voted on the Senate Floor and homeschool families present will be recognized. http://www.chnow.org/id10.html Between the two events over 500 people attended.
Adopted 3/16/03.
Bills that did not pass.
SB 5360- This bill would require a student to have
earned their certificate of academic achievement in order to enroll in Running Start. This would require passing of the WASL
for entrance. This does not exclude homeschool students.
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Htm/Bills/Senate%20Bills/5360-S.htm
History
of bill: in the Senate Education Committee
Hearing scheduled for 1/27 at 3:30, CHN testified in
support of the substitute bill, which was introduced at the hearing by the prime sponsor to exclude homeschooling. Note: At the hearing, due to many calls from the homeschool community and from the prime
sponsor’s district, the prime sponsor Senator Brandland introduced a substitute bill to exclude homeschoolers from this
legislation. Good job homeschoolers in Whatcom County! The substitute bill passed out of the Senate Education Committee. The bill has been completely rewritten and will now allow for a study to be conducted- there is currently no longer a threat
to homeschoolers.
Bill passed the Senate on 3/8. Referred to the House Higher Education
Committee. Tentative hearing is scheduled for
3/23 at 12:15 in hearing room A. CHN is seeking some minor changes to the bill.
Status: Bill sent to Rules- than to the floor for a vote, missed deadline
Action- none needed.
Position- CHN has no position on this bill.
HB 1633- Allowing
digital learning centers to continue to operate. This bill is a roundabout way
to allow for distance learning centers (virtual charter schools) to receive funding under basic education dollars instead
of under the alternative learning programs. This bill is very vague and does not give full disclosure to homeschoolers, has
no accountability for students in the program and no fiscal accountability. If you think the alternative learning programs
are out of control, wait until you see what these programs can do.
CHN is working with the prime sponsor and others
to address our concerns and add language to protect homeschooling.
History
of bill: House
Education Committee, hearing on Monday 2/14 at 1:30. CHN testified in support of the substitute bill and
the protection offered to homeschooling. The substitute bill passed out of the
Education Committee. In Appropriation Committee, Hearing scheduled for 2/24, bill passed out.
In Rules Committee. CHN has requested an amendment be added to strengthen the “Full Disclosure” language of this bill (3/4)-we
were told this would be done.
Bill passed the House on 3/8/05. Note: CHN had an amendment added to
strengthen the “full disclosure” language of this bill. The amendment was introduced but our language was again
changed. We want the language to include ALL parents not just home-based. 4/1
amended in the Senate Education Committee
Status: Bill sent to Rules- waiting for a vote. Bill merged
with SB5828
Action: none needed
Position: Neutral. It is not the function of CHN to endorse public school programs. Our
support of this bill is limited to the protection this bill offers to homeschoolers and the homeschool movement.
SB 5029/HB1123- This bill would require all schools - both public and approved private schools- to test and meet water quality standards
that are to be adopted by the state board of health. The schools would be required to report the results of tests done on
the water and to report any failure of the school to meet the adopted standards to the department of health.
Our concern is that the bill does not specifically
exclude private school extension programs, which may operate in homes (homeschooling) RCW 28A.195.010.
Original bill: http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Htm/Bills/Senate%20Bills/5029.htm
Substitute bills:
History of bill: In
Senate: Water, Energy and Environment Committee. Public hearing was held January 13. Senate added substitute bill to
exclude homeschoolers, this bill passed out of committee.
Status:
Bills are dead, did not meet deadline to pass the house of origin.
Action: None needed at this time.
Position:
CHN has no position on this bill.
Other Bills of Interest
(to view the bill go to www.wa.leg.gov)
All of these bills did not make
it out of committee, so they did not make the deadline to pass out of the house of origin and are dead.
HJR 4207 and 4208 constitutional
amendment to protect traditional marriage
Position: support
HB 2000 allowing for grandparent
to petition courts to allow for visitations
Position: concerned
HB 1482 relating to child abuse
and neglect, may allow interpretation of educational neglect
Position: concerned, we are monitoring
this bill.
SB 5944 allowing for grandparent
to petition court to allow for visitations
Position: opposed
Below are a couple of good reference pages from the Legislature's website that explain the legislative process:
Course of a Bill (great visual chart of the entire process)
http://www.leg.wa.gov/common/backtoschool/images/BILLCOURSE.pdf
Overview of the
Legislative Process
http://www1.leg.wa.gov/WorkingwithLeg/Overview.htm
To see how your state Senator or Representative
voted click
here
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CHNOW all rights reserved
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