ACA, Evergreen Legislation & Public Policy

 

 

**NEW**WA State Legislature has a revision of the boating safety act. [HB1748-SB 5437]. There is nothing startling but something you all who do boating should be aware of. Check it out at http://www.leg.wa.gov/pages/home.aspx  

 

HB1150

AN ACT Relating to preventing the curtailment of employment opportunities by allowing employers to pay a training wage for a specified period of time; and adding a new section to chapter 49.46 RCW.

 

 HB1084

AN ACT Relating to the medical use of cannabis

 

HB1203/SB5198

AN ACT Relating to exempting from public inspection and copying personal information relating to children; and reenacting and amending RCW 42.56.230.

 

HB1100

AN ACT Relating to reducing the state sales and use tax rate; amending RCW 82.08.020; and providing an effective date.

 

HB1007

AN ACT Relating to covering loads on public highways; amending RCW 46.61.655; and providing an effective date.

 

HB1070

AN ACT Relating to commercial driver's license suspension; amending RCW 46.25.090; and providing an effective date.

 

SB5095

providing proof of financial responsibility for motor vehicle operation

 

SB5125

Workers Compensation reform through clarification of occupational disease claims

 

SB5198/HB1203

AN ACT Relating to exempting from public inspection and copying personal information relating to children; and reenacting and amending RCW 42.56.230.

 

SB5157

AN ACT Relating to child care

 

Pertussis (Whooping Cough) Epidemic Declared in WA

Keep your camp healthy this summer during the whooping cough epidemic

By Washington State Secretary of Health Mary C. Selecky

Governor Chris Gregoire has announced an emergency action to slow the spread of whooping cough (pertussis) in the state. Just a month ago, I declared that whooping cough had reached epidemic levels in Washington. If the pace continues, we’re headed toward the highest number of reported cases here since the early 40s.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Only 10-12 percent of cases are reported because many teens and adults don’t get sick enough to go in for medical treatment and testing.

Whooping cough is a highly contagious. It causes cold-like symptoms, spreads by coughing and sneezing, and can last for weeks. It’s a miserable illness for teens and adults but very serious for babies who often catch it from relatives and other adults. Sadly, it has taken the lives of four Washington babies in the last two years and hospitalized dozens more. I encourage camp staff to be alert for symptoms of whooping cough and have a plan for what to do if a camper gets sick.

Prevention is key! Whooping cough vaccine is recommended for all kids and adults. It’s widely available at clinics, pharmacies, and doctor offices. Please encourage all of your camp staff to get vaccinated. Everyone age 11 and older should get a whooping cough booster called Tdap.

Younger kids must complete a series of five doses of DTaP vaccine by age seven for full protection. It’s a good idea to review your camp policies about vaccinations and ask for vaccination records.

Good health manners also help prevent the spread of whooping cough, like covering your cough and staying home when you’re sick. Your camp staff can play a key role in prevention by reminding campers to cover their coughs and sneezes, and wash their hands often.

There’s a lot of misinformation about vaccines, especially online. It’s hard to tell the difference between what’s reliable and what isn’t. We want parents to get reliable and trusted information about vaccines from their health care provider. It’s also important for parents to know that their child, if not immunized, may be excluded from school or child care during an outbreak. We’ve got lots of helpful information on our website. Also, find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

To find an immunization clinic, contact your health care provider or local health agency. All recommended vaccines are offered at no cost to all kids under 19 through health care provider offices participating in the state’s Childhood Vaccine Program. Health care providers may charge an office visit fee and a fee to give the vaccine, called an administration fee. People who cannot afford the administration fee can ask the health care provider to waive the cost. Most health insurance carriers will cover the whooping cough vaccine; adults should double-check with their health plan.

Making sure you’re current on your whooping cough vaccine is the best way you can help protect the vulnerable in our communities – the babies that are too young to be fully immunized.

WA State Boater Education Card

Head's Up! WA Camps - Operators of youth serving summer camp programs (not-of-profit or for-profit combined) are not exempt regarding the requirement of the WA State Boater Education law. Per RCW 79A.60.640 other than hiring a non-state resident or hiring a staffer born before 1995 to run their 15-HP or greater boats… all other scenarios requires operators to have the WA State Boater Education card. The WA & OR State's Boater's education card costs $10, and the test can be taken online. (For Alaska and Montana the program is $24.95! You'll need to check with these states regarding possible operators requirements - similar to WA state.)

Does your camps power boat operator(s) have one of these?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HB38

COMPREHENSIVE STATE WATER PLAN - Adds to existing law to ratify and approve the Comprehensive State Water Plan as adopted by the Idaho Water Resource Board on November 28, 2012.

 

SB1003

Junior Hunting Licenses 

 

SB1011

Immunization Information Parents can remove

Topics of Special Interest to Camps in Alaska

Please share topics of your interest in AK with the ACA, Evergreen Public Policy, email trailside@akcenter.org. 

Topics of Special Interest to Camps in Montana

Please share topics of your interest in MT with the ACA, Evergreen Public Policy, email chendrikx@acacamps.org.

Topics of Special Interest to Camps in Idaho

Please share topics of your interest in ID with the ACA, Evergreen Public Policy, email chendrikx@acacamps.org.