Friends and neighbors,
We are approaching the half-way mark of the 60-day legislative session. I have a number of bills moving their way through the process and I wanted to take a little time to update you on what I am working on.
Supporting our health care staff.
Some of the health care professionals who provide treatment for our loved ones face mandatory overtime. They are currently some in the industry that don’t have protections from mandatory overtime that other health care workers do. This means a lower quality of care for patients because nurses and other health professionals are overworked, exhausted, and facing larger and larger stress burdens. We need to do better by them, which is why I introduced House Bill 2061, which will protect more workers.
Honoring fallen firefighters with a state memorial.
If you are a firefighter for long enough, you will experience the loss of colleagues and friends. This is inherently dangerous work. When firefighters put on the uniform to serve communities and provide for their families, they place their own lives and safety at risk.
House Bill 2091 would establish a memorial to honor firefighters who have died in the line of duty. It would also create an account to fund construction and maintenance of the memorial.
(Credit: LSS Photography)
This would be a somber, reverent place to honor those who have given the ultimate sacrifice. The memorial would be a space for solace for those who have lost a loved one in the line of duty, and a place for Washingtonians to gather in thanks for the ultimate act of selflessness these heroes made. As a fire fighter, I am proud to have introduced this bipartisan bill and look forward to shepherding it through the process.
Protecting students through expanded access to anaphylaxis medication.
School should be a safe place to learn. We already do a good job of eliminating potential allergen exposures, but kids can still have a severe allergic reaction while at school. This is a matter of life or death for our learners, and we must be prepared.
That is why I introduced House Bill 1608, which expands access to anaphylaxis medication in schools in three ways. First, it requires the Secretary of Health to issue a standing order for epinephrine and epinephrine autoinjectors in schools. Secondly, it permits a school to maintain a supply of epinephrine in addition to the autoinjector supply they already maintain. Finally, it also permits the use of both epinephrine and epinephrine autoinjectors. This will save lives and save cost-burdened school districts across our state dollars that can be used on education.
(Credit: LSS Photography)
Join us for a community town hall meeting.
My seatmate, Rep. Mari Leavitt, and I would like to invite you to join us for our upcoming community town hall. It will be held from 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 17th at the Dupont City Council Chambers. To submit questions in advance, go to surveymonkey.com/r/MXQY939 or use the QR code in the graphic below. We hope to see you there!
It is my honor and privilege to serve the residents of the 28th legislative district. Please reach out you have any comments, questions, or concerns – especially if you can’t make our town hall.
Thank you,
Rep. Dan Bronoske