The Times/News presents a weekly summary of actions on bills by Highline-area legislators.

For complete information, go to www.WashingtonVotes.org-a free, non-partisan Website with plain-English explanations of bills and a record of each legislator's votes-which is the source for this report.

Highline is represented by:

District 11-Sen. Margarita Prentice; Rep Zack Hudgins, Rep. Bob Hasagawa.

District 33-Sen. Karen Keiser; Rep. Shay Schual-Berke, Rep. Dave Upthegrove.

District 34-Sen. Erik Poulsen; Rep. Eileen Cody; Rep. Joe McDermott.

All are Democrats.

IN THE SENATE

(through Feb. 16)

Senate Bill 5058-Allows the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs to establish a veterans' cemetery in Eastern Washington. All honorably discharged veterans and their spouses would be eligible for burial at the cemetery. The bill is now under consideration in the House.

Passed 48-0. Prentice, Keiser, Poulsen voted yes.

SB 5191-Changes certain provisions relating to missing persons: removes the 12 hour requirement, in favor of the more general time frame of "without delay;" eliminates the requirement of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs to remove information about missing persons from the web site after 30 days. The bill is now under consideration in the House.

Passed 40-0. Keiser, Poulsen voted yes; Prentice did not vote.

SB 5093-Replaces 38 to 9 children's health program statutes with a new initiative: requires the Department of Social and Health Services to provide affordable health care coverage to all children under the age of 19 whose household income is below 250 percent of the federal poverty level; requires that after January 1, 2009, DSHS must cover all children under 300 percent of the federal poverty level; establishes a goal of improving children's health through public schools by offering healthier food selections and increasing physical education by the year 2010. The bill is now under consideration in the House.

Passed 38-9. Prentice, Keiser, Poulsen voted yes.

IN THE HOUSE

(through Feb. 16)

House Bill 1052-Modifies the Washington State Youth Advisory Council. The bill lowers the eligibility age of participating on the council from 14 to 12. It also requires four legislators to serve on the council in an advisory role. The council will have authority to solicit and accept grants from the public to support council activities. The bill is now under consideration in the Senate.

Passed 89-6. Hudgins, Hasagawa, Schual-Berke, Upthegrove, Cody, McDermott voted yes.

HB 1116-Requires the Washington State Housing Finance Commission to develop a plan by Dec. 31 for increasing homeownership rates to 75 percent by 2020 through a joint effort between the Affordable Housing Advisory Board, the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development, and other housing stakeholders. The bill is now under consideration in the Senate.

Passed 65-31. Hudgins, Hasagawa, Schual-Berke, Upthegrove, Cody, McDermott voted yes.

HB 1097-Expands certain sex crimes against frail elders and vulnerable adults and persons with developmental disabilities that are committed by perpetrators while providing transportation, within the course of their employment. A person having sex with a vulnerable adult in this setting would be guilty of second-degree rape; engaging in sexual contact would constitute indecent liberties. The bill is now under consideration in the Senate.

Passed 96-0. Hudgins, Hasagawa, Schual-Berke, Upthegrove, Cody, McDermott voted yes.

HB 1556-Designates the Walla Walla sweet onion as the official Washington state vegetable. The bill is now under consideration in the Senate.

Passed 95-0. Hudgins, Hasagawa, Schual-Berke, Upthegrove, Cody, McDermott voted yes.