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Commission to go over its recommendations for WA Cares Dec. 12
The commission that meets to learn how WA Cares’ tax collection, future solvency projections and program details are going is meeting again on Dec. 12. The agenda is out, available here, and it includes recommendations the group has discussed before and plans to give to the Legislature for consideration in its 2024 session.
A presentation within the agenda also includes the number of workers who sought exemptions from the new payroll tax, as well as the number of self-employed workers who say they want into the long-term-care (LTC) program that is mandatory for the state’s W2 employees.
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State can safely join more licensure compacts that help patient access to care, workers
“We need to allow people to do what they're trained to do and not let state bureaucracy get in the way.” — Sen. Ron Muzzall, R-Whidbey Island
Ahhhhh. Music to my ears.
Legislation that passed in the spring allowed Washington state to join the multistate Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). Membership has its privileges: The move is already helping more qualified nurses work in Washington state, expanding access to nursing care for Washington patients. Joining the NLC takes away unnecessary state licensure delays and allows nurses to put their skills to use across state lines.
The 2024 Legislature will have a chance to join another compact that can build on expanding worker rights and Washingtonians’ access to caregivers with Senate Bill 5815, which concerns the Physician Assistant Licensure Compact. It was prefiled Dec. 7 by Sen. Ron Muzzall, R-Oak Harbor.
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State lawmakers should pass bill correcting wrong against state workers in COVID-19 times
As I write this, more than 90 bills have been filed so far this week for consideration by the Legislature in 2024. The session starts on January 8. I’m reading about a dozen of these bills, looking for the good, the bad and the ugly among this relatively small batch.
Some of them will never see the light of day. I expect that to include House Bill 1871, which concerns Washington State Ferries’ (WSF) employees and how they were treated because of Gov. Jay Inslee’s vaccine mandate that required state workers to have proof of COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of employment.
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Washington Policy On The Go - December 12
