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OLYMPIA – Today Gov. Jay Inslee signed legislation to prohibit discrimination based on citizenship or immigration status into law.

Senate Bill 5165, sponsored by Sen. Rebecca Saldaña (D-Seattle), will add citizenship and immigration status to the list of characteristics protected by Washington’s Law against Discrimination. The change prohibits discrimination based on citizenship or immigration status unless a distinction or differential treatment is required by a state or federal law, regulation or government contract.

Documented and undocumented immigrants alike experience this type of discrimination, including people living and working in Washington with authorization. This bill protects anyone perceived to be a noncitizen, regardless of their actual immigration status, and would help prevent discrimination in numerous settings such as education, housing, public accommodations and employment.

“People in our communities report living in fear, sometimes even afraid to take their kids to school,” said Saldaña. “We want this clarification of our law against discrimination to make people feel welcome and safe participating fully in their communities.”

Saldaña credited Rep. Javier Valdez (D-Seattle) and Rep. Christine Kilduff (D-University Place) for shepherding the bill through the House.

“Washingtonians should feel safe and welcome regardless of their citizenship status and country of origin,” said Valdez. “It’s our responsibility as lawmakers to protect anyone who is already vulnerable to discrimination simply because they may look like they don’t have legal status and come from somewhere else.”

“Washington has a proud tradition of welcoming all people to our state,” said Kilduff. “SB 5165 updates our laws by prohibiting discrimination on the basis of immigration and citizenship status.  No one in our state should be denied a job, credit, or a bus ride because of who they are or where they were born.”

OLYMPIA – Kai Craig, 16, served as a page in the Washington State Senate during the week of March 6.

Pages are typically sponsored by the senator from their legislative district. Sen. Rebecca Saldaña (D-Seattle) sponsored Craig’s week in the Legislature.

The page program offers a hands-on opportunity for students to find out how state government works. The interactive learning experience includes classes focused on topics like budget writing and how a bill becomes a law, and culminates in pages creating their own bills in a mock committee setting. The educational experience is furthered by guest speakers.

“We have shifts where we go and work with the Senate security staff at different checkpoints and they are so funny and entertaining.  We help escort guests to different places around the Capitol that are secured from the general public,” said Craig.

Pages also have the opportunity to work on the Senate floor. Their maroon coats and credentials allow them access to all parts of the Capitol Campus.

Senate Page Kai Craig, March 2, 2020. Photo: Legislative Support Services.

“Senator Saldaña has a Monday morning meeting and she let me come and observe how her staff and her talk about the goals that they have already achieved and what they hope to work on for the week ahead.  I thought it was fascinating to listen to their thought processes about strategies for what they hope to accomplish,” added Craig.

“I’ve been considering a career in public service for a long time working in social services and this experience has only given me renewed energy to continue towards that goal.  Meeting and talking with Senator Saldaña about my goals was very encouraging,” remarked Craig.

Craig is in the 11th grade at James A. Garfield High School. In her free time, she enjoys All-City Marching Band, Seattle Youth Traffic Court, and the Seattle Youth Employment program.

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For more information about the Senate Page Program, contact SenatePageProgram@leg.wa.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb. 26, 2020

WHO: Sen. Rebecca Saldaña, state senator for the 37th Legislative District, which includes the Seattle neighborhoods of Madrona, Central District, Leschi, Mt. Baker, Beacon Hill, Columbia City, Rainier Valley and Bryn Mawr-Skyway, as well as parts of Renton.

WHAT: Town hall meeting with 37^th District constituents

WHEN: 12:00 to 2:00 pm Saturday, Feb. 29

WHERE: New Holly Gathering Hall, 7054 32nd Ave. S, Seattle

WHY: Sen. Saldaña will provide an update on the 2020 session and answer questions from constituents about issues under consideration in the Legislature.

OLYMPIA – Today the Senate voted to prohibit Washington state from contracting with private prisons.

Senate Bill 6442, sponsored by Sen. Rebecca Saldaña (D-Seattle), would prohibit the state from sending people to for-profit prisons outside the state.

The prohibition does not apply to facilities for involuntary placement for mental health, substance use rehabilitation, juvenile rehabilitation and similar services. It also does not prevent governments from contracting with tribal governments that own and operate jails.

“Incarceration is an inherently governmental function that should not be outsourced,” said Saldaña. “The public expects humane treatment and transparency, not privatization of public responsibilities.  We in Washington state are committed to ending the growth of the for-profit private detention industrial complex.”

“Private prisons experience more incidents of violence than public prisons, and they have been shown to lead to increased recidivism. The detention and confinement of individuals carries great responsibility, and these functions must not be motivated by private profits.”

“It is wrong and amoral to profit from the misfortune of others. There is an inherent injustice in making money from those who are incarcerated,” said Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self, (D-Mukilteo), prime sponsor of the companion bill in the House. “It is a violation of human rights and is contrary to our democratic values.”

The bill now moves to the House for consideration.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb. 17, 2020

WHO:  Sen. Rebecca Saldaña (D-Seattle), state senator from the 37^th legislative district which includes part of Seattle, Renton, Madrona, Central District, Leschi, Mt. Baker, Beacon Hill, Columbia City, Rainier Valley, and Bryn Mawr-Skyway.

WHAT: Town hall meeting with 37^th District constituents

WHEN: Noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 29

WHERE: New Holly Gathering Hall, 7054 32^nd Ave. South, Seattle

WHY: Sen. Saldaña will provide an update on the 2020 session and answer questions from constituents about issues under consideration in the Legislature.

OLYMPIA – The Senate unanimously passed legislation today to provide access to public assistance to certain victims of human trafficking by expanding eligibility for state food assistance, family assistance, and medical care services programs.

