The 2004 State Legislative Wrap-Up
United Way of King County saw some significant victories in 2004, thanks to the hard work of our
volunteers, lobbyist Remy Trupin, and key legislators who worked to protect our community safety net for the most vulnerable and needy.
United Way of King County’s Board adopted five priorities before the 2003 legislative session, on which we continued to focus in 2004. They were:
· Non-profit capacity;
· Homelessness/basic needs;
· Children and families;
· Mental health; and
· Access to services.
Legislative Priority #1: Nonprofit Capacity
Issue # 1: Criminal background check procedures for volunteers.
Background: Due to a number of scandals involving the supervision of children and vulnerable people, the legislature decided to study the criminal background-check procedures for non-profit volunteers.
Result: We focused our efforts on assuring that the voice of the nonprofit community is included in the study of background checks. HB 2556 passed and the issue will be studied during the interim and legislation will likely be introduced next year.
On-going work of the legislature: Two separate task forces have been created; one headed by the Washington State Patrol is studying criminal history record information, background check technology, and systems with the intent of improving technology, reducing delays in processing, and making information more accessible. The other task force is looking at all the other pieces of the system for organizations using background checks, requiring all organizations involved with youth to do background checks, and the feasibility of costs, as well as other areas directed by the bill.
Legislative Priority #2: Homelessness/Basic Needs
Issue # 2: Support increasing Housing Trust Fund to $100 million.
Background: The Housing Trust Fund provides funding for local entities to develop, enhance or rehabilitate low-income housing. The Housing Trust Fund was increased to $80 million in the biennial budget, and we sought additional funding of $20 million in this year’s budget.
Result: Funding remained at the current level of $80 million.
On-going work of the legislature: Homelessness Trust Fund
Issue # 3: Protecting the General Assistance - Unemployable (GA-U) Program
Background: GA-U assists individuals who are disabled for more than three months, are single, and unemployable. GA-U support is $339 a month and limited to medical benefits. This is the safety net for the people at the farthest edges of the margin. This year, the Senate proposed cutting the program by nearly $16 million, and limiting disabled individuals to 6 months of assistance in 24 months and legal immigrants and refugees to one-year of lifetime assistance.
Result: With strong bi-partisan support in the Senate, we were able to defeat this proposal. We expect similar proposals next year in the 2005 legislative session.
Issue # 4: Support HB 2818: Homeless Families Supportive Housing Services Fund - funding for supportive housing services statewide over 15 years.
Background: This legislation was to set up a trust fund for supportive services for families transitioning from homelessness. Based on the Sound Families Initiative model, funds would be matched at the rate of 5-to-1 by organizations providing services such as counseling in the community.
Result: The bill did not make it through committee. A total of $2.15 million is appropriated in the final budget, which also includes specific language setting up the trust account and how the funds will be allocated and administered.
Issue # 5: Track “Act for Hungry Families,” which focuses on school nutrition and access to food assistance for people transitioning off WorkFirst and individuals with prior felony convictions.
Background: Washington has been ranked as one of the five most-hungry states for the past eight years. Legislation was introduced to increase access to Basic Food (formerly called Food Stamps) for eligible families, many with children. It eliminates a number of significant barriers, including lifting the food stamp ban for convicted drug felons who have served their time and are struggling to build a new life for themselves and their families.
Result: This bill passed. Provisions of it will bring in an additional $30 million in federal dollars to feed hungry people.
Legislative Priority #3: Children and Families
Issue # 6: Eliminate Medicaid premiums for children in families with incomes up to 200% of poverty level.
Background: In the 2003 biennial budget, medical insurance premiums were imposed on children in families earning above certain incomes. This was expected to save the state money by eliminating some 20,000 kids from the Medicaid program who could not afford to pay the insurance. It was not intended to save money by raising additional funds from the premiums. In the 2004 supplemental budget, Gov. Locke recommended a modest reduction in the premiums by using new federal monies, but maintained premiums for many children.
Result: Beginning July 1, the kids in families below 200 percent of the federal poverty level were to begin paying premiums for their health care, effectively eliminating 4,000 kids from the rolls. As part of strong coalition, United Way of King County was able to urge Gov. Locke to delay the implementation of premiums on kids below 200 percent of poverty by one year.
