OLYMPIA — Advertisements would be allowed on school buses in Washington under legislation introduced last week.
House Bill 3133, co-sponsored by Rep. Kevin Van De Wege, D-Sequim, would give a school district’s board of directors the authority to approve the placement of advertising, as well as educational material, on the sides of a school bus and inside the vehicles.
The bill was introduced by Rep. Marko Liias, D-Edmonds.
Van De Wege said he co-sponsored the bill (along with three other legislators) because it could help school districts fill their budget gaps.
“It’s just potentially another revenue source,” he said.
“I’m certainly open to the idea,” he added.
But Van De Wege acknowledged that the one-page bill does not say what sort of advertising is off limits.
Establish parameters
He said some “parameters” would need to be established before he would vote in favor of it on the House floor.
“Hopefully any kinks will be worked out,” Van De Wege said.
An identical bill was introduced to the Senate, but it has since been amended to require the state to develop the guidelines that the House bill lacks.
Van De Wege represents the 24th Legislative District — which includes Clallam and Jefferson counties and a portion of Grays Harbor County — along with House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler, D-Hoquiam, and Sen. Jim Hargrove, D-Hoquiam.
Kessler said she is concerned that ads on buses may become a safety risk for children if they distract drivers or allow them to mistake it for a regular transit bus.
“It’s a big and yellow bus for a reason,” she said.
One of the bills Van De Wege introduced last year that would make it illegal to feed certain kinds of wildlife, such as deer, narrowly passed the House on Friday.
House Bill 1885 made it through in a 55-41 vote. It still must pass the Senate.
“It was a close vote,” Van De Wege said, adding that all Republicans voted against it.
Van De Wege introduced the bill in response to complaints from Diamond Point residents that deer had become aggressive due to some of their neighbors feeding the animals.
It would allow a state Fish and Wildlife officer to fine a person who intentionally feeds bears, cougars, wolves, coyotes, deer, elk and raccoons.
It exempts feeding those species to prevent damage to private property, to offset anticipated animal deaths due to wintry weather and conduct research for a management program.
Kessler voted for the bill.
License fee and parks
The $5 license tab fee approved last year is bringing enough revenue to keep the state parks open — but just barely.
Since it became law in July, the fee has raised on average $1.1 million a month, slightly below the target of $1.2 million.
The state Parks and Recreation Commission says it will have enough to avoid park closures if the Legislature doesn’t reduce the funding in the governor’s 2010 supplemental budget.
Kessler said no funding can be ensured, due to a projected $2.6 billion shortfall.
But Kessler said she thinks the Legislature can avoid cutting any parks money this year.
“I would hate to close parks based on that little amount,” she said.
Two state parks on the Peninsula — Bogachiel and Old Fort Townsend — were slated for closure last year before the bill was passed.
Assault weapons
A bill that would ban the possession and sale of assault weapons will not make it out of the Senate’s Judiciary Committee, said Hargrove, who is a committee member.
Senate Bill 6396 would make it illegal for someone to own, manufacture, buy or sell an assault weapon, partially defined in the bill as any semiautomatic pistol, rifle or shotgun with a detachable magazine that carries more than 10 rounds of ammunition.
The prime sponsor, Sen. Adam Kline, D-Seattle, has cited last year’s shooting death of Seattle police officer Timothy Brenton with an assault-style weapon as an example of why the ban is needed.
Hargrove, Kessler and Van De Wege each said they won’t get behind the bill because they believe it is too broad and will likely not be effective.
“That bill won’t be moving anyplace,” said Hargrove, citing an infringement on the Second Amendment.
“There aren’t the votes for it.”
Hargrove said it would be too arduous for law enforcement to apprehend each banned weapon. He also said it would take guns out of the hands of collectors and others who fire them for recreational purposes.
“The underlying issue is, it’s not guns that kill people, it’s the people that [shoot] the guns that kill people,” he said.
Said Van De Wege: “I’m absolutely 100 percent opposed to it.”
He added, “The issue is: I wholeheartedly believe it infringes on people’s Second Amendment rights.”
Kessler said there is legislation before the House that would do a better job of reducing the chance of police officers being killed by a violent criminal.
She cited House Joint Resolution 4218, which is also in response to killings of law enforcers last year, as an example.
The bill would prohibit people who are facing charges that would result in a mandatory life sentence from posting bail to get out of jail. It would require an amendment to the state’s Constitution.
Senate Joint Resolution 8218, co-sponsored by Hargrove, would do the same.
A similar bill, co-sponsored by Van De Wege, would allow judges to deny bail to someone if they believe their detention would ensure public safety.
“The gun is only the tool they use to kill,” Kessler said.
“The way to keep them from killing is to make sure they are not loose when they are a dangerous risk of killing somebody.”
Bills introduced
Also last week, Van De Wege introduced:
• House Bill 3132, to eliminate the Columbia River Gorge Compact.
The compact — among Washington, Oregon and the federal government — regulates land use in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.
If the state steps out of the agreement, the federal government would assume its responsibilities, Van De Wege said.
It would save the state about $500,000 a year, he said.
• House Bill 3156, to authorize the state Department of Archaeology to charge a fee for access to certain online reports.
Kessler introduced:
• House Bill 3127, to extend a tax credit for newspapers.
• House Bill 3154, to modify the definition of a florist.
Hargrove introduced:
• Senate Bill 6766, to modify forest fire prevention and suppression provisions.
• Senate Bill 6791, to require the Washington Institute for Public Policy and state Department of Social and Health Services to come up with a mental health assessment for those facing involuntary treatment.
Votes cast
The Peninsula representatives’ votes on some of the noteworthy bills this session are:
• Senate Bill 6248, to prohibit the manufacture, sale or distribution of baby food containers made with bisphenol A.
Hargrove voted yes. Passed in the Senate (36-9) on Friday.
• House Bill 1329, to allow child care workers to bargain collectively for contracts with the state.
Kessler and Van De Wege voted yes. Passed in the House (62-35) on Wednesday.
• House Bill 2561, to authorize the State Finance Committee to issue $861 million in general obligation bonds to create jobs through capital improvements that lead to energy-related cost savings in public schools, state colleges and universities, and other public facilities.
Kessler and Van De Wege voted yes. Passed in the House (57-41) on Jan. 20.
• House Bill 2403, to expand the use of military leave to include state active duty.
Kessler and Van De Wege voted yes. Passed in the House unanimously on Jan. 22.
• House Bill 2483, to allows overseas or service voters to request, receive and return ballots by fax or e-mail.
Kessler and Van De Wege voted yes. Passed in the House unanimously on Jan. 22.
• House Bill 1180, to prohibit the manufacture, sale or distribution of baby food containers and sports bottles made with bisphenol A. Co-sponsored by Van De Wege.
Kessler and Van De Wege voted yes. Passed in the House (95-1) on Jan. 25.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.