Politics & Government

Hundreds Of New Laws Take Effect In Washington Today

From a ban on "lunch shaming" to creating a "Cesar Chavez Day", here's a look at some of the new Washington laws.

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OLYMPIA, WA - Don't ever call the state Legislature lazy. During the first 2018 legislative session, lawmakers created hundreds of new laws and a majority take effect on June 7. \

Here's a look at some of the more important ones with a brief description of the legislation:

SB 5722 - Conversion therapy
"It is unprofessional conduct for a licensed health care provider to perform conversion therapy on a patient under the age of 18. Conversion therapy means a regime that seeks to change an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity, including efforts to change behaviors or gender expressions, or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward individuals of the same sex."

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SHB 2282 - Net neutrality
"Internet providers in Washington are prohibited, with some exceptions, from: blocking content, applications, services, or nonharmful devices; impairing or degrading ("throttling") traffic on the basis of content, application, service, or use of nonharmful devices; or favoring some traffic over others in exchange for benefit ("paid prioritization")

HI 940 - Law enforcement
"Requires law enforcement officers to complete de-escalation training and mental health training. Establishes state policy requiring law enforcement personnel to render first aid. Modifies the criminal liability standard for law enforcement officers using deadly force. Requires independent investigations of certain incidents involving a law enforcement officer's use of deadly force.

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SHB 2016 - Incarcerated women/midwifery
"The Department of Corrections (Department) and jails must make reasonable accommodations for the provision of available midwifery and doula services to inmates who are pregnant or who have given birth in the last six weeks. A person providing midwifery or doula services must be granted appropriate facility access, be allowed to attend and provide assistance during labor and childbirth (where feasible), and have access to the inmate's relevant health care information if the inmate authorizes disclosure.

HB 2661 - Domestic assault/employment
"An employer may not: refuse to hire an otherwise qualified individual because the individual is an actual or perceived victim; or discharge or in any manner discriminate or retaliate against an individual with respect to any terms, conditions, or privileges of employment because the individual is a victim or perceived victim."

ESB 6018 - Credit security freeze fees
"An agency may not charge a consumer for placing a security freeze on a credit report, assigning a unique PIN, temporarily lifting a security freeze, or removing a security freeze. The requirement that a consumer may request a security freeze in writing by certified mail is removed."

ESSB 6434 - Electric-assisted bicycles
"Electric-assisted bicycles are exempt from vehicle registration and licensing requirements. No driver's license is required to operate an electric bike in Washington, if the driver is at least 16 years of age. Provisions relating to bicycle helmets apply to riders of electric-assisted bicycles. Electric-assisted bicycles have the same access to trails, paths and public roads that regular bikes have, unless restricted by local ordinance. However, electric assisted bicycles may not be operated on a fully controlled limited access highway or a sidewalk."

ESSB 5928 - Marijuana/financial services
"Financial institutions that receive deposits, extend credit, conduct fund transfers, or provide other financial services for a marijuana producer, processor, retailer, qualifying patient, health care professional, or designated provider authorized under Washington law does not commit a crime for providing those financial services. Certified public accountants do not commit a crime solely for providing professional
accounting services to licensed marijuana businesses."

SHB 2951 - Missing Native American women
"The State Patrol is required to conduct a study on increasing state resources for reporting and identifying missing Native American women in the state. The State Patrol and the Governor's Office of Indian Affairs must convene meetings with tribal and local law enforcement partners and work with federally recognized tribes in a government-to-government relationship to explore ways of creating partnerships. The State Patrol also must work with the federal Department of Justice to increase information sharing and coordinate resources."

E2SHB 2595 - Automatic voter registration
"Beginning July 1, 2019, any person who is at least 18 years old may be automatically registered to vote or have his or her voter registration updated upon receiving or renewing his or her EDL or EID, or changing his or her address, so long as the DOL's records include required voter registration information and provide a signature image. The applicant must be offered an opportunity to decline to register."

2SHB 1506 - Workplaces/gender pay equity
"The Equal Pay Act is modified in several respects. Employees are "similarly employed" if the performance of the job requires similar skill, effort, and responsibility, and the jobs are performed under similar working conditions. Job titles alone are not determinative. The employer defense is changed to provide that discrimination does not include a differential based in good faith on a bona fide job-related factor or factors that: (1) are consistent with business necessity; (2) are not based on or derived from a gender-based differential; and (3) account for the entire differential. More than one factor may account for the differential."

SB 5028 - Native American curriculum
"Washington State history and government, and Pacific Northwest history and government courses, that are incorporated in the curriculum of all teacher preparation programs, must integrate the Native American curriculum, developed by OSPI, into the course. Institutions may modify the curriculum in order to incorporate elements that have a regionally specific focus."

3SHB 1169 -Student loan assistance
"All provisions that allow an agency to suspend a professional license due to student loan default, if reported by a lending agency, are repealed, except for escrow agents."

SB 6298 - DV harassment/firearms
"A person convicted of the crime of harassment, when committed by one family member against another and committed on or after the effective date of this act, is prohibited from owning a firearm."

ESHB 2610 - School meal payment
"School personnel, school district personnel, and volunteers are prohibited from taking any action that would identify a student who cannot pay for a school meal or for meals previously served to the student, including requiring the student to wear an identifying marker or serving the student an alternative meal."

Here are the rest of the laws that take effect on June 7:

File photo by Neal McNamara/Patch

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