WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Rep. Gutiérrez Kenney’s April 10 e-memo

Dear Neighbors,

Despite the many challenges we faced this year in both the Regular and the Special Sessions, I believe we accomplished some important things for Washington.

Four of my prime-sponsored bills, which were signed into law a few weeks ago, received bipartisan support and it is my hope that they are equally well-received by communities throughout the state when they go into effect this summer.

This session, just like in every session I have had the opportunity to serve the people of the 46th district. I worked on issues of concern not only in our area but also in the rest of the state, such as education, health care, small businesses, affordable housing and job creation. And, as in previous sessions, with the help, support and input from you, my constituents, and the joint effort of my colleagues, the results we achieved will make a significant difference in the lives of many Washingtonians.

Our legislative efforts paid off

The recession has pushed many vulnerable families into homelessness. On any given day, 23,000 people are homeless in our state. To help Washington’s homeless children and families, I wrote a bill supporting proven services that reduce homelessness. HB 2048 expands highly successful support services for the homeless by raising $126 million over five years for state and local homeless programs via a $10 increase in certain document recording fees. In these tough times, many homeowners are struggling and they could really use a lending hand.

I sponsored HB 2614 to help homeowners in crisis by providing them with alternatives, remedies, and assistance. My legislation has three components:

1)      It brings clarity to the short-sale process to ensure that homeowners are informed if the lender will collect the outstanding debt after the house has been sold in a short sale, and it reduces the amount of time, from six to three years, that lenders have to pursue homeowners for remaining debts.

2)      Makes important changes to the Foreclosure Fairness Act of 2011 in order for the mediation program to run more smoothly and streamline the demands on lenders.

3)      Provides remedies for when a home is lost due to mistakes in the trustee sale. Currently, if you lose your home because of a mistake in the foreclosure process, it is impossible to get it back. This component will void the trustee sale if certain conditions are met.

While our unemployment rate is the lowest it has been in recent years, I realize many people are still without a job, so I sponsored HB 2482 to support innovation for a competitive market and boost job creation. In 2007 the Legislature implemented an Innovation Partnership Zone (IPZ) program to stimulate the growth of industry clusters and build regional economies. IPZs empower regions to form partnerships between research entities, private sector partners, and workforce training to collaborate and develop commercially viable technologies. The bill I sponsored this year requires that IPZs must be part of an industry cluster so that they have the framework and business relationships in place to continue creating sustainable products and job growth.

I have heard from Washington’s aerospace businesses that they are experiencing difficulties finding skilled workers. To help alleviate the problem, I authored HB 2156, which will get more skilled labor into the aerospace workforce.  My measure requires improved alignment between aerospace industry needs and training programs, more information and evaluation of existing training programs, and calls for budget recommendations to improve existing or create new training programs. It also adds Renton Technical College to the list of training centers that offer aerospace training.

Foster youth have lagged behind all other youth groups in having their education needs met, recognized, and addressed. Since education is key to leveling the playing field and making sure foster youth have the same chances to succeed as everyone else, five years ago, the Legislature created the “Passport to College” pilot program to help get more foster youth into college. The program provides outreach and information to foster youth about higher education opportunities, as well as tuition and living expense scholarships.  As you know, I have always championed education and have strived to be an advocate for underrepresented communities, so I signed on as one of the sponsors of HB 2254, which will continue helping Washington foster kids reach their higher education dreams. The legislation will extend Passport to College to 2022. With programs like Passport to College, Washington has become a role model for other states looking to improve the lives of children in the foster care system.

In 2003 Washington became the first state in the nation to criminalize human trafficking. I am pleased that I was one of the sponsors of that measure.  Every time the Legislature has passed important legislation to help vulnerable women and children in our state, I have been among the lawmakers spearheading those efforts. This year was not the exception.  This session the Legislature passed a package of bills to crack down on prostitution and human trafficking. I was one of the sponsors of the two House bills in the package, and I voted in favor of the Senate bills in final passage.

The package includes:

  • HB 1983 substantially increases fines for “pimps” and others who promote prostitution.  The new fines from that bill will pay for victim rehabilitation programs and increased enforcement.
  • HB 2692 substantially increases fines and penalties for “johns,” persons who buy sex from prostitutes.  The fines will finance “johns schools,” which serve to end the prostitution cycle.
  • SB 6251 makes it a felony to knowingly sell or disseminate ads for commercial sex that depict children.
  • SB 6252 gives victims and prosecutors more tools to combat sexual exploitation by adding (a) the commercial sexual abuse of a minor, and (b) promoting commercial sexual abuse of a minor, to the Criminal Profiteering Act.
  • SB 6253 targets prostitution profits by making profits and property traceable to (a) the commercial sexual abuse of a minor, (b) promoting commercial sexual abuse of a minor, or (c) promoting prostitution in the first degree, subject to civil seizure and forfeiture.
  • SB 6254 says compelling a person with a mental disability to engage in prostitution is promoting prostitution in the 1st degree—even if there was no physical force.
  • SB 6257 adds “sexually explicit acts” such as pornography or strip shows to the crimes of trafficking and commercial sexual abuse of a minor.

I hope this roundup of some of the bills I sponsored or co-sponsored serve the purpose to inform you of the work I am doing in Olympia on your behalf.  And because I am working for you, your input is extremely important to me. Please stay in touch via email or phone; I am always interested in hearing what’s on your mind.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to fight for your interests and pass legislation that improves living and working conditions in our communities and throughout the state. It is truly an honor to serve you and I wish nothing but the best for you and your families.

Thank you once again for taking your time to stay involved in your Government. As always, I hope you will continue to stay in touch, and share your thoughts with me anytime.

Best Wishes,

 

Phyllis Gutiérrez Kenney
State Representative
46th Legislative District