Governor Gregoire Signs Legislation to Help Injured Workers Get Back to Work

For Immediate Release: April 18, 2007

Bill establishes a pilot program for vocational rehabilitation; Governor also takes action on a bill to delay Real ID until privacy of Washingtonians is protected

OLYMPIA - Governor Chris Gregoire today signed into law a measure she requested to establish a pilot program that will retrain injured workers to help them get back to work. Governor Gregoire�s proposal will support Washington workers as they gain skills that are in demand in today�s economy.

�This bill helps injured workers get back to work and gain skills that will help them to succeed in the global economy,� said Governor Gregoire. �Investing in high quality worker retraining and providing greater accountability makes good, practical economic sense.�

Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5920, sponsored by Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles (D-Seattle), passed the House with 74 votes and passed the Senate with 42 votes. The bill takes effect January 1, 2008 and expires June 20, 2013.

Gov. Gregoire Signs Bill to Delay Implementation of Real ID Until Privacy of Washingtonians is Secure

Governor Chris Gregoire today signed into law a measure to delay the state implementation of the federal Real ID Act unless and until the federal government provides sufficient funds and ensures the Act protects the privacy of Washingtonians.

�This is another unfunded mandate from the federal government and, even worse, it doesn�t protect the privacy of the citizens of Washington,� said Governor Gregoire. �Washington will not spend the $250 million without a guarantee of privacy and federal funds to help fund it.�

Substitute Senate Bill 5087, sponsored by Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen (D-Camano Island), passed the House with 95 votes and passed the Senate with 41 votes. The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the Legislative session.

Additional Bill Action Today

Governor Gregoire today also signed the following bills into law:

• SSB 5039 - Relating to the investment of scholarship endowment funds.
• SB 5042 - Relating to insurance.
• SSB 5052 - Relating to auto glass repair and third party administrators.
• SSB 5078 - Relating to approaching stationary emergency, roadside assistance, or police vehicles.
• SB 5086 - Relating to increasing the population threshold for state highway maintenance responsibility in cities and towns.
• SSB 5118 - Relating to developing sexual harassment policies, procedures, and mandatory training for all state employees.
• SSSB 5122 - Relating to preserving the current regulatory assistance program with cost reimbursement changes.
• SB 5134 - Relating to authorizing police officers to impound vehicles operated by drivers without specially endorsed licenses.
• SB 5175 - Relating to public employees' retirement system, plan 1 and teachers' retirement system, plan 1 age and retirement requirements for receipt of the annual increase amount.
• SSB 5190 - Relating to the collection of legal financial obligations.
• SB 5199 - Relating to adding enforcement provisions regarding fraud, deception, and unlicensed internet lending to the chapter governing check cashers and sellers.
• ESB 5204 - Relating to the enforcement of animal health laws.
• SSB 5242 - Relating to an internship program for wounded combat veterans.
• SB 5247 - Relating to superior court judicial positions.
• SSB 5250 - Relating to transferring motor vehicle ownership.
• ESB 5251 - Relating to the term of existence of a collective bargaining agreement.
• SB 5273 - Relating to motorcycle driver's license endorsement and education.
• ESSB 5292 - Relating to physical therapist assistants.
• SB 5313 - Relating to establishing the retirement age for members of the Washington state patrol retirement system. (Partial veto, Section 2)
• SB 5389 - Relating to importing a simulcast race of regional or national interest on horse race days.
• SSB 5391 - Relating to photo enforcement of traffic infractions.
• SB 5398 - Relating to licensing specialty hospitals.
• ESSB 5403 - Relating to certifying animal massage practitioners.
• SB 5421 - Relating to environmental covenants.
• SSB 5443 - Relating to the suppression of workers' compensation claims.
• SSB 5461 - Relating to continuing the use of contract harvesting for improving forest health on Washington state trust lands.
• SB 5463 - Relating to forest fire protection assessments.
• SB 5468 - Relating to the administration of tax programs administered by the department of revenue.
• SSB 5511 - Relating to requiring state agencies to allow volunteer firefighters to respond when called to duty.
• SSB 5554 - Relating to self-service storage facilities.
• SB 5607 - Relating to exempting historical property owned by the United States government from leasehold excise taxation.
• SB 5640 - Relating to authorizing tribal governments to participate in public employees' benefits board programs.
• SSB 5688 - Relating to allowing industrial insurance claimants to designate a representative to receive the claimants' notices, orders, or warrants.
• SB 5711 - Relating to the offender score for offenses concerning the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug.
• SSB 5715 - Relating to persons selling, soliciting, or negotiating insurance.
• ESSB 5717 - Relating to the establishment of a program of market conduct oversight within the office of the insurance commissioner.
• SSB 5720 - Relating to broadcast of legal notices.
• SB 5732 - Relating to restrictions on the county treasurer regarding receipting current year taxes.
• SB 5775 - Relating to special education.
• ESSB 5827 - Relating to consumer privacy.
• SSB 5839 - Relating to nonmandatory reports of child abuse or neglect.
• SB 5879 - Relating to payroll deductions for retiree organization dues.
• SSSB 5883 - Relating to the conversion of forest land to nonforestry uses.
• SSB 5895 - Relating to seller disclosure of information concerning residential real property.
• SSB 5910 - Relating to prefiling notice of intent to commence a medical malpractice action.
• SB 5918 - Relating to retirement benefits for judges.
• SB 5953 - Relating to penalties for acts of violence by strangulation.
• ESB 6018 - Relating to detention of persons with a mental disorder or a chemical dependency.
• SB 6059 - Relating to allowing attorneys to recover actual costs for service of process.
• SB 6075 - Relating to increasing competitive bid limits for the purchase of materials, equipment or supplies.

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