1. Budget Highlights, Health Care, and more

2.  Spends: $38.2 billion, representing a 12 percent increase from the last two-year budget cycle.  Ending-fund balance for 2015-17: $363 million (plus $894 million in the Budget Stabilization Account).  For 2017-19: $47 million (plus $1.4 billion in the Budget Stabilization Account).  Assumes $4.7 million (2015-17) and $515.7 million (2017-19) in extraordinary revenue transfers from the Budget Stabilization Account to the state general fund.

3.  K-12 education now makes up about 48 percent of the near general fund spending.  $740 million for materials, supplies and operating costs.  $350 million to reduce K-3 class size  $180 million to expand full-day kindergarten  Fully funds I-732 teacher COLA at maintenance level (1.8 percent/1.2 percent) and provides an additional one-time salary adjustment (1.2 percent/0.6 percent)

4.  Tuition cuts: 15 percent at research institutions (University of Washington and Washington State University), 20 percent at regional universities, and 5 percent at community and technical colleges.  $41 million to the Opportunity Scholarship Program (matched with private donations).  State Need Grant awards to private institutions are unaffected

5.  $94 million for Early Start Act, which includes 12- month eligibility for Working Connections Child Care;  $41 million for Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) expansion (1,600 additional slots, plus maintenance of full-day and extended-day slots)

6.  $39 million for increased civil capacity with regard to the single-bed certification litigation  $39 million for increased forensic capacity with regard to the Trueblood litigation  Joel’s Law – passed in 2015; allows families to petition directly for involuntary commitment  HB 2453: Oversight of State Hospitals

7.  Appropriates about $38.4 billion from the near general fund;  191 million spending increase over the enacted 2015-17 operating budget;  The resources utilized include $29 million in fund transfers, and $190 million from the Budget Stabilization Account;  There is a projected four-year ending fund balance of $9 million.

8.  Appropriates about $38.4 billion from the near general fund;  191 million spending increase over the enacted 2015-17 operating budget;  The resources utilized include $29 million in fund transfers, and $190 million from the Budget Stabilization Account;  There is a projected four-year ending fund balance of $9 million.

9.  $190 million from the Budget Stabilization Account (House Bill 2988) for wildfire suppression costs related to the 2015 wildfire seasonHouse Bill 2988

10.  Distributing Down Syndrome Resources. House Bill 2403 requires healthcare providers who provide a parent with a prenatal or postnatal Down Syndrome diagnosis to provide evidence-based information prepared by the Department of Health about the genetic disorder. Passed House 97-1, Senate unanimously; Governor signed.House Bill 2403  Prescription Drug Donation Program. House Bill 2458 allows individuals to participate in the state’s surplus prescription drug donation program, provided the drugs are properly packaged and stored. Passed both chambers unanimously. Governor signed.House Bill 2458

11.  Authorizing Pharmacists to Prescribe and Dispense Contraceptives. House Bill 2681 requires the Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission to promote awareness by developing a sign or sticker for participating pharmacies. Passed House 92-4-2; Passed Senate 46- 3; Governor signed.House Bill 2681  Regulation of Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC’s). House Bill 2726 establishes requirements for CCRC’s in being registered by DSHS, and requires information pertaining to the residency agreement and resident expectations be disclosed to prospective and current residents. Passed House 83-13, Senate unanimously; Delivered to governor.House Bill 2726

12.  Banning Certain Flame Retardants and Granting Rulemaking Authority to the Department of Health to Ban Additional Chemicals. House Bill 2545 bans five chemicals determined to be harmful from use in children’s products and furniture, and grants rulemaking authority to the Department of Health to ban further chemicals. Passed both chambers unanimously. Delivered to governor.House Bill 2545

13.  SSB 6327: Providing for Hospital Discharge Planning with Caregivers - Requires hospital discharge policies to provide an opportunity for patients to designate a lay caregiver and include lay caregivers in discharge planning. Requires hospitals and acute care facilities to coordinate with lay caregivers, long-term care workers, and home and community-based service providers;  E2SSB 6534: Establishing a Maternal Mortality Review Panel - Establishes a maternal mortality review panel to conduct reviews of maternal deaths in Washington and make recommendations for evidence-based system changes and possible legislation to improve maternal outcomes and reduce preventable maternal deaths.

14.  State Rep. Jay Rodne 5 th District office: 360-786-7852 email: jay.rodne@leg.wa.gov