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	<title>Senator Mike Carrell</title>
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	<link>http://mikecarrell.src.wastateleg.org</link>
	<description>28th Legislative District - Lakewood, Washington</description>
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		<title>Governor signs Carrell bills to protect whistleblowers, improve mental-health system and enhance privacy</title>
		<link>http://mikecarrell.src.wastateleg.org/governor-signs-carrell-bills-to-protect-whistleblowers-improve-mental-health-system-and-enhance-privacy/</link>
		<comments>http://mikecarrell.src.wastateleg.org/governor-signs-carrell-bills-to-protect-whistleblowers-improve-mental-health-system-and-enhance-privacy/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 16 May 2013 18:17:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mike Carrell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Fraud and Abuse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Government Reform]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Legislature]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mental Illness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mike Carrell]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Public Safety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Department of Corrections]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Department of Licensing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ethics in Public Service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Executive Ethics Board]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jay Inslee]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lakewood]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mental health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mental-health database]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[private investigator]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Senate Bill 5182]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Senate Bill 5282]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Senate Bill 5577]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[state ethics law]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Whistleblower Protection]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[whistleblowers]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mikecarrell.src.wastateleg.org/?p=5609</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Gov. Jay Inslee has signed several landmark bills sponsored by Sen. Mike Carrell, R-Lakewood, within the past week. One is designed to protect public-employee whistleblowers from retaliation, another will begin the process of reforming the state’s mental-health system and a third will help protect the privacy of those who search state-licensing records. Senate Bill 5182 – signed Tuesdsay – prohibits the state Department of Licensing from disclosing personal information about someone who requests license-related information, beyond whether the requesting party is an attorney or private investigator. State law now allows people to learn more detail about those who have requested information about them; Carrell says that can be dangerous for private investigators and attorneys who have legitimate reasons for accessing the information since the people being investigated are often felons who do not want to be found. Because many private investigators and attorneys work out of their homes, a person upset about being investigated or sued could obtain the private investigator&#8217;s or attorney&#8217;s home address, presenting serious safety concerns. On Friday the governor signed Senate Bill 5282 , which has to do with verifying a person’s eligibility to possess a firearm. It directs DOL to convene a work group that will explore ways to provide such verifications more accurately and efficiently by consolidating statewide data on people who have been involuntarily committed. “Reforming the state’s mental-health system has been one of my top priorities this session and I’m very pleased to see this bill become law,” Carrell said. “Creating a comprehensive, statewide mental-health database is the ultimate goal, but an essential component of that is law enforcement’s ability to access a complete list of individuals who should be prevented from owning firearms due to a mental illness.” Last Wednesday the governor signed Senate Bill 5577 allowing the state Executive Ethics Board to designate an independent employee or representative from the state attorney general’s office to assist with any managerial investigations. It also requires each state agency to designate an ethics advisor to provide informal ethics advice and requires that ethics advisor to ensure uniformity in the agency&#8217;s compliance with ethics law. “This is the result of more than two years of efforts after I was approached by several whistleblowers claiming they had evidence of wrongdoing,” Carrell added. “The employees who approached me claimed a manager with the state Department of Corrections was misusing her authority and acting in an unethical <a class="more-link" href="http://mikecarrell.src.wastateleg.org/governor-signs-carrell-bills-to-protect-whistleblowers-improve-mental-health-system-and-enhance-privacy/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://mikecarrell.src.wastateleg.org/governor-signs-carrell-bills-to-protect-whistleblowers-improve-mental-health-system-and-enhance-privacy/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>SEATTLE TIMES: Notable gains on mental health in state Legislature</title>
		<link>http://mikecarrell.src.wastateleg.org/seattle-times-notable-gains-on-mental-health-in-state-legislature/</link>
		<comments>http://mikecarrell.src.wastateleg.org/seattle-times-notable-gains-on-mental-health-in-state-legislature/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 06 May 2013 17:29:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mike Carrell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Mental Illness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mike Carrell]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mikecarrell.src.wastateleg.org/?p=5603</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In a legislative session notable for what did not get done, lawmakers left Olympia last week having passed a bipartisan package of mental-health bills notable for their scope. The most fundamental reform comes thanks to state Sen. Mike Carrell, the Lakewood Republican who became sick during the session. Carrell’s measure, Senate Bill 5732, requires, for the first time, common standards and outcome measurements across the fractured county-based outpatient mental-health system. This accountability is welcome and overdue. Click to read the full editorial from the Seattle Times.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://mikecarrell.src.wastateleg.org/seattle-times-notable-gains-on-mental-health-in-state-legislature/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>With no budget, special session looms</title>
