In floor action last week, the full House passed SB 5229, to require continuing health equity training for health care professionals, as the House Appropriations Committee passed out a companion mea sure, SB 5228, to require the state’s public medical schools to develop racial and ethnic health equity training courses for their students. The Senate passed HB 1078, which would restore voting rights to felons immediately after their release from prison. The bill passed in the House last month and is headed to Gov. Inslee for his signature.
Senate Bill 5229, Concerning health equity continuing education for health care professionals. Passed the House on March 24, 2021 by a vote of 57-41.
This bill would require health care professionals to complete health equity education training at least once every four years. It would require these courses to teach skills that enable a health care professional to care effectively for patients from diverse cultures, groups, and communities, varying in race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexuality, religion, age, ability, and socioeconomic status. During the public hearing on the measure, proponents said the bill is needed, because “the health system is not equitable.” They said that health professionals should be aware of their own biases, and learn to be more sensitive to the health needs of different communities. No testimony in opposition to the bill was offered. The bill passed by a 35-14 vote in the Senate last month. Proposed amendments in the Senate to allow health care professionals to opt out and to limit the cost of such courses were rejected. The House amended the bill to move the date on which information must be provided about available courses from July 1, 2022, to July 1, 2023. The bill must now return to the Senate for approval or rejection of the House amendment.
19th District Rep. Joel McEntire (R) — N
19th District Rep. Jim Walsh (Aberdeen) (R) — N
24th District Rep. Mike Chapman (D) — Y
24th District Rep. Steve Tharinger (D) — Y
House Bill 1078, Restoring voter eligibility for all persons convicted of a felony offense who are not in total confinement under the jurisdiction of the department of corrections. Passed the Senate on March 24, 2021 by a vote of 27-22.
This bill would automatically restore voting rights to felons immediately upon their release from state prison. Under current law, released felons must wait until they finish all conditions of their release, including community supervision before they can re-register to vote. In committee testimony, proponents estimated that some 26,000 felons would immediately regain their right to vote under this bill, even though they may still be serving their sentences outside of total confinement on probation or community supervision. They said the bill “is about restoring the right to vote. People with felony convictions who have been released into the community, or who are on work release, are working and paying taxes just like everyone else.” Opponents said that the right to vote should not be restored to felons “until they have fully paid their debt to society.” The bill passed in the House last month by a 57-41 vote and is now on its way to the governor for his signature.
19th District Sen. Jeff Wilson (R) — N
24th District Sen. Kevin Van De Wege (D) — Y
SOURCE: WashingtonVotes.org is a project of the Washington Policy Center. Please visit www.WashingtonVotes.org and the Olympia news service, Washingtonvotes.org.
Y = Yes, N = No, E = Excused, X = Not Voting
