Senator Pflug's Prime-sponsored bills 2007-2008

SB 6112 - 2007-2008 - Concerning smart grid energy technology.

Digest: Provides that, no later than December 1, 2008, the department shall adopt rules creating a tax credit certification process for smart grid energy technologies that promise to significantly improve the reliability, efficiency, and environmental integrity of electrical transmission and distribution systems.

SB 5003 - 2007-08 - Concerning the state parks and recreation commission centennial 2013 account.

Digest: Finds that the last major state funding dedicated for state parks' capital improvements occurred in the early 1970s and, as stewards of the future, it is necessary once again to dedicate revenues to restore and renovate our park system, ensuring that future generations may enjoy the same first-rate public park system as prior generations.Declares an intent to create the state parks and recreation commission centennial 2013 account from which funds shall be used to eliminate the parks' maintenance backlog and complete the critical renovations identified in the state parks and recreation commission's centennial 2013 plan. Appropriates the sum of one hundred sixty-five million dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, from the general fund to the state parks and recreation commission centennial 2013 account, created in this act, for the purposes of this act.

SB 5428 - 2007-08 - Returning the portion of the state property tax dedicated to schools by I-728 to the Education Legacy Account.

Background: In 2000, Initiative 728 was approved by the voters of Washington State, creating the Student Achievement Fund, which dedicates funding and resources to schooldistricts for the purpose of achieving higher academic standards for all students through smaller class sizes and other improvements. The funds may only be used for any of the following six areas: (1) a major reduction in K-4 class size; (2) selected class size reductions in grades 5-12, such as small high school writing classes; (3) extended learning opportunities for students who need or want additional time in school; (4) investments in educators and their professional development; (5) early assistance for children who need pre-kindergarten support in order to be successful in school; and (6) providing improvements or additions to facilities to support class size reductions and extended learning opportunities.

The Student Achievement Fund was funded through the Education Legacy Trust Account and a portion of the state property tax proceeds. In 2005, the democrat majority amended the initiative and diverted the property tax revenue to the General Fund, substituting a cigarette tax increase and estate tax as a funding source. The new funding source is inadequate and dwindling. The property tax is no longer available to fund schools.

SB 5528 - 2007-08 - Requiring a revision of essential academic learning requirements and grade level expectations for mathematics.)

This bill was eventually incorporated into an omnibus bill and passed into law.

SB 5619 – 2007-08 - Addressing unwarranted variation in health care.

Summary of Substitute Bill: The legislative intent focuses on the shared decision-making process and the use of effective decision aids in the state's laws on informed consent and encourages collaborative efforts to use and certify decision aids which meet high quality standards.

The Health Care Authority (HCA) will work to increase awareness of decision aids. This effort must focus on preference-sensitive conditions with high rates of unwarranted variation in Washington.

The HCA is to identify a certification process for decision aids in consultation with the National Committee for Quality Assurance and can accept donations to do so.

The HCA is to develop a demonstration project with health care providers/carriers and a research group to demonstrate shared decision-making in clinical practice. Specific elements for the demonstration project are listed.

The State of Washington was recognized as a leader in addressing unwarranted variation as a result of this innovative law. (2007)

SB 6083 - 2007-08 - Providing access to medical information for health professionals.

Background: The University of Washington library system has an extensive collection of medical journals and other scientific and research based information online and in other formswhich are available to physicians with teaching appointments at the university. Washington physicians and other health care professionals who do not have teaching appointments at the University of Washington do not currently have access to these resources.

Digest: Requires the department of health to provide funds from the fees from health professionals under this act to the University of Washington and arrange access for all health professionals in the state to critical evidence-based resources and tools on line and otherwise from the University of Washington health sciences library.

This language passed but was not fully funded by the budget writers.

SB 6116 – 2007-08 - Providing training and technical assistance for providers of health care for veterans.

Requires the department to conduct a program of training and technical assistance for providers of primary care regarding care of veterans who have served in heavy combat zones and have chronic conditions. The program shall emphasize evidence-based high quality preventive and chronic disease and injury care that addresses the diseases and injuries that are most prevalent in veterans, and particularly those returning recently from the combat zone. The department may designate one or more

SB 6125 - 2007-08 - Requiring that military funeral honors be available to all eligible veterans.

