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Legislative Session

February 17, 2021

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.
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Category: Advocacy , Legislative

February 15, 2021

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…
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Category: Advocacy , Legislative

February 8, 2021

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…
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Category: Advocacy , Legislative

February 3, 2021

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…
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Category: Advocacy , Legislative

February 1, 2021

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…
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Category: Advocacy , Legislative

February 1, 2021

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…
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Category: Advocacy , Legislative

February 1, 2021

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…
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Category: Advocacy , Legislative

February 1, 2021

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…
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Category: Advocacy , Legislative

February 1, 2021

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.
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Category: Advocacy , Legislative

February 1, 2021

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…
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Category: Advocacy , Legislative