OLYMPIA — A much-needed boost for Vancouver’s historic Kiggins Theatre is on the way in the form of legislation very recently approved, 87-10, here in the House of Representatives. State Rep. Jim Moeller prime-sponsored the measure, House Bill 2558, as well as two other key proposals that have also captured House endorsements. All three of these Moeller bills have been sent over to the Senate for more discussion.
Moeller’s Kiggins bill would set up a specific license for theaters — as long as they have put together a good, approved plan to protect minors — to sell beer and wine in their retail establishment for consumption on their premises.
Kiggins is an historic, single-screen theater in Vancouver. Moeller explained that although the Kiggins owner has invested about $250,000 refurbishing it, the theater is finding is awfully tough to compete with multiplexes.
He noted that Kiggins offers a variety of programs, some specifically for minors and others for adults. The theater would like to be able to serve alcohol at some performances, but current law and regulations say they’d have to exclude minors from the premises altogether. Since Kiggins has but one screen, there isn’t any way for this storied Vancouver theater to offer that option. Moeller’s legislation will give Kiggins folks some flexibility.
A second Moeller plan, House Bill 2578, was recently and unanimously passed to strengthen Washington laws protecting vulnerable adults.
This legislation continues Moeller’s years of work to establish these sturdier safeties in Washington law.
His 2012 vulnerable-adults measure calls on the state Department of Health or health professions boards or commission to suspend a health-care provider’s license if the provider is barred from employment in caring for vulnerable adults based upon a finding of neglect, abuse or financial exploitation of vulnerable adults.
Moeller explained that “there’s currently some confusion among employers and the public as to why someone who is prohibited from working unsupervised with vulnerable adults could still have a license from the Department of Health to practice his or her profession.
“The bill would immediately suspend the person’s license until there has been a fair disciplinary hearing with full due-process. The legislation establishes a dependable, consistent standard to strengthen patient safety.”
Yet another of Moeller’s bills he introduced in response to concerns raised by constituents, House Bill 2280, also cleared the House recently, this one by a vote of 74-23.
This legislation would create a voluntary program in which individuals can obtain a “Yellow Dot” window decal from the Department of Licensing for their motor vehicle. Folks can also obtain a “Yellow Dot” folder for their glove compartment.
The “Yellow Dot” is a symbol that just might make all the difference in an emergency. Information in the folder will assist emergency-medical responders and law-enforcement personnel by listing a participant’s name, a photo, emergency-contact information, medical conditions, recent surgeries, allergies, medications, and the person’s physician’s name.
Moeller worked closely with the Washington State Patrol to steer this legislation through the process.
“The yellow dot decal is meant to be placed on the lower part of the driver’s side of the vehicle’s rear window,” Moeller explained. “Medical responders and law-enforcement folks would then know to look inside the vehicle’s glove compartment for the folder containing important and appropriate medical information for the driver or passenger.”
The date of the most recent update of the enclosed information would be included on the folder.
“Paramedics and other emergency-response folks need to know if an injured or sick person is on medications, or has allergies or a chronic condition. Such details can help responders decide as soon as possible the correct treatment to pursue.”