2009 LEGISLATIVE SESSION
**April 2009**

THE STATE OF THE STATE – An Update on the 2009 LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN OLYMPIA

The end of the 2009 Legislative Session is in sight.  The Rental Housing Association of Puget Sound, in cooperation with the allied rental industry groups of the Washington Rental Housing Industry Coalition, continues to promote legislation favorable to the industry. 

Several key dates remain in the 2009 session.  April 17, 2009, until  5 p.m.,  is the final day to consider opposite house bills.  The exception being initiatives and alternatives to initiatives, budgets and matters necessary to implement budgets, differences between the houses, and matters incident to the interim and closing of the session.  April 26, 2009 is the last day allowed for regular session under state constitution.  After the session is concluded, the Governor has 5 days, excluding Sundays, to take action on any bill passed by the Legislature, provided adjournment does not occur within those 5 days, in which case the Governor has 20 days to take action, excluding Sundays.

(As of 04/01/2009)

HB 1296 / SB 5495 (RHA Supported) An act relating to limitations on rental housing inspections.
Sponsor: Williams; Hobbs
These bills protected a tenant’s right to privacy by prohibiting local government from requiring a landlord to engage a third party to conduct inspections of rental units and common areas as a requirement of obtaining a business license.  The bills placed a temporary moratorium on inspections.
Status: HB 1296 – Bill did not move from House Rules committee.
           SB 5495 – Bill placed on floor calendar for second reading, but not brought up for a  vote of the full Senate.

SB 5742 (RHA Supported) An act relating to local government crime-free rental housing programs. 
Sponsor: Hargrove
This legislation defined crime-free rental housing programs for local municipalities.
Status: After passing the Senate on a vote of 46 yeas; 1 nay, and 2 excused, the bill was referred to House Judiciary committee, where it did not receive a hearing.

HB 1298 (RHA Supported) An act relating to utility liens against rental property.   
Sponsor: O’Brien
This bill would have exempted property owners from liability for certain delinquent utility debts owed by tenants, on the condition that certain notices were provided by property owners upon change of occupancy.
Status: The bill remained in the House Rules committee and was not placed on the floor calendar for a second reading.

HB 2018 / SB 5788 (RHA Supported) An act related to state funding for low-income housing.
Sponsor(s): Simpson; Prentice
These bills required the Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED), the Housing Finance Commission (HFC), and Counties to include life-cycle cost analysis as one of the criteria in awarding funds for low-income housing.  Also, the bill required Counties and CTED to report to the legislature on how funds are expended for low-income housing.
Status: HB 2018 - received a public hearing in the House Capital Budget committee on  February 24,  but was not moved to the Rules committee.
           SB 5788 - was passed to the Rules committee, but was not placed on the floor calendar  for a second reading.
 

HB 1766 / SB 5672 (RHA Opposed) An act related to discrimination based on lawful source of income.
Sponsor(s): Ormsby; Kline
These bills would have prohibited discrimination based upon lawful source of income in real estate transactions.
Status: HB 1766 - was placed on the House floor calendar, but was not brought up for a vote.
           SB 5672 - was placed on the Senate floor calendar, but was not brought up for a vote.

SB 5549 (RHA Opposed) An act related to the termination of month to month or other periodic residential tenancies governed by the residential landlord-tenant act. 
Sponsor: Kohl-Welles
This bill would have revised the notice requirements for termination of month-to-month, or other periodic tenancies, governed by the residential landlord tenant act.
Status: The bill remained in the Senate Rules committee.


OTHER:

HB 1856 / SB 5833 (RHA Supported – AS AMENDED) An act related to providing certain procedures for tenants who are victims of sexual assault, sexual harassment, and stalking.
Sponsor: Kessler; Regala
These bills define unlawful harassment and provide that if a tenant is a victim of sexual assault, stalking, or unlawful harassment by a landlord or his employee, the tenant may terminate the rental agreement prior to obtaining a valid order of protection or a written record of report signed by a qualified third party if the tenant provides a copy of an order or report to the landlord within seven days of quitting the tenant's dwelling unit. On written request of the landlord, the qualified third party must provide the name of the alleged perpetrator to the landlord.
Status: HB 1856 - was heard in Senate committee on Human Services and Corrections and was  referred to the Senate Rules committee.
           SB 5833 - was referred to the House Judiciary committee, where it did not receive a  hearing.

HB 1492  (RHA Supported) An act related to addressing the independent youth housing program.
Sponsor: Pedersen
The Independent Youth Housing Program (Program) was created by the Legislature in 2007 and is administered by the Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED) for the purpose of providing housing stipends and case management services to youth ages 18 to 23 who have exited the state dependency system.  Under the bill, program eligibility is broadened; subcontractors participating in the Program are authorized to use Program monies to pay for professional mental health services, as well as tuition costs for court-ordered classes and programs, provided the subcontractor determines that these expenditures are necessary to assist a participating youth in accessing and maintaining independent housing, and security deposits and first and last month's rent stipends provided to a participant in the Program must be payable only to a landlord or a manager of any type of independent housing.

SB 5525  (RHA Supported)  Concerning rental vouchers to allow release from state institutions.
Sponsor: Carrell
The bill permits the Department of Corrections to provide rental vouchers to an offender for a
period not to exceed three months in rental assistance if it will result in an approved
release plan.
Status: Executive action taken in the House committee on Human Services on March 26, 2009.

Click Here to View the 2009 Legislative Cut-off Calendar

The Manufactured Housing Communities needs our support. Please send an email to Legislators asking them to support or oppose the bills mentioned below. These bills will have hearings this week.

OPPOSE HB 1140:Gives additional powers to the Attorney General’s Dispute Resolution Program.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

SUPPORT HB 1227:Allows primary residence RVs to stay long term in MHCs

Committee Members Emails: lastname(dot)firstname@leg.wa.gov
Ex:simpson.geoff@leg.wa.gov

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OPPOSE SB 5507:Would require MHCs in Spokane County to hook up to sewers even with good septic systems.

Committee Members Emails: lastname(dot)firstname@leg.wa.gov
Ex:simpson.geoff@leg.wa.gov