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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Welcome to Phase 2!
In my first newsletter, I shared information with you on Senate Bill 5114, which would move our state forward to phase 2 of the governor’s “Road to Recovery” plan. Since then, Senate Republicans made a motion to immediately consider this bill. Unfortunately, it failed with a 22-27 vote (two Democrats voted with us). The next day, the governor loosened guidelines to move into phase 2.
We’ve worked very hard to get to this point and I’d like to thank everyone who contributed to the effort. Let’s keep making progress!
Committee Update
I normally bring you updates and information on the major muscle movements within the Legislature. I’ve talked a lot about taxes and many other high visibility bills.
Today, I’d like to shift gears and share some highlights from the Senate Human Services, Reentry and Rehabilitation Committee, on which I’m am the lead Republican.
This committee considers issues relating to services for children and families, including child welfare, child protection, dependency, and foster care. The committee also deals with chemical dependency, at risk youth, juvenile justice, and corrections and offender re-entry.
We’ve heard 25 bills so far and 12 passed out of committee. Below is a short synopsis of some of the bills that have passed and what the next steps are for each. You can click the link to see who sponsored the bill and how each committee member voted.
Senate Bill 5117 The Department of Corrections can currently provide rental vouchers for up to three months of rent to allow prisoners who earned early release for good behavior time to transition back into society and find permanent housing. This bill extends that assistance to six months. It was referred to the Ways and Means Committee, as it has fiscal implications, and is pending a vote.
Senate Bill 5118 would ensure any outstanding warrants are cleared prior to release of juvenile offenders. It was referred to the Ways and Means Committee, as it has fiscal implications, and is pending a vote.
Senate Bill 5120 would require the court to consider “youthfulness” and other mitigating factors when sentencing someone in adult court for a crime committed before age 18. It also mandates a resentencing hearing if the individual was sentenced on or before March 2, 2017, in adult court, for a crime committed under age 18. This bill has been referred to the Rules Committee.
Senate Bill 5121 Currently, after serving 12 months in total confinement, prisoners are eligible to serve the remaining six months in community custody. This bill creates two paths that expand that privilege. First is for those who had committed violent offenses. The bill would require them to serve only six months in total confinement and up to their last five months in community custody. Second is for those who committed property crimes. They would only be required to serve four months in total confinement and any remaining portion of their sentence in community custody. The Senate passed this bill on a party line vote and it is now being considered in the House.
Senate Bill 5122 would change the juvenile court’s jurisdiction from ages 8-17 to 13-19 and allow those convicted at age 19 to serve in a juvenile institution until age 22. This bill has been referred to the Rules Committee.
I’m also excited to share two bills from this committee that I am sponsoring:
Senate Bill 5331 would provide a framework for superior courts to develop a program known as “baby courts,” therapeutic courts that provide an especially supportive process for families with dependent children under age three. Based on a successful model in Pierce County, the primary goal of baby courts is to see children placed back with their families, or in their forever home, quickly and with their emotional wellbeing as the top priority.
Studies show children in this program end up in a permanent home 2-3 times faster, leave foster care a year earlier, and end up with their own biological family nearly twice as often. It is scheduled for a vote in committee on Feb 9.
Senate Bill 5358 would provide a tax incentive to businesses that that hire hard to place job seekers such as homeless and those with a prior felony conviction. This bill provides a pathway to stability and eventual self-sufficiency. It unanimously passed committee.
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Highway 167 project back on track
One thing you may not have heard about is that the governor recently paused the Gateway project. This is the one that will extend SR 167 from where it dead ends in Puyallup all the way to the Port of Tacoma.
This project is vital to reducing traffic congestion in our area and we could not let it be delayed. So, we quickly drafted a letter to the governor which was endorsed by almost every member of the Pierce County delegation requesting this project remain on schedule.
He un-paused this project the next day.
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Tips for staying connected
Since releasing my video tutorial last week, I have received several inquiries on the most effective ways to tell your legislator how you feel on the issues. So, here are some methods that I believe to be most effective -- from most to least effective:
- Request a meeting (virtual now. In person after COVID)
- Send a personal email (not a form email)
- Call their office
- Send a “form email” (these don’t get much attention)
- Call the hotline number (1-800-562-6000)
I encourage you to reach out to my office with your thoughts, ideas and concerns. Now, more than ever, it is vital that you are connected with the decisions being made by lawmakers.
It is an honor serving you!
 Chris Gildon
Senator, 25th LD
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