Author Archives: brianzylstra

Senate panel passes Holy bill to help communities hire more officers

A bipartisan bill sponsored by 6th District Sen. Jeff Holy that aims to reestablish public safety across Washington by halting an exodus of law-enforcement officers has been passed by the Senate Law and Justice Committee.

Senate Bill 5361 would provide cities and counties with more funding to hire more officers.

“Washington now has fewer law-enforcement officers per capita than any state. This decrease in officers, combined with the sharp increase in crime, is making communities less safe,” said Holy, R-Cheney. “Restoring public safety is one of the main priorities for our Senate Republican Caucus this session. This bill would help cities and counties hire more officers, which can only help reduce crime.”

During the committee’s public hearing on SB 5361 on Tuesday, several officials with local-government agencies or organizations and law-enforcement agencies testified strongly in favor of the proposal, including the Washington State Association of Counties, Association of Washington Cities, Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission, Washington Council of Police and Sheriffs, Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, Clark County Sheriff John Horch, Port Angeles Police Chief Brian Smith and Lewis County Commissioner Sean Swope. Representatives with the Downtown Spokane Partnership and Washington Retail Association also testified in support of the measure.

“The positive testimony on this bill by local government and law enforcement clearly shows this would be an effective way to reduce crime and improve public safety in our communities,” said Holy. “Smaller cities and counties often can’t afford to pay their portion for future officers to attend a police academy, and they sometimes can’t afford to replace officers who are leaving the force or retiring. This bill would promote having an adequate number of officers on the streets to keep our communities safer.”

Holy’s proposal has two components. First, it would direct 0.1% of the current state sales tax to local governments to let them hire more law-enforcement personnel. The bill is expected to produce about $250 million a year to help cities and counties hire more officers. The revenues would be used by local governments to hire law-enforcement officers up to at least the national average per capita (2.4 per 1,000). Once that threshold is reached, local governments could use the funds in ways they consider best to reduce crime.

“This bill would not raise taxes but instead would redirect existing revenue toward hiring more law-enforcement officers,” explained Holy.

SB 5361 also would increase the number of training classes at the state’s basic law enforcement academy to a minimum of 25 per year.

“There is a long backlog at the academy, which is causing hired officers to have to wait several months to get the training they need to be on patrol. More training slots mean more hired officers can get to work in communities sooner,” said Holy.

SB 5361, which was approved by the Law and Justice Committee late last week, now goes to the Senate Ways and Means Committee for further consideration.

Holy: Supplemental capital budget funds key housing project in Airway Heights

The supplemental state capital budget approved by the Legislature today includes money for two important housing projects in Airway Heights and Spokane, said 6th District Sen. Jeff Holy.

The updated capital budget includes $3 million requested by Holy for the Highland Village housing project in Airway Heights. The money will help fill an unforeseen funding gap in an effort to create an additional 50 units of affordable housing.

“The greater Spokane region has a real need to create new and affordable housing options for our community members who need them, and we need to act now because rent prices continue to rise,” said Holy, R-Cheney. “I’m optimistic that the Highland Village project can significantly help our area’s housing crisis, and I’m thankful the capital budget provides critical funding to move the project closer to being finished.”

Highland Village is a collaborative initiative, primarily led by Community Frameworks and Habitat for Humanity, with plans to create both rental and homeownership options for people with lower incomes. The project’s developers are promoting the housing opportunities to residents of mobile-home parks near Fairchild Air Force Base.

Holy singled out three Community Frameworks officials – President and CEO Deb Elzinga, Development Finance Manager Chris Venne and Real Estate Development Director John Chatburn – for bringing the project to his attention and meeting with him during the legislative session to help ensure the project would be included in the capital budget that was passed today.

“Deb Elzinga, Chris Venne and John Chatburn are passionate about creating more affordable housing in our area for those who need it, and they have been absolutely committed to making sure there was funding included in the capital budget to help Highland Village become closer to reality,” said Holy.

Other 6th District projects funded in the capital budget include:

  • St. Agnes House in Spokane ($1.5 million)
  • Eastern State Hospital emergency electrical system upgrade ($1.45 million)
  • South Area commercial sewer infrastructure extension in Airway Heights ($300,000)
  • West Plains Childcare Center in Airway Heights ($191,000)
  • Department of Corrections projects at Airway Heights Corrections Center ($1.8 million)

Senate and House negotiators reached a final agreement on the state capital budget earlier this week. The House passed the supplemental capital budget 98-0 Tuesday night. The Senate voted 49-0 today to concur, or agree, with the amended version of the capital budget that was approved by the House.

