WSPTA Testifies – Senate committee hears Youth Tip Line bill
Speaking in favor of SSB 5327, WSPTA member Tanya Aggar told Senate Ways & Means Committee members that stopping the silence could save lives. The Senate bill would create an anonymous youth tip line for reporting concern for self-harm or harm to others. Hear Tanya’s testimony here.
Category:
Advocacy
,
Legislative
2021 Focus on Advocacy – February 15 Report
Ding, ding, ding – that’s the sign of the first cutoff! Prepared by Marie Sullivan, WSPTA Legislative Consultant, legconsultant@wastatepta.org Monday, February 15, marks the first cutoff of the session, signaling the Legislature is one-third of the way through this 105-day session. Most committees finished up their work by Friday, February 12, while a few will…
Category:
Advocacy
,
Legislative
2021 Focus on Advocacy – February 8 Report
Cutoff week expected to be a busy one Prepared by Marie Sullivan, WSPTA Legislative Consultant, legconsultant@wastatepta.org This week is expected to be quite busy, as policy committees schedule bills for public hearings and votes in advance of the February 15 deadline for bills to be out of policy committees. Friday marks the last day for…
Category:
Advocacy
,
Legislative
WSPTA Supports Access to Mental Health Resources
Tanya Aggar, a parent in the 41st legislative district, testified before the House Education Committee on February 2, asking members to pass HB 1373 and to add an amendment to include a website for safe storage of firearms. The bill would direct school districts to make several national mental health webpages available on the school…
Category:
Advocacy
,
Legislative
WSPTA Supports Bill To Establish Youth Suicide Review Team
Sharing her personal experience with youth suicide, WSPTA member Melissa Kline spoke in favor of HB 1354, a bill that would create a Washington Youth Suicide Review Team to review the circumstances related to suicides occurring among youth up to age 24. Kline asked the House Children, Youth & Families Committee to consider an amendment…
Category:
Advocacy
,
Legislative
WSPTA Speaks Out Against Gun Violence
SB 5078 would enact limits to high-capacity magazines in an effort to reduce gun violence. Hear Gwen Loosmore, a Mercer Island parent, represent WSPTA on this important bill. Modeling WSPTA best practices to leave them with a few keywords, Dr. Loosmore ends with, “The whole point of high-capacity magazines is to allow the gun to…
Category:
Advocacy
,
Legislative
WSPTA Advocates for Youth Reporting System
After serving on a workgroup regarding a youth tip line reporting system, WSPTA member Tanya Aggar was poised to deliver strong testimony in support of SB 5397. Listen here. Aggar also testified the same day on SB 5209, which would develop a 988# line (like 911) for mental health. She requested the committee amend the…
Category:
Advocacy
,
Legislative
WSPTA Testifies – Bill would create flexibility in LAP funding
WSPTA member Heidi Bennett spoke in favor January 29 on HB 1208, a bill to increase flexibility for Learning Assistance Program funding. Bennett requested two amendments to provide guidance to districts and clarify parent expectations, specifically because statutes that allow for the use of LAP to be used for dyslexia screening and other best practices…
Category:
Advocacy
,
Legislative
WSPTA Weighs in on SRO Bill
HB 1214 would make changes to laws adopted in the 2019 legislative session regarding training for school resource officers and data collection. Nancy Chamberlain speaks in favor of the bill while asking for an amendment to strengthen training requirements. Listen to Nancy’s testimony here.
Category:
Advocacy
,
Legislative
2021 Focus on Advocacy – February 1 Report
Legislature likely to act this week on $2.2 billion relief package Prepared by Marie Sullivan, WSPTA Legislative Consultant, legconsultant@wastatepta.org Last week’s report covered the unveiling of the Democrats’ COVID-relief package, which is broken into several large “buckets,” including $688 million for K-12 public schools. HB 1368 had a public hearing on January 26 and passed…
Category:
Advocacy
,
Legislative