Four Dent bills clear Senate, two headed to the governor’s desk, two need concurrence vote
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Four Dent bills clear Senate, two headed to the governor’s desk, two need concurrence vote
On Wednesday, the Senate passed House Bill 1243, which would provide another tool for communities to manage municipal airports.
13th District Rep. Tom Dent, the sponsor of the legislation, says the bill would address a need.
“In small communities it can be difficult to get enough residents to serve as commissioners on the municipal airport commission,” said Dent, R-Moses Lake. “This legislation provides another option to assist small communities and their municipal airports. It would also expand the powers and duties that may be vested in a municipal airport commission.”
The bill was amended in the Senate, so the House of Representatives must concur with the changes before the bill heads to the governor's desk for his signature.
Dent has had three other bills clear the Senate in the last week.
House Bill 1032 and House Bill 1590 have passed through the House and Senate unanimously and are on their way to the governor's desk for his signature.
“House Bill 1032 would mitigate the risk of wildfires through electric utility planning and identification of best management practices of each electric utility's circumstances,” said Dent.
“With House Bill 1590, we are changing the membership and qualifications of the oversight board for the Department of Children, Youth and Families. It streamlines the process and ensures qualified individuals are serving in these positions,” added Dent.
Dent's fourth bill to make it out of the Senate, House Bill 1019, would create the Pesticide Advisory Board to advise the Washington State Department of Agriculture on pesticide-related actions. It was amended in the Senate, so it will go back to the House for a concurrence vote.
“There was a board in place that advised the department on pesticide issues. It was eliminated along with a number of other boards in 2010 during the recession to save the state money in the operating budget,” said Dent. “We need to restore this advisory board and include members who have firsthand knowledge of pesticides and their use so the department has the best input and feedback available.
“The two concurrence votes should not be controversial. I look forward to having all four bills headed to the governor's desk for his signature,” said Dent.
A fifth piece of legislation, prime-sponsored by Rep. Mary Dye and co-sponsored by Dent, House Bill 1498 known as the “Aviation Assurance Funding” bill, is also headed to concurrence after passing both chambers unanimously.
Dent says the legislation is the culmination of seven years of work.
“This is a critical measure for eastern Washington. It would allow local fire departments who use aviation suppression efforts on the initial attack of brush, timber and grass fires to be reimbursed by the state for those expenses,” added Dent.
The Legislature is scheduled to adjourn on April 23.