DIGEST - Provides that the department shall ensure that provision is made for all eligible veterans buried in Washington state to receive military funeral honors. The department is authorized to implement this provision through inter-agency contracts with the Washington military department or by other appropriate means.

SB 6169 - 2007-08 - "Vision 21" Providing for the funding of high priority transportation projects.

Digest: Declares that the replacement of the Alaskan Way Viaduct and the state route number 520 floating bridge are the highest priority transportation projects that represent an immediate threat to public safety and are vital to the economic strength of the Puget Sound region and the state as a whole.

• Delays construction of light rail on the reversible lanes of I-90 and applies new any revenues received from the 2007 general election to the projects listed below:
  • One billion one hundred million dollars for a tunnel replacement option for the Alaskan Way Viaduct that maintains or exceeds the current capacity.
  • Two billion seven hundred million dollars for the improvement and replacement of the state route number 520 bridge replacement and HOV project between Interstate 5 and Interstate 405. The district must include in its ballot measure one billion one hundred million dollars for the state route number 520 floating bridge. These funds must be combined with any additional funds appropriated by federal, state, and local sources to fully fund the state route number 520 bridge replacement and improvements without tolling.
  • Six hundred forty million dollars for the construction of state route number 167 to the port of Tacoma.
  • One hundred thirteen million dollars for the construction of state route number 704 between Interstate 5 and state route number 7, in addition to any other funds provided by the plan developed by the regional transportation investment district.
  • Ninety-four million dollars for the connection of state route number 509 and Interstate 5 at Sea-Tac in addition to funds already provided by the regional transportation investment district.
• Funds not necessary for the implementation of these projects shall be transferred to Sound Transit for the purpose of completing light rail to the Tacoma Dome transit center.

SB 6176 - 2007-08 - Addressing state transportation system policy goals.

Added Congestion Relief as a goal of the WSDOT and provided measurable performance standards for accountability.

SB 6303 - 2007-08 - Transferring the dependent care assistance program to the health care authority by coordinating benefit plans that allow state and public employees to pay on a pretax basis.

House companion bill signed into law.

SB 6359 - 2007-08 - Establishing a plan for dental care delivery.

Background: The 2007 Legislature passed E2SSB 5930 which directed the Health Care Authority (HCA) and the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to develop a five-year plan to change reimbursement within their health care programs. The initial plan to improve health care quality has been submitted and reflects a broad strategic plan to impact the health care system, however the dental programs are not specifically identified.

Summary of Bill (Recommended Substitute): The Health Care Authority and DSHS are directed to develop a five-year plan to change the way dental care is delivered and reimbursed within their health care programs. The reimbursement approach should: reward quality dental outcomes; pay for care that reflects patient preference and is of proven value; require the use of evidence-based standards of care; tie provider rate increases to measurable improvements in access to quality care; direct enrollees to quality care systems; and better support primary prevention and provide incentives for enrollees to enter and remain in a dental practice. The plan must examine successful modes like the Access to Baby and Child Dentistry (ABCD) program, and the plan must include a design for a public awareness campaign. The report to the Legislature is due September 1, 2008, and it must identify barriers and opportunities to implementation, the goals the plan is intended to achieve, and how progress will be measured.

SB 6360 - 2007-08 - Establishing a work group on primary care medical practice.

Background: Recent reports indicate the number of United States medical school graduates entering family practice residencies dropped by 50 percent between 1997 and 2005. In 2006 the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported primary care provider shortages throughout 16 of the state's 39 counties, and within specific areas or populations of 38 counties.

Summary of Bill: The work group on Primary Care Medical Practice (work group) is established. Membership includes one Senator and one Representative from each caucus of the House and Senate, and appointments by the Director of the Health Care Authority (HCA) that include representatives of primary care physicians, community clinics, and health plans, and the HCA. The HCA representative must chair the work group.