Under Senate Bill 5164, sponsored by Sen. Rebecca Saldaña (D-Seattle), noncitizens would be able to access these programs if they have taken steps to obtain status under federal laws that protect victims of human trafficking and serious crimes. Qualifying family members would also be eligible for assistance.

“While we would like to think human trafficking does not exist in our state, it does. Trafficked women, men, and children seeking to free themselves often face losing their housing and employment, which is tied up with their trafficker,” said Saldaña. “This legislation removes the barriers to critical life-saving services when people are in their most vulnerable moment and most need them.  I am proud to have worked with API-CHAYA, Seattle Against Slavery, and Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, who are the frontline leaders in eliminating trafficking in Washington State.”

“As a former sex crimes prosecutor, I know how important it is for survivors of trafficking to have the vital services to transition out of a life of exploitation,” said Rep. Mike Pellicciotti (D-Federal Way), sponsor of the companion, House Bill 1971. “I appreciate Sen. Saldaña’s leadership on this bill, and I look forward to voting yes in the House of Representatives.”

This legislation builds on a law that passed in the 2018 legislative session, House Bill 1022, which addressed law enforcement agency certifications for noncitizens who qualify for visas for victims of human trafficking and other serious crimes. SB 5164 gives victims the opportunity to apply for services while they are in the process of obtaining visas.

The bill now moves to the House for consideration.

OLYMPIA – Daniel Zipperer, 14, served as a page in the Washington State Senate during the week of February 14.

Pages are typically sponsored by the senator from their legislative district. Sen. Rebecca Saldaña (D-Seattle) sponsored Zipperer’s week in the Legislature.

The page program offers a hands-on opportunity for students to find out how state government works. The interactive learning experience includes classes focused on topics like budget writing and how a bill becomes a law, which culminates in pages creating their own bills in a mock committee setting. The educational experience is furthered by guest speakers.

“I had the most fun this week sitting in on a meeting between my senator’s staff and her constituents and listening to how the constituents asked for what they wanted,” said Zipperer.

Pages also have the opportunity to work on the Senate floor. Their maroon coats and credentials allow them access to all parts of the Capitol Campus.

“The most interesting thing that I got to do was work on the Senate floor and see how the bills are introduced and how they are debated between the Members.  I was really surprised how many bills are passed with bipartisan support. Most of the bills were passed almost unanimously and that has been very surprising.  The friendly relationships between members of opposing parties is very surprising, but also gratifying,” added Zipperer.

“This experience has shown me that there is a lot more that someone can do to be a part of government than just run for Office, there are so many different people doing different jobs here and they are all just trying to make our lives better.  I could see myself in one of those roles later in life,” remarked Zipperer.

Zipperer is in 8th grade at Our Lady of the Lake school. In his free time, he enjoys rowing, Boy Scouts, and drama/theater.

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For more information about the Senate Page Program, contact SenatePageProgram@leg.wa.gov

OLYMPIA – The Senate today voted 40-6 to explore giving access to unemployment benefits to those who become unemployed due to family caregiving responsibilities.

Currently, unemployment insurance law does not allow individuals to collect unemployment benefits if they leave work voluntarily without “good cause.” The definition of what qualifies as “good cause” is too narrow and denies these essential benefits to workers who must leave a job due to inaccessible care for a child or vulnerable adult, or separation from a minor child.

Sponsored by Sen. Rebecca Saldaña (D-Seattle), SB 5473 would require the state Employment Security Department to study the impacts of allowing exceptions to current unemployment insurance law that would allow such workers to collect benefits, in addition to workers whose job duties increase substantially or whose working conditions change significantly without a commensurate increase in pay.

“Access to unemployment benefits would provide relief to working families trying to make ends meet while searching for employment that is compatible with their families’ needs,” said Saldaña.

“Women–who are still largely in charge of family caregiving responsibilities–now outnumber men in the workforce,” said Saldaña. “In Washington, we value the work family caregivers do and we need to honor the efforts working families undertake to balance these duties with work outside the home.

“The goal is to modernize unemployment insurance laws to reflect the needs of today’s workforce and help struggling households stay afloat in tough times—a must in the face of our worsening homelessness human rights crisis.”

The bill will now be considered in the House of Representatives.

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For interviews & information:

Nicole Herrera, Senate Democratic Communications, 360-786-7050

OLYMPIA – Senator Rebecca Saldaña (D-Seattle) dropped a bill today that would require certain counties, cities and towns to secure prior approval for proposed changes in electoral practices that would dilute the voting power of racial and/or ethnic groups.

Senate Bill 6688 would require jurisdictions with a large population from a single racial, ethnic, or language minority group to submit the changes to either the State Attorney General or a Superior Court for approval before implementing them.  The bill also gives affected voters the right to appeal in the case that the Attorney General does not object to the change.

The 2013 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Shelby County v. Holder rendered unenforceable federal “pre-clearance,” a critical tool to prevent state and local governments from voting restrictions that disproportionately impact underrepresented groups. Pre-clearance ensured that these practices received impartial review before being allowed to go into effect. Currently, such practices can be stopped only by litigation, which lasts years and allows new laws affecting entire communities to be passed in the meantime by elected officials who were elected on the basis of those practices.

The City of Yakima has struggled with such issues for years after being sued by the ACLU in 2012. That city continues to be embroiled in debate about changes to its governmental structure that would dilute the voting power of ethnic minorities.

“In the last few years, we have made great progress on protecting the voting rights of the people of Washington state,” said Saldaña.  “Practices that weaken the voting rights of our communities of color must not be allowed to stand for years while litigation is underway. Empowerment through the right to vote cannot wait.”

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For interviews & information:

Nicole Herrera, Senate Democratic Communications, 360-786-7050