The 2022 legislative session is scheduled to end Thursday.

Senate approves resolution honoring former EWU football star Cooper Kupp

Two weeks after he was named most valuable player in the Los Angeles Rams’ 23-20 Super Bowl win over the Cincinnati Bengals, Yakima native and former Eastern Washington University football star Cooper Kupp received an honor closer to home when the Senate today passed a resolution celebrating his football career, work ethic and humility.

The resolution recognizing Kupp was sponsored by 6th District Sen. Jeff Holy, R-Cheney, and 14th District Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima. The resolution can be viewed here.

Kupp, who starred in football and basketball at Davis High School in Yakima, set several national records as wide receiver at Eastern before being drafted in the third round by the Rams in 2017. Kupp was named first-team All-Pro for the recently concluded 2021 season after leading the National Football League in receptions   (145, second most in a season in NFL history), receiving yards (1,947, also second most in a season in league history) and receiving touchdowns (16).

During his floor speech on the resolution, Holy, whose district includes EWU, said there is more to Cooper Kupp than his amazing athletic performances.

“Let’s talk about being a role model,” said Holy. “Cooper Kupp is a family man who, along with being a man of strong faith and moral base, also seems to understand that he has an opportunity to provide an example for others and to be a role model for those coming behind him.

“Cooper Kupp seems to live his faith in his involvement in the community and several charitable organizations, including Spokane’s own Second Harvest. Focus, achievement, loyalty, role model. Today I’m proud to honor Cooper Kupp, not only as a role model for so many, but the quality of man that we’d all like to have as a friend,” added Holy.

TVW’s coverage of the reading of the floor resolution and Holy’s comments about Kupp can be viewed here.

Local-government, law-enforcement officials testify in favor of Holy bill to help communities hire more officers

Sen. Jeff Holy’s effort to reestablish public safety across Washington by halting an exodus of law-enforcement officers received strong support when it came before the Senate Ways and Means Committee yesterday.

Officials with local-government organizations and law-enforcement agencies testified firmly in favor of the 6th District senator’s proposal, Senate Bill 5841, which would provide cities and counties with more funding to hire more officers.

“The positive testimony clearly shows this would be an effective way to reduce crime and improve public safety in our communities,” said Holy, R-Cheney. “Smaller cities and counties often can’t afford to pay their portion for future officers to attend a police academy, and they sometimes can’t afford to replace officers who are leaving the force or retiring. This bill would promote having an adequate number of officers on the streets to keep our communities safer.”

Officials with the Association of Washington Cities, Washington Association of Counties, and Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs testified in support of SB 5841, as did Wenatchee Police Chief Steve Crown and Clallam County Sheriff Bill Benedict.

“Washington now has fewer law-enforcement officers per capita than any state, and the decrease in officers, combined with the sharp increase in crime, is making communities less safe,” said Holy. “Restoring public safety is one of the main priorities for our Senate Republican Caucus this session. This bill would help cities and counties hire more officers and reduce crime.”

Holy’s proposal has two components. First, it would direct 0.1% of the current state sales tax to local governments to let them hire more law-enforcement personnel. The bill is expected to produce about $250 million a year to help cities and counties hire more officers. The revenues would be used by local governments to hire law-enforcement officers up to at least the national average per capita (2.4 per 1,000). Once that threshold is reached, local governments could use the funds in ways they consider best to reduce crime.

SB 5841 also would increase the number of training classes at the state’s basic law enforcement academy to a minimum of 25 per year.

“There is a long backlog that is causing hired officers to have to wait several months to get the training they need to be on patrol. More training slots mean more hired officers can get to work in their communities sooner,” said Holy.

Senate passes Holy bill to create advisory council on rare diseases

A bill passed unanimously by the Senate last night would add Washington to the handful of states with advisory councils on rare diseases.

Senate Bill 5886, a bipartisan proposal introduced by 6th District Sen. Jeff Holy, would establish an advisory council on rare diseases within the state Department of Health to advise on research, diagnosis, treatment and education related to rare diseases. Under the measure, the advisory council must submit annual reports on the council’s work and other findings and recommendations to the governor and Legislature starting Dec. 1, 2024.

“This bill would benefit those in Washington who suffer from a rare disease, as well as those who might be afflicted with a rare disease in the future,” said Holy, R-Cheney. “Rare diseases take a substantial financial and emotional toll on patients and their families. This bill could help this vulnerable population by creating an advisory council to focus on the concerns of rare-disease patients in our state. Hopefully, that work can eventually lead to fewer cases of rare diseases in Washington, as well as fewer deaths, through early diagnosis and intervention.”