The work group must examine ways to recruit and retain primary care physicians, and options for providing greater reimbursement for physicians who exhibit best practices, such as: ensuring all patients have access to nurse consultants; encourage mammograms; implement strategies to reduce patients' use of non-emergent emergency-room care; communicate with patients electronically; and effectively manage blood sugar levels of patients with diabetes.

I was able to pass this into law by amending it on to a bill sponsored by a democrat in the House.

SB 6361 – 2007-08 - Regulating the exercise of religious beliefs and conscience in the practice of pharmacy.

This bill would have placed the compromise negotiated between Planned Parenthood and the Oregon Board of Pharmacy and passed unanimously in Oregon into Washington statute. Essentially, it would have required pharmacist or pharmacy who objects to dispensing a medication (under the federal conscience clause) or does not have it in stock to refer the patient to a pharmacist or pharmacy than can dispense the drug. It guarantees access while protecting conscience, and is constitutional.

The majority did not allow a vote on the bill.

SB 6574 - 2007-08 - Reforming the health care system in Washington state by creating the Health Insurance Exchange.

Background: There are many proposals to reform health care purchasing and to expand access to insurance products across the country. One such concept has been designed as an "insurance exchange" where access to a broad array of private insurance products is available in one venue. The intent is to increase competition of private insurance products, offer broad choice of products for individuals, and ensure portability of insurance that is not tied to employment.

SB 6668 - 2007-08 - Annexing unincorporated territory to code cities.

Summary: If zoning of an unincorporated territory is changed by the county to allow for residential development or more dense residential development, the territory is automatically annexed to the surrounding city and the city must zone the annexed territory to allow the minimum of six dwelling units per acre.

This was one of multiple attempts to help Maple Valley maintain a cohesive community development character and receive the fees necessary to provide infrastructure if King County developed the “donut hole” site.

SB 6685 - 2007-08 - Regarding the ethical use of e-mail for legislative updates.

Summary: Legislators may provide constituents with electronic mail updates on legislative matters throughout the legislative session up until 30 days from the conclusion of the legislative session. Legislative updates may be provided when constituents indicate they want to receive updates.

Passed and signed by the governor.

SB 6793 - 2007-08 - Developing alternative benefits packages for medicaid beneficiaries.

The deficit reduction act of 2005 gave states the option, through a state plan amendment process, to provide alternative benefits packages to medicaid beneficiaries as a means of controlling taxpayer funded health care costs and improving quality of care and ensure a sustainable public health care system. The options available to the state enable the state to leverage employer-sponsored coverage of medicaid benefits and change our medicaid benefit package to mirror certain commercial insurance packages through the use of benchmark plans. Our state medicaid package does not do enough to contain cost controls and lead to high quality care. The goal for Washington must be to reduce the cost of health care, expand the use of affordable private coverage, promote personal responsibility for health, and improve quality and coordination of care. Washington has not yet taken advantage of this option to any real extent. The centers for medicare and medicaid would look favorably on future Washington waivers and programs if our state made greater efforts to control health care costs in both our medicaid and our state children's health insurance program.

This bill required the department of social and health services to submit a medicaid state plan amendment by July 1, 2008, as authorized under the deficit reduction act of 2005.

SB 6889 - 2007-08 - Developing a secure internet-based format for health care quality data.

Summary of Bill: A standing work group is created to develop an accessible secure internet-based format for evidence-based information for all state residents to understand health records and the quality of performance of providers. The work group must develop a method to promote provider behavior change for a set of carefully selected measures; develop a method to communicate to providers the insurance plan's management data on total patient episode cost; and develop a method to communicate to the public accurate provider performance comparison data.

SJM 8019 - 2007-08 - Requesting that the Food and Drug Administration require that direct to consumer advertising of prescription pharmaceuticals be allowed only when done through the United States Surgeon General.

SR 8638 - 2007-08 - Recognizing service in the Peace Corps.

Adopted.

SR 8700 - 2007-08 - Honoring Tahoma Senior High School's participants in the "We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution" program who won the State Championship.

Adopted.