From: Toby Rodgers <toby_soils@yahoo.com>
Date: January 28, 2008 5:36:52 AM PST
Cc: Allen Miller <miller.allen@comcast.net>
Subject: WSPSS UPDATE! Licensing news: HB 3198

Good morning WSPSS members,

It is once again that time of year where all our legislative focus seems to be compressed into one week.  We received word last week that our most recent bill has been placed into the hopper for the House Committee on Commerce and Labor.  This years bill is HB 3198.

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=3198&year=2007

Currently a date for testimony on the bill has not been established but it will likely be announced this week.  In the interim, I wanted to give you a synopsis of recent activity as well as urge you to contact the appropriate legislators.  In addition, Lisa continues to maintain the most informative and concise web page of information with regards to the licensing effort. http://www.soilscientistlicensing.com/  You might notice a different bill number at the moment on the web page but the most current is HB 3198.
 
The long anticipated v.2 of the Sunrise Review on licensing soil scientists (and wetland scientists) was released this month.  Much to our relief (although not surprisingly) the sunrise review delivered the opinion that soil and wetland scientists should indeed be covered by WA State oversight, i.e. licensing of some sort.  This is GREAT NEWS, considering much of the recent opposition claimed the original sunrise review was flawed and without fair evaluation from other professions.  A copy of the most recent Sunrise Review can be found at

http://www.dol.wa.gov/about/reports/sunriseSoilScientist0108.pdf
 
At this point, you should be asking "what can I do to help?  Good question.  Fortunately Lisa has provided some timely guidance and I will include it here.
Just so you know, the legislature meets annually, but in even years (like 2008), the session is short (only 2 months rather than 3) and focused on budget.  This session ends on March 14th, and we must get at least a hearing in front of the Commerce and Labor (House) committee before it is over.  So we have very little time, and so far, we have no scheduled hearing date.

Despite the fact that we have a positive Sunrise Review, if we don’t make at least as much noise as other people with bills they want heard (apparently, last session there were ~1500 proposed – only ~500 were heard), then we may not even get a hearing this session.  If we don’t get out this session, it is like being stuck in the starting tracks for 2 years running -- going back to square 1 next year, and without the immediate impetus of the positive Sunrise Review report at our backs.
Once again, we need testimony and or emails or letters of support.  These letters need not be tomes – just an expression of support and thanks for supporting our bill.
Your first messages should be sent to our bill sponsors or other members of the committee.  Our bill sponsors are Rep. Sam Hunt (prime sponsor), Rep. Steve Conway (House Commerce and Labor Committee chair) and Rep. Alex Wood (House Commerce and Labor Committee Co-chair).
 
Additional members of the House Labor and Commerce Committee are listed on the Legislature’s webpage

http://www.leg.wa.gov/House/Committees/CL/members.htm

and it is easy to email them by clicking on each name.  
 
In addition, it never hurts to contact your local Representatives (and in time Senators) who often have the ears of our sponsors and other members of the committee.  You can find your legislators names and contact information at

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/Default.aspx

Lastly, if any members know of a client or other person who was negatively impacted by unprofessional or unethical work in soil or wetland science, and who might be willing to provide written, email or verbal testimony, please put them in contact with Lisa or me, or with one of our sponsors.
Thank you everyone for your continued support.

Toby Rodgers
WSPSS Past-president