2013 by a vote of 61-32. Delivered to the Governor March 27, 2013.

The bill creates the Legislative and Executive Work Group that will commission consultants to prepare a report evaluating different approaches to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The evaluation must include a review of comprehensive greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction programs implemented in other states, regions and countries. It must analyze Washington’s policies to stabilize or reduce GHG emissions that will contribute to meeting the GHG emission reduction targets, including: renewable fuels standard; energy codes adopted by the state building code council; emission performance standards; appliance standards; energy efficiency programs for public buildings conversion of public vehicles to clean fuels; and public purchasing requirements of vehicles that use clean fuels

House Bill 1319, House Bill 1319: Recognizing a “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans” day. Passed the Senate on March 25, 2013 by a vote of 48-0. Signed by the Governor

on March 29, 2013

The bill recognizes March 30 as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day. Public entities must fly the National League of Families’ POW/MIA flag on that date, but it is not recognized as a legal

holiday for any other purpose.

Senate Bill 5811, Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5811: Requiring that all state employee health care benefit plans must be offered with an employee wellness program.

Passed the Senate on March 13, 2013 by a vote of 28-21.

The bill provides that beginning January 1, 2014, all state employee health care benefit plans provided by the state’s health care authority (HCA) must be offered with an employee wellness program. For employees covered by collective bargaining agreements for 2011-2013, the program must be offered after the current bargaining agreement provisions are no longer in effect. The Governor must appoint a committee to consult with and advise the HCA director regarding the wellness program. The bill also clarifies HCA’s role and includes coordination with the Public

Employees’ Benefits Board in designing a benefit package.

Senate Bill 5658, Senate Bill 5658: Repealing the mercury-containing lights stewardship program and replacing it with a fee paid by producers to cover the cost of recycling these lights. Passed the Senate on March 13, 2013 by a vote of

26-23.

The bill repeals the law passed in 2010, which required producers of mercury-containing lights to create a stewardship program responsible for the collection, recycling, and disposal of these lights, including compact fluorescent lights. Instead, it now requires each producer of mercury-containing lights sold in Washington to pay the Department of Ecology (DOE) a registration fee of up to $10,000 to reimburse unspecified parties for costs of recycling and transporting unwanted mercury-containing lights households. In addition to the $10,000 registration fee, every producer must also pay an administration fee of up $5,000 for DOE’s administration and enforcement costs. The DOE may adopt rules to equitably scale both the registration and administration fees among producers, taking estimated sales volumes into

account

Senate Bill 5202, Substitute Senate Bill 5202: Creating a state pet spay/neuter assistance program for low income households. Passed the Senate on March 13, 2013 by a vote of 29-20.

The bill creates an assistance program within the state Department of Health to pay for spaying and neutering of dogs and cats owned by low income individuals, as well as feral and free-roaming cats. It authorizes animal care and control agencies to add up to $1 to pet licenses to fund the program.