Lobbying on behalf of Washington’s Technology Industry is one of the many valuable services we provide our members.  For over two decades the Washington Technology Industry Association has been the key voice on a wide range of public policy issues including K-12 and higher education, taxes, health care, economic development and technology regulation.  With the close of the recent legislative session we wanted to give a quick snapshot of legislation we worked on behalf of your company and the industry -- and to encourage you to join us if you are not already a WTIA member.  We depend upon the support of our members to run the association and on the contributions of individuals and companies to fund our Political Action Committee.

We consider the 2008 session a successful one for the industry.  We were able to prevent some very punitive bills from passing while helping to strengthen math standards, support efforts for an e-Science institute at the University of Washington, pilot a telework project in Kitsap County, and support technology literacy programs.

We remain concerned about the continuing lack of supply of technology professionals needed by the industry and are working to protect association health plans from being eliminated.  We are also concerned that current R&D tax incentives that the industry uses extensively will be targeted for repeal or severe cutbacks next year to fund overspending this biennium.  We will remain vigilant on these and other issues going into the next legislative session.

Below is a snapshot of our efforts in the recent legislative session.  To find the details of any specific bill, click here:  http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/ and enter the bill number.

To join WTIA:  http://www.washingtontechnology.org/pages/about/about_membership_member_application.asp

To contribute to the WTIA Political Action Committee:  http://www.washingtontechnology.org/pages/advocacy/advocacy_wsa_pac.asp

2008 Legislative Wrap-up

Health Care – Helped defeat legislation that gave overly broad power to the Office of the Insurance Commissioner to regulate association health plans (Senate Bill 6365).  Worked in coalition with other business associations to improve legislation expanding the Health Insurance Partnership and related bills (House Bill 2537 and Senate Bill 6333).   Urged Gov.Gregoire to veto Senate Bill 6333.

K-12 Education – Supported legislation to strengthen math standards (Senate Bill 6534) and recruit math and science teachers (House Bill 2809). Closely monitored proposals for any further delays or hedging on WASL as a graduation requirement.   

Technology/Privacy/IP – Worked to ameliorate very punitive bills aimed at the use of Radio Frequency Identification technologies (RFID) (House Bill 1031) and wireless number directories (House Bill 2479).  Successfully lobbied for clarifications to the Personality Rights Act (House Bill 2727) and helped defeat unworkable bill on encryption (House Bill 2574).  Supported improvements to spyware laws (House Bill 2879).

Broadband/Telecomm/Economic Development – Supported legislation to map our state’s broadband resources, plan for greater broadband access and adoption, and to expand and fund technology literacy/digital inclusion programs for underserved populations (SB 6438).  Supported $150K in supplemental transportation budget for Kitsap County telework pilot project.

Higher Education – Supported the University of Washington request for the creation of an eScience Institute. $1M of funding was included in the final budget.  Monitored other legislation related to e-Learning and applied baccalaureate pilot program.