Issue # 7: Track P-16 initiative process
Background: P-16 refers to pre-school through higher education (16 years of school). The League of Education Voters is seeking a funding source to fund a permanent education trust fund with a new 1 percent sales tax. The Education Trust Fund would fund preschool for 16,000 low-income children statewide; scholarships for early education staff; provide a full working day, full-year preschool option for parents; and provide standards tied to learning outcomes for all participating programs.
Result: The League of Education Voters did not introduce legislation that would have created a referendum to fund the P16 priorities. Initiative 884 is currently being circulated for signatures that were due by July 2. We will continue to track this issue.
Issue # 8: Support HB 2780: Establishing a work group to develop strategic vision and specific goals for early learning and child care programs and services throughout the state.
Background: United Way of King County helped work on the language for this bill, in line with our priority on ensuring children are prepared for success when they begin school.
Result: HB 2780 died in committee.
On-going work of the legislature: As a result of strong community interest, Gov. Locke created a Task Force on Early Learning and a joint committee of the House and Senate was convened and is meeting during the summer to study these issues further. We will continue to track both processes.
Issue # 9: Support HB 2596: Expanding early intervention services for children with developmental disabilities or delays to all school districts in the state.
Background: Early intervention in infancy up to age three is critical to assisting children with developmental disabilities in their long-term educational outcomes. This bill would have required all school districts to provide or pay for early intervention services for children in the birth-to-three age group. With only half of all school districts participating in early intervention services, the current system is inequitable and results in far less access to publicly funded services for families living in districts without services. House Bill 2596 would have required school districts to provide early intervention services for birth to three.
Result: HB 2596 died in committee. We will continue to track this issue in the next legislative session
Issue # 10: Support HB 2777: Creating a statewide vision and plan for after-school programming.
Background: Because young people between the ages of five and 14 spend only 20 percent of their time in school, how and where they spend the remaining 80 percent impacts their future well-being. Children not in high-quality after-school care are at academic, social, and physical risk. Children who attend high-quality after-school programs spend more time in learning opportunities, academic activities, and enrichment activities. They also spend less time watching television. Such programs can improve student behavior and achievement, and can help children develop effective relationships and conflict resolution skills. House Bill 2777 directed the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Department of Social and Health Services to work with the Washington After-School Network to create a statewide vision and plan for after school programs.
Result: HB 2777 died in committee.
Legislative Priority #4: Mental Health
Issue # 11: Eliminate the ratable reduction to Community Mental Health Services.
Background: Gov. Locke directed all state agencies to reduce their budgets by a certain percentage. Community Mental Health Services would have been required to cut $5.8 million.
Result: Both the House and the Senate budget include additional funding that restored this money to Community Mental Health, which means that we were successful in ensuring that current funding levels were maintained.
Ongoing work of the legislature: A joint Legislative-Executive Task Force has been formed to look at the issue of mental health funding and is meeting over the summer.
Legislative Priority #5: Access to Services (211)
Issue # 12: Seek State Funding for 211 Implementation
Background: United Way of King County and other organizations are seeking congressional authorization and funding for the system, as well as state funding. In the same way 911 fundamentally changed how people access emergency assistance, 211 will dramatically ease access to information about health and human services as well as opportunities for people to give back to their communities. Washington State will do a phased launch of 211 over the next 24 months with the goal of providing statewide coverage by mid-2006. We sought a statement to Congress of the Washington legislature’s support for the system in the form of a resolution.
Result: House Joint Memorial 4040 passed unanimously and was transmitted to Congress with a clear message from our legislature that 2-1-1 should be funded and implemented. Thanks to the entire legislature, and especially Sen. Don Carlson and Rep. Eric Pettigrew for ensuring passage of this important resolution. HJM 4040 was registered with the Secretary of State and transmitted to the President and Congress in early May.
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For more information about United Way of King County's Public Policy Agenda and how to get involved, contact Laura Hitchcock at (206) 461-3756.
All media queries should be directed to United Way of King County's public relations manager, Adam S. Bashaw, APR, at (206) 461-3740.
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