		<link>http://mikecarrell.src.wastateleg.org/with-no-budget-special-session-looms/</link>
		<comments>http://mikecarrell.src.wastateleg.org/with-no-budget-special-session-looms/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 02 May 2013 23:58:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mike Carrell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[E-newsletter]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Government Reform]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Higher Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[K-12 Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kitchen Cabinet]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Legislature]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mike Carrell]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Taxes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[House of Representatives]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[jobs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Majority Coalition Caucus]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Olympia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Senate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Washington State Legislature]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mikecarrell.src.wastateleg.org/?p=5595</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The deadline for the Washington State Legislature to end its business and go home was Sunday, however since no budget agreement could be reached in time, taxpayers will now be forced to foot the bill for yet another special session (which seems to be developing into an annual occurrence in Olympia). Our Majority Coalition Caucus has remained committed to its three founding principles: creating jobs, improving education and passing a sustainable, no-new-taxes budget. I&#8217;m confident that my colleagues in the Senate are adhering to that position, as evidenced by the Senate&#8217;s bipartisan budget proposal that was approved 30-18 with nine members of the minority party voting in favor of it. The Majority Coalition&#8217;s budget proposal would put over a billion dollars into education, balance for four years, reduce tuition at state colleges and universities by three percent, and all without raising taxes. It is supported by members on both sides of the aisle as well as many independent media outlets and organizations around the state. Yet since the House of Representatives refused to back away from its proposal to raise your taxes by about a billion dollars, a special session is now required to continue the state’s unfinished business. I&#8217;ll keep you posted on the progress toward a balanced state budget when the special session begins May 13. Click to read the full Kitchen Cabinet update for May 2, 2013.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://mikecarrell.src.wastateleg.org/with-no-budget-special-session-looms/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Strengthening ethics law, looking at mental health reform</title>
		<link>http://mikecarrell.src.wastateleg.org/strengthening-ethics-law-looking-at-mental-health-reform/</link>
		<comments>http://mikecarrell.src.wastateleg.org/strengthening-ethics-law-looking-at-mental-health-reform/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 02 May 2013 23:53:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mike Carrell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Children]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[E-newsletter]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fraud and Abuse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Government Reform]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health Care]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kitchen Cabinet]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Legislature]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mental Illness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mike Carrell]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Public Safety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Veterans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[adoption]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[adult behavioral health system]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Child welfare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[contraband]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Department of Licensing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Department of Social and Health Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ethics in Public Service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Harley-Davidson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[House Bill 1525]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[House Bill 1537]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[House Bill 1836]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[House of Representatives]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jay Inslee]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Joint Committee on Veterans' and Military Affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lakewood]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mandatory reporting statute]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mental health commitment information]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michelle Lewis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pharmacies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[safety assessment tool]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Senate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Senate Bill 5061]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Senate Bill 5118]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Senate Bill 5122]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Senate Bill 5149]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Senate Bill 5182]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Senate Bill 5274]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Senate Bill 5281]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Senate Bill 5282]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Senate Bill 5359]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Senate Bill 5404]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Senate Bill 5466]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Senate Bill 5577]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Senate Bill 5732]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[state hospitals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Steve O'Ban]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Washington State Patrol]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mikecarrell.src.wastateleg.org/?p=5592</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As