HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 1012
As Passed House:
January 30, 2025
Title: An act relating to expressly authorizing the women's commission to solicit gifts, grants, and endowments from public or private sources.
Brief Description: Authorizing the women's commission to solicit gifts, grants, and endowments from public or private sources.
Sponsors: Representatives Taylor, Mena, Ryu, Reed, Macri, Cortes, Doglio, Gregerson, Ortiz-Self, Simmons, Street, Pollet, Fey, Duerr, Berg, Ormsby, Lekanoff, Parshley, Reeves and Hill; by request of Women's Commission.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
State Government & Tribal Relations: 1/14/25, 1/17/25 [DP].
Floor Activity:
Passed House: 1/30/25, 77-19.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Allows the Washington State Women's Commission (Commission) to solicit gifts, grants, and endowments from public and private sources for the benefit of the Commission.
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT & TRIBAL RELATIONS
Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by 6 members:Representatives Mena, Chair; Stearns, Vice Chair; Waters, Ranking Minority Member; Chase, Doglio and Farivar.
Staff: Connor Schiff (786-7093).
Background:

Women's Commission.

The Washington State Women's Commission (Commission) addresses issues relevant to the needs of women, including domestic violence, child care, child support, sexual discrimination, sexual harassment, equal compensation and employment, and the specific needs of women of color. 

 

The Commission is permitted to receive gifts, grants, and endowments from public and private sources for the benefit of the Commission. 

 

Ethics Laws. 

The state has enacted a number of laws regulating ethics of public servants, including provisions that govern the extent to which state officers and state employees may ask for money or gifts.  For example, state officers or employees may not accept or solicit anything of economic value as a gift if it could be reasonably expected that the gift would influence their vote, action, or judgment.  State officers or employees also may not ask for or receive any gift from a source for omitting or deferring the performance of any official duty.  Several categories of employees and commissions have been given explicit permission to solicit gifts, grants, or donations without running afoul of any ethics laws.  These exemptions include:  the Conservation Commission, the Office of Equity, Secretary of State designees who solicit and accept contributions to the Washington State Flag Account; legislative employees who solicit contributions to the Gina Grant Bull Memorial Legislative Page Scholarship Account; and any state employees who solicit gifts for the purpose of expanding tourism. 
Summary of Bill:

The Washington State Women's Commission (Commission) is permitted to solicit gifts, grants, and endowments from public and private sources for the benefit of the Commission.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) This would help the Commission engage in public-private partnerships, including private sponsorship of events.  It would support events, community engagement, and the priorities of the Commission, which include serving women who are underrepresented.  This proposal is budget neutral.  Other state-level commissions are permitted to solicit gifts, grants, and endowments; this addition brings parity to the Commission.

 

(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying:

Representative Jamila Taylor, prime sponsor; Leah White, Washington State Women's Commission; and Vicki Lowe, Washington State Women's Commission.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.