Climate Action This Week: Supporting Emergency Shelters and Housing through GMA update; Requirements for Tactics and Equipment used by Peace Officers; Independent Investigations; Oversight and Accountability of Peace Officers; Officer Duty to Intervene; Preparing for Zero Emissions Transport; Reducing Greenhouse Gases in Public Facilities; the HEAL Act.

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We have three comment opportunities this week. For submitting written commentary please consider these tips:
  • You can submit written testimony up to 24 hours after the hearing ends.
  • Clearly state your position up front.
  • Keep it short.
  • Personalize or use data points if you can.
  • Be polite.

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* Your information

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* 1. Supporting Emergency Shelters and Housing through GMA update: HB 1220

This update to Washington’s Growth Management Act will help our cities and counties plan for a diversity of affordable homes. The bill requires their comprehensive plans to include housing options to meet the needs of those with moderate, low, very low and extremely low income. It also requires cities and counties to address racially disparate impacts, displacement and exclusion.  

We’ve heard that the Association of Washington Cities is opposing this aggressively, so our help is needed! 

Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Housing & Local Government Thursday, March 18, 8:00 AM. 

Please sign in here to support HB 1220, Emergency Shelters and Housing, before Thursday March 18, 7:00 AM and select “Pro” in the position button.

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* 2. Establishing Requirements for Tactics and Equipment used by Peace Officers: HB 1054, and Independent Investigations: HB 1267

In solidarity with our community partners and because it’s the right thing to do, we continue to push for strong legislation that holds police accountable: we will not stand by while Black and other people of color are brutalized by police. These two important bills are being considered this week in the Senate.

HB 1054 would address the aggressive use of force we have seen used over and over again. This important bill would prohibit peace officers from using chokeholds and neck restraints, and from using or acquiring certain types of military equipment.  It establishes guidelines for the use of tear gas, limits vehicular pursuits, requires uniformed peace officers to clearly display identifying information, and prohibits peace officers from seeking, and a court from issuing no-knock warrants.

The Independent Investigations bill, HB 1267, would establish an independent state-level entity to investigate the use of deadly force by police or custodial officers. Deadly force is the intentional application of force through use of a firearm or other means reasonably likely to cause death or serious injury. 

Both bills are scheduled for executive session in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice on Thursday, March 18, 10:30 AM.
 
Please call or email the Chair and Vice Chair of the Committee to thank them for supporting HB 1054 and HB 1267. 

Click here to send an email to both members of the committee.

If the above link did not work, please address your emails to:

Chair Sen. Jamie Pedersen (D-43) – (360) 786-7628 – Jamie.Pedersen@leg.wa.gov
Vice Chair Sen. Manka Dhingra (D-45) – (360) 786-7672 – Manka.Dhingra@leg.wa.gov

If you’re calling and you reach voicemail, be sure to speak slowly and clearly and say the bill numbers. And be sure to let them know if you are a constituent of their district!

Script: Thank you to Chair Pedersen for affirming at last Saturday’s Town Hall for the 43rd Legislative District that the Committee on Law & Justice will pass HB 1054 and HB 1267. I strongly support both of these bills.

Then choose 1-2 additional sentences from the options below or feel free to write your own.
  • Having inconsistent standards across the state for local investigations has led to confusion and distrust. Both bills will help rebuild trust between law enforcement and communities of color.
  • Deadly force and brutal and dehumanizing tactics that fail to put preserving human life first have been disproportionately used against Black communities and other communities of color. 
  • As a supporter of 350 Washington, a grassroots climate action group, I recognize the critical need for racial justice now.

  Chair Sen. Jamie Pedersen (D-43) Vice Chair Sen. Manka Dhingra (D-45)
I called
I emailed

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* 3. Oversight and Accountability of Peace and Correctional Officers: SB 5051, and Officer Duty to Intervene: SB 5066

SB 5051 expands the grounds for which an officer can be decertified and reforms the process to make it more effective and quicker. This bill makes it harder for officers with a history of misconduct to be rehired or hired by another department, requires information about investigations, decertifications and suspensions to be maintained on a publicly searchable database and increases the independence and powers of the certifying board.

SB 5066 would require police officers to act when they witness misconduct by other officers. Officers would be required to intervene when another officer uses excessive force, to render aid to any injured person, and to report wrongful conduct by another officer.

Both bills are scheduled for executive session in the House Committee on Public Safety Thursday March 18, 1:30 PM.

Please call or email the Chair and the Vice-Chair of the Committee to ask them to confirm their support for SB 5051 and SB 5066. 

Click here to send an email to both members of the committee.

