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Legislative and Policy Links This page was last updated on 04/01/09 If you know of errors please click here to let us know. |
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2009 LEGISLATIVE SESSION – Bills of interest to Safe Schools Coalition member organizations & friends
HB 2015, which would enhance anti-harassment efforts in schools. Somewhat dead. The sponsor hopes that key provisions can be folded into a budget bill or revisited next session.
HB 1612 / SB 5629, the “Proven Programs Act,” which would allow state agencies to seek funding for only those pregnancy prevention programs that are medically and scientifically accurate and evidence-based. Passed the Senate (33-14), House hearing was March 19th.
SB 5688, the domestic partnership measure. Passed the Senate with a huge margin (30-18); House hearing forthcoming. Looks like this bill will pass and the Governor will sign. Josh Friedes, with Equal Rights Washington, has said that there are four anti-LGBTQ groups at least one of which has said it intends to organize an initiative campaign to overturn domestic partnership. House hearing was March 23rd. Scheduled for a March 26 executive session in the House Committee on Judiciary.
SB 5674, the marriage bill, will be reintroduced next year.
HIV/AIDS prevention funding cuts may be big. More info will follow.
More info about gender identity/expression language will follow.
From The Washington State Human Rights Commission: top of page
Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity: from the Washington State Human Rights Commission, provides information specifically about the sexual orientation and gender identity nondiscrimination jurisdiction. Under Washington law, public schools are covered entities as places of employment and public accommodation. http://www.hum.wa.gov/Sexual Orientation/
Sexual Orientation - Public Schools: from the Washington State Human Rights Commission, provides information specifically about public schools and sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination. GLSEN School Climate Survey, NGLTF Campus Climate, and Wadington v. Holmdel Township Board of Education. http://www.hum.wa.gov/Sexual Orientation/PubSchools.html
RCW 49.60 is the statute – the anti-discrimination law -- enforced by the Washington State Human Rights Commission. Read it here: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=49.60
From the ACLU: top of page
Know Your Rights: A Guide for Public School Students in Washington: This document from ACLU summarizes the current laws governing students' life in Washington's public primary and secondary schools. http://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Guide for Public School Students.pdf (pdf file)
Parents’ Guide to Public School Discipline in Washington: This guide from ACLU provides nuts-and-bolts advice for parents and guardians whose children are facing disciplinary proceedings in public schools. http://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Discipline_guide_parents_3_07.pdf (pdf file)
Parents’ Guide to School Board Advocacy in Washington: This publication from ACLU is designed to serve as a tool for parents who want to communicate and advocate before their school board. It is not meant to provide legal advice. http://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Advocacy_guide_parents_3_07.pdf (pdf file)
Parents’ Guide to Truancy in Washington: This guide from ACLU is designed to help parents understand their children’s rights in the truancy process. It is not meant to provide legal advice. http://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/Truancy_guide_parents_5_07.pdf (pdf file)
Washington State organizations to contact for more information: top of page
Equal Rights Washington: http://equalrightswashington.org/
Lambda Legal http://lambdalegal.org/ Western Regional office: 213-382-7600; Washington State contact: Tara Borelli TBorelli@lambdalegal.org
Log Cabin Republicans of Washington: http://www.logcabinwashington.com/
SEAMEC: Seattle Municipal Elections Committee: http://www.seamec.org
Washington State Stonewall Democrats: http://www.stonewalldemswa.org
ACLU of Washington: http://www.aclu-wa.org/
League of Women Voters of Washington: http://www.lwvwa.org/ and Greater Seattle http://www.seattlelwv.org/
Northwest Women's Law Center: http://www.nwwlc.org contact: nwwlc@nwwlc.org
Policy Watch, from the University of Washington School of Social Work is no longer being published but the archive of back issues is a treasure trove for people new to the idea of lobbying their legislators: http://depts.washington.edu/sswweb/policyw/archive/