Legislative activity

2006 session

January 9, 2006 Session begins

Session ended March 9, 2006.

Legislative hotline number is 1-800-562-6000.

For information regarding current members of the education committees

 Education Committees 2006 Legislative Session

The following is proposed legislation that may have an effect on homeschooling.

House Resolution 4676, introduced by Rep. Quall to honor the success of home education.  Resolution4676 will go to the floor of the House on February 8, 2006, afterwards will follow CHN’s celebration “Under the Dome” in the Rotunda.

To read the Resolution click here http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=4676

SB 6744- Creating the guaranteed opportunities scholarship program

HISTORY OF BILL: Sponsored by Senator Rockefeller will create a scholarship program for academically successful high school students from low and middle-income families. This bill is to replace the “Promise Scholarship program” which was taken out of the budget last session. This bill would change the testing requirement to allow for only the passage of the WASL for ALL students. We do not want these requirement to change for home-based students

Currently, home-based students are not required to take the WASL nor is the WASL on the list of required tests for home-based students. This bill may open the door in the future to require passing the WASL for scholarships, college entrance, Running Start, etc.

This bill changes RCW 28A.200.010 Sec 7 (c) to allow home-based students to take the WASL from an educational services district for the purposed of qualifying for this scholarship. We have reservations to adding this language, which would amend the homeschool law. This language is unnecessary since the part time attendance law already allows for testing services under ancillary services.

In Senate Education Committee, hearing scheduled for Thursday, 1/26 3:30pm. CHN spent the day in Olympia and testified on the bill. We were told there would an amendment would be done. Thank you to the many parents and family members who called their senators, your input was beneficial in getting these changes. The bill was scheduled for Executive Session 1/27 but was delayed due to other issues with the bill. Bill is dead due to missed committee deadline, we expect to see this bill next session.

CHN's testimony at hearing

POSITION: Concerned- waiting for amended bill

STATUS: Bill died in committee

ACTION: None needed at this time

SB 5360- Create a study of performance and funding of Running Start students. 

HISTORY OF BILL: This bill was introduced last session by Senator Brandland. The original bill would have required passage of the WASL to participate in Running Start. CHN was able to have this changed to exempt home-based students. The Senate Education Committee heard some compelling testimony from Running Start students-some who had not passed the WASL but were successful in the program, this caused the Senate Education Committee to rethink the bill. The Senate Education Committee than changed the bill into a study. The study will compare the college performance of public school students who pass the WASL and those who do not. The bill did not make it out of committee last session in time to pass. We expected the bill to be re-introduced this session, which it was. We will monitor the bill to make sure the study will only include public school students.

READ the bill http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=5360&year=2006

POSITION: Neutral

STATUS:  Bill has passed the Senate 1/20. In the House Education Committee.Public hearing 2/17

ACTION: None needed at this time

Other Bills of Interest

HB2711/SB6683 An act allowing for grandparents to petition courts to allow for visitations.

HB2711 In House Juvenile Justice and Family Law Committee, hearing scheduled Friday 1/27

                   Passed out of committee http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Pdf/Bills/House%20Bills/2711-S.pdf

                  SB6683 In Judiciary committee, hearing scheduled for Tuesday 1/31

READ HB2711 http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=2711&year=2006

READ SB6683 http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=6683&year=2006

POSITION: Opposed

STATUS:  Both bills did not make it to a vote and are therefore dead.

ACTION:  None needed at this time.

For more information read HSLDA's  action alert 2/17/2006

SB6316 An act allowing for grandparents to petition courts to allow for visitations

READ the bill http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=6316&year=2006

POSITION: Opposed

STATUS: Bill is dead due to no action taken in committee

ACTION: None needed at this time.

HB3148 An act concerning investigations of child abuse.

If passed into law this bill would exempt social workers from "civil liability for any act or omission to act during an investigation of child abuse or neglect." Additionally, this bill requires the interest of a child to be raised above the parent's interest.  Hearing scheduled  in Judiciary Committee Feb. 1^st 1:30PM JLOB Hearing Room B 

READ the bill http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=3148&year=2006

POSITION: Opposed

STATUS: Bill did not make it to the floor for a vote and is therefore dead.