A rare disease is defined as any condition that affects fewer than 200,000 people in America. Rare diseases include genetic conditions, infections, cancers and autoimmune diseases. The National Institutes of Health estimates there may be as many as 7,000 rare diseases, and that 25 million to 30 million Americans may be living with a rare disease.

Under SB 5886, the rare diseases advisory council would consist of 12 voting members serving three-year terms, including four clinicians and researchers specializing in rare diseases, four individuals representing patients, the director of the program for children with special health care needs , a representative from the state Health Care Authority, and two representatives from the life-sciences industry focusing on developing therapeutic products for rare-disease patients or related research efforts.

SB 5886 now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration.

Senate passes Holy bill to boost behavioral-health services in underserved areas

A bill introduced by 6th Legislative District Sen. Jeff Holy that aims to make behavioral-health services more available in underserved areas of Washington was approved today by the Senate 48-1.

Senate Bill 5728 would require that the state’s portion of property forfeited under the Controlled Substances Act be deposited in the Behavioral Health Loan Repayment Program Account.

“Money from drug forfeitures can be pretty substantial, so it makes sense to put this money toward a worthy cause,” said Holy, R-Cheney. “The Behavioral Health Loan Repayment Program is a rigorous program that tries to promote access to behavioral-health professional services in underserved areas, of which there are several in eastern Washington. It would be better to use recovered drug-forfeiture money in this way instead of putting it in the state general fund, which is already experiencing a very large surplus.”

The Behavioral Health Loan Repayment Program was established in 2019 to address shortages of behavioral-health professionals in rural and underserved urban communities. The program provides financial support to eligible licensed health professionals through loan repayment and conditional scholarships.

SB 5728, which was requested by the Office of the State Treasurer, now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration.

Holy proposes bill to restore public safety by helping communities hire officers

An exodus of law-enforcement officers has weakened public safety across Washington. Legislation introduced this week by 6th District Sen. Jeff Holy aims to reverse this dangerous and disturbing trend. His Senate Bill 5841 would provide cities and counties with more funding to hire more law enforcement officers.

“Over the past few years, we’ve seen a large number of police officers and deputy sheriffs leave their jobs, whether it’s caused by strong opposition to law enforcement by some groups or laws passed by Democrat legislators that make it harder to apprehend criminals,” said Holy, a retired Spokane police officer and the Washington senator with the most experience in law enforcement.

“Washington now has fewer law-enforcement officers per capita than any state, and the decrease in officers, combined with the sharp increase in crime, is making communities less safe. Restoring public safety is one of the main priorities for our Senate Republican Caucus this session. This bill would help cities and counties hire more officers and reduce crime.”

Holy’s proposal has two components. First, it would direct 0.1% of the current state sales tax to local governments to let them hire more law-enforcement personnel. The bill is expected to produce about $250 million a year to help cities and counties hire more officers. The revenues would be used by local governments to hire law-enforcement officers up to at least the national average per capita (2.4 per 1,000). Once that threshold is reached, local governments could use the funds in ways they consider best to reduce crime.

SB 5841 also would increase the number of training classes at the state’s basic law enforcement academy to a minimum of 25 per year. “There is a long backlog that is causing hired officers to have to wait several months to get the training they need to be on patrol. More training slots mean more hired officers can get to work in their communities sooner,” said Holy.

The bill has been referred to the Senate Law and Justice Committee for consideration.

 

Governor signs Holy bill helping health-care workers during pandemic

A bill from 6th District Sen. Jeff Holy that aims to help health-care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic took effect immediately when it was signed by Gov. Jay Inslee yesterday.

The law created by Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5190 will extend unemployment-insurance eligibility to health-care workers who must leave work to quarantine during a public-health emergency. It also will provide presumptive workers’ compensation coverage for health-care workers who contract the disease that is the subject of a public-health emergency.

“I’m glad the governor signed this common-sense bill that tries to solve a problem for health-care workers during this and any future pandemic,” said Holy, R-Cheney. “Health-care workers face a serious, immediate threat when they have to treat patients with infectious diseases. For over a year, we have faced a health-care crisis of great magnitude here in Washington and throughout the nation. It’s important for us to take care of the medical professionals who are being asked to help take care of the public.”

The Senate originally passed the proposal 34-15 on Feb. 25. After the House approved an amended version of the bill 84-14 on April 8, the Senate voted 37-12 on April 19 to concur with the revised measure.