If the above link did not work, please address your emails to:

Chair Rep. Roger Goodman (D-45) – (360) 786 -7878 – Roger.Goodman@leg.wa.gov
Vice Chair Rep. Jesse Johnson (D-30) – (360) 786-7830 – Jesse.Johnson@leg.wa.gov

If you’re calling and you reach voicemail, be sure to speak slowly and clearly and say the bill numbers. And be sure to let them know if you are a constituent of their district!

Script: Thank you for your support of SB 5051 and SB 5066. I particularly appreciate Rep. Johnson’s strong leadership in putting forth Police Accountability bills in the House. We trust these critical bills will pass.

Then choose 1-2 additional sentences from the options below or feel free to write your own.
  • Both bills introduce and strengthen strategies to make peace officers accountable for their misconduct and will help weed out “bad apples.” 
  • Time and time again, Black people in particular and people of color in general have suffered from police violence and other misconduct. These bills will help communities heal and rebuild trust. 
  • As a supporter of 350 Washington, a grassroots climate action group, I recognize the critical need for racial justice now.

  Chair Rep. Roger Goodman (D-45) Vice Chair Rep. Jesse Johnson (D-30)
I called
I emailed

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* 4. Preparing for Zero Emissions Transport: HB 1287

This important bill eases the transition to the widespread use of electric vehicles by creating a tool for forecasting and mapping electric vehicle charging infrastructure needs. The bill requires these needs to be addressed by utilities in their resource planning and in state building code updates.

Scheduled for public hearing  in the Senate Committee on Environment, Energy & Technology Thursday, March 18, 10:30 AM.

Please sign in here to support HB 1287, Preparing for Zero Emissions Transport before Thursday, March 18, 9:30 AM and select “Pro” in the position button.

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* 5. Greenhouse Gas Reductions in Public Buildings: HB 1280

Buildings are the second-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Washington, accounting for one-fifth of statewide emissions. This bill declares that it is state public policy to ensure that greenhouse gas emissions reduction practices are included in the design of major publicly owned or leased facilities, and that the use of all-electric energy systems and at least one renewable energy or combined heat and power system are considered. The lifecycle cost analysis guidelines must require inclusion of all-electric energy systems as an alternative.

Scheduled for public hearing  in the Senate Committee on Environment, Energy & Technology Thursday, March 18, 10:30 AM. 

Please sign in here to support HB 1280, Greenhouse Gas Reductions in Public Buildings, before Thursday, March 18, 9:30 AM and select “Pro” in the position button. before Tuesday, March 16, 9:30 AM and select “Pro” in the position button.

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* 6. The HEAL Act: SB 5141

The HEAL Act implements the recommendations of the environmental justice task force. It aims to improve the lives of those most affected by pollution as Washington transitions to a greener and fairer economy. The bill requires many state agencies to apply principles of environmental justice in decision-making, to identify communities most impacted by environmental effects and to ensure community participation in decisions.

Scheduled for executive session in the House Committee on Environment & Energy on Friday, March 19, 10:00 AM. 

Please call or email the following members of the Committee and ask them to vote yes on SB 5141.

Click here to send an email to members of the committee.

If the above link did not work, please address your emails to:

Chair Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon (D-34) – (360) 786-7952 – Joe.Fitzgibbon@leg.wa.gov
Vice Chair Rep. Davina Duerr (D-01) – (360) 786-7928 – Davina.Duerr@leg.wa.gov
Ranking Minority Member Rep. Mary Dye (R-09) – (564) 888-2380 – Mary.Dye@leg.wa.gov
Assistant Ranking Minority Member Rep. Mark Klicker (R-16) – (360) 786-7836  – Mark.Klicker@leg.wa.gov

If you’re calling and you reach voicemail, be sure to speak slowly and clearly and say the bill number. And be sure to let them know if you are a constituent of their district!

Script: I’m contacting you to ask that you vote yes on SB 5141. It’s time to fully enforce our health protection laws and prioritize state spending in high need areas.

Then choose 1-2 additional sentences from the options below or feel free to write your own.
  • We know that our health and well-being varies significantly according to our income, race, language spoken and where we live. The HEAL Act aims to improve the lives of those most affected by pollution as Washington transitions to a greener and fairer economy. 
  • State agencies need better outreach plans that are more inclusive. 
  • We need more equitable community participation in state agency planning, resource allocation, programs, and enforcement. 
  • State agencies need to use the Washington Environmental Health Disparities Map to identify communities most impacted by environmental effects and engage them in ways that make them safer and healthier.
  • When we improve the lives of those most affected by pollution, we’re all better off.

  Chair Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon (D-34) Vice Chair Rep. Davina Duerr (D-01) Rep. Mary Dye (R-09) Rep. Mark Klicker (R-16)
I called
I emailed

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* Thanks for taking action with us!

-- The 350 WA Civic Action Team

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