sessions go, 2013 has been one of the most successful I&#8217;ve experienced in nearly 20 years. I introduced 39 pieces of legislation this year (many of which were reintroductions of bills I proposed in past years); 10 of them are now going to become law plus three more House bills that are companions to bills I sponsored. That is an historic amount for this legislator! So far, the governor has signed only two of my bills, however bills passed by both the House and Senate will become law with or without the governor&#8217;s ceremonial signature. He only has the power to veto some or all of a passed bill. My first bill signed into law is SB 5274, which requires the Department of Licensing to allow private motorcycle skills education programs (i.e. Harley-Davidson) to offer motorcycle safety education where students pay the full cost for the training. Inslee signed that bill on April 22 and sent me a very thoughtful letter of appreciation. The second is SB 5466, a technical clean-up measure requested by the Washington State Patrol that will coalesce WSP recordkeeping procedures with processes and protocols required under state law. It was signed by the governor on April 23rd. HB 1537 (the companion to my SB 5061) was proposed by Representative Steve O’Ban, R-Lakewood, to help military men and women transition from their jobs in the armed services to those in the private sector. It was signed by the governor on April 23rd. HB 1525 (the companion to my SB 5118) will authorize a birth parent to complete a contact preference form stating his or her preference about personal contact with an adoptee. HB 1525 is awaiting signature by the governor. HB 1836 (the companion to my SB 5404) has to do with the introduction of contraband or possession of contraband in a secure facility. The House bill was signed by the governor on April 23rd. SB 5122, while not passed in bill form, was written into the language of the Senate&#8217;s budget proposal that passed. It requires the Department of Social and Health Services to develop a plan to enhance the safety of state hospital patients and staff. SB 5281 was also written into the budget passed by the Senate. It requires an empirical study of the validity and reliability of the current child welfare safety assessment tool. SB 5149 toughens standard sentencing provisions with regard to robbing a pharmacy. It is awaiting signature by the governor. SB 5182 prohibits the state Department of Licensing from disclosing information in response to <a class="more-link" href="http://mikecarrell.src.wastateleg.org/strengthening-ethics-law-looking-at-mental-health-reform/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://mikecarrell.src.wastateleg.org/strengthening-ethics-law-looking-at-mental-health-reform/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Carrell’s Washington State Patrol records-system bill becomes law</title>
		<link>http://mikecarrell.src.wastateleg.org/carrells-washington-state-patrol-records-system-bill-becomes-law/</link>
		<comments>http://mikecarrell.src.wastateleg.org/carrells-washington-state-patrol-records-system-bill-becomes-law/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:00:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mike Carrell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Legislature]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mike Carrell]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Public Safety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[House of Representatives]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Identification and Criminal History Section]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jay Inslee]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lakewood]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[law enforcement officers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Senate Bill 5466]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Senate Human Services and Corrections Committee]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Washington state]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Washington State Patrol]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mikecarrell.src.wastateleg.org/?p=5587</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Calling it a “technical clean-up” bill, Sen. Mike Carrell, R-Lakewood, and chairman of the Senate Human Services and Corrections Committee, said he was pleased to hear the governor had signed Senate Bill 5466 into law today. Carrell’s measure will coalesce Washington State Patrol recordkeeping procedures with processes and protocols required under state law. “The State Patrol came to us with this idea to help clean up the language in its system,” Carrell said. “I believe we owe it to our law-enforcement agencies to do anything we can to make it easier for them to do their jobs, which is why I’m pleased to be able to provide them with this technical fix.” WSP is the central repository for criminal-history record information for all of Washington, housing such items as fingerprint records and criminal-disposition information. Local criminal-justice agencies are required by law to submit felony- and gross-misdemeanor arrest and disposition information to the repository, and WSP annually audits disposition records for each prosecuting attorney, district and municipal court, and any other originating agency to ensure all reports have been added to the database. However, with the high workload of the court system and the shrinkage in staff and funding, the receipt of final-disposition records are is often delayed beyond the required deadline. When a WSP audit identifies records older than one year that have not been submitted to the central database, SB 5466 will require that local law-enforcement entity to either make the submission or report on the status of the disposition within 60 days, rather than the current 45 days. “The Washington State Patrol&#8217;s Identification and Criminal History Section of the agency is responsible for storing and cataloguing these criminal-history records for the state,” Carrell said. “It’s a vital component to public safety because all law enforcement has access to these records and can more easily obtain the criminal history of a suspect using the information. Making the system more streamlined is absolutely the right thing to do, and I’m thankful the House, Senate and governor all agree.” SB 5466 will take effect on July 27.]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Mental-health system reform one step closer after Carrell bill passes</title>
		<link>http://mikecarrell.src.wastateleg.org/mental-health-system-reform-one-step-closer-after-carrell-bill-passes/</link>
		<comments>http://mikecarrell.src.wastateleg.org/mental-health-system-reform-one-step-closer-after-carrell-bill-passes/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 23 Apr 2013 00:30:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mike Carrell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Government Reform]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health Care]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Legislature]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mental Illness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mike Carrell]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Public Safety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Administrative Office of the Courts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Department of Licensing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Department of Social and Health Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[House of Representatives]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lakewood]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mental health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Senate Bill 5282]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Senate Human Services and Corrections Committee]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Washington State Patrol]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Washington State Senate]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mikecarrell.src.wastateleg.org/?p=5584</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[After concurring with changes made by the House of Representatives, the Washington State Senate sent Senate Bill 5282 – sponsored by Sen. Mike Carrell, R-Lakewood, and chairman of the Senate Human Services and Corrections Committee – to the governor’s desk for his ceremonial signature. Carrell said it was a proud moment when he heard the news. “So many of our state’s areas of concern stem from an overwhelmed and under-resourced mental-health system,” Carrell said. “It’s time we took a comprehensive look at all aspects of mental-health treatment in Washington and Senate Bill 5282 is the right place to start.” SB 5282 would require the state Department of Licensing to convene a work group made up of representatives from the Washington State Patrol, the state Department of Social and Health Services and its 11 Regional Support Networks, the Administrative Office of the Courts, and the superior courts. The group would be tasked with developing a proposal for the consolidation of statewide involuntary commitment data in order to provide accurate and efficient verification of eligibility to possess a firearm. “Too many violent crimes come about after someone without the necessary mental stability is able to obtain a firearm, and it’s clear to me that something needs to be done,” Carrell said. “In time, we’ll hopefully develop a consolidated statewide database of involuntary-commitment data, but the immediate need is for law enforcement to have the ability to determine whether a person is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to mental illness or other legal disqualification.” The only change to the bill made by the House of Representatives was to require the work group to report its recommendations to the governor and Legislature by Dec. 1, 2013. SB 5282 passed the Senate and House unanimously and will take effect on July 27.]]></description>
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		<item>
		<title>Senate passes a bipartisan budget</title>
		<link>http://mikecarrell.src.wastateleg.org/senate-passes-a-bipartisan-budget/</link>
		<comments>http://mikecarrell.src.wastateleg.org/senate-passes-a-bipartisan-budget/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 15 Apr 2013 17:21:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mike Carrell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[E-newsletter]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kitchen Cabinet]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mike Carrell]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Taxes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Andy Hill]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hoquiam]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[House of Representatives]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jay Inslee]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jim Hargrove]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Majority Coalition Caucus]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[McCleary decision]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Redmond]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Senate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Washington State Supreme Court]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mikecarrell.src.wastateleg.org/?p=5578</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When the Majority Coalition Caucus formed late last year, critics said it would never hold together. Some said a bipartisan collection of lawmakers gathered around a set of common principles and beliefs would fall apart within weeks. Yet members of the Washington State Senate recently passed an operating budget proposal that had the support of not only the bipartisan Majority Coalition, but a number of members of the minority party as well.  The bipartisan Senate budget proposal (you can read details about it here) would spend $1.5 billion more than is currently being spent on education, with more than $1 billion of that directly addressing the Washington State Supreme Court&#8217;s McCleary decision. It includes funding and policy enhancements to reconnect public-education spending to student learning, as well as reinvesting in higher education by making it more affordable for students and their families. The budget would expand health insurance coverage and ensure healthy outcomes by making targeted investments in evidence-based programs, while keeping our promise of protecting the state’s most vulnerable &#8211; children, seniors and individuals with developmental disabilities. And perhaps most importantly, it would help create jobs and reform the state tax code – without new taxes. It was a grand bargain between the coalition and the minority party that Senator Andy Hill, R-Redmond, and Senator Jim Hargrove, D-Hoquiam, worked very hard on. The bipartisan compromise turned out to be a major defeat for the governor, who had spent the previous several days twisting arms and legs to get a Senate budget that increased taxes. Fortunately, many members of the minority party stayed strong in their support for the bipartisan Senate proposal and it is now in the hands of the House of Representatives. It&#8217;s important to remember that this budget proposal is not the final version. There will be changes made by the House, which must then be approved by the Senate. As with all proposals, it is a work in progress, but I view it as an excellent place from which to start negotiating a reasonable compromise with members of the House. With just a few weeks left in the regular session, only time will tell if good policy will survive. Click to read the full Kitchen Cabinet for April 15, 2013.]]></description>
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		<item>
		<title>Many of my bills are approved by the House</title>
		<link>http://mikecarrell.src.wastateleg.org/many-of-my-bills-are-approved-by-the-house/</link>
		<comments>http://mikecarrell.src.wastateleg.org/many-of-my-bills-are-approved-by-the-house/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 15 Apr 2013 17:17:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mike Carrell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Children]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[E-newsletter]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fraud and Abuse]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Mental Illness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mike Carrell]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Public Safety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Transportation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[adoption]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[adult behavioral health system]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[aquatic wildlife]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[behavioral health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[body armor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[compliance audits]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Department of Licensing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[EBT cards]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ethics in Public Service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[flash robbery]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hobby vehicles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[House Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[House Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[House Committee on Early Learning & Human Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[House Committee on Judiciary]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[House Committee on Local Government]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[House of Representatives]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mandatory reporting statute]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[marijuana]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mental health commitment information]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[motorcycles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pharmacies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[rendering criminal assistance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[school resource officer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Senate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Senate Bill 5059]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Senate Bill 5118]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Senate Bill 5119]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Senate Bill 5121]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Senate Bill 5149]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Senate Bill 5157]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Senate Bill 5178]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Senate Bill 5182]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Senate Bill 5274]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Senate Bill 5279]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Senate Bill 5282]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Senate Bill 5359]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Senate Bill 5466]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Senate Bill 5577]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Senate Bill 5596]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Senate Bill 5618]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Senate Bill 5732]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[toxic algae bloom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Working Connections Child Care]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mikecarrell.src.wastateleg.org/?p=5574</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Once Senate bills move to the House of Representatives for consideration, they must undergo the same process there as they did where they originated. Fortunately, some of my bills have seen success in the other chamber and I wanted to share those with you.  PUBLIC SAFETY BILLS SB 5059 – Would prevent someone who renders criminal assistance from claiming in court that they did not have specific knowledge of the underlying crime. Approved by House committees. Awaiting a vote by the full House of Representatives. SB 5119 – Creates a sentence enhancement for wearing body armor during the commission of a violent crime. Awaiting consideration by the House Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government. SB 5149 – Modifies standard sentencing provisions with regard to committing a robbery of a pharmacy. Approved by House committees. Awaiting a vote by the full House of Representatives. SB 5178 – My flash-robbery bill that increases penalties for theft by multiple individuals who use electronic communication to commit the crime. Awaiting consideration by the House Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government. SB 5359 – Specifies the terms used throughout the mandatory reporting statute. Approved by House committees. Awaiting a vote by the full House of Representatives. SB 5466 – An act relating to criminal history record information compliance audits. Passed by the full House of Representatives. Will now become law. SB 5618 – Would allow school resource officers to search students on a reasonable suspicion rather than probable cause. Has been killed by the House Committee on Judiciary. MENTAL HEALTH BILLS SB 5282 – Would create a statewide database of mental health commitment information. Amended and passed by the full House of Representatives. Will now return to the Senate for concurrence. SB 5732 – Requires the legislature to convene a task force to examine reform of the adult behavioral health system. Approved by House committees. Awaiting a vote by the full House of Representatives. FRAUD AND ETHICS BILLS SB 5157 – Toughens penalties for defrauding the state through the Working Connections      Child Care program. Approved by House      committees. Awaiting a vote by the full House of Representatives. SB 5279 – Prohibits the use of EBT cards or cash obtained with an EBT card to purchase marijuana or alcohol. Has been killed by the House Committee on Early Learning &#38; Human Services. SB 5577 – Ethics in public service bill that would also protect the identity of persons filing ethics complaints against public employees. Approved by House committees. Awaiting a vote by the full House of Representatives. PERSONAL INFORMATION BILLS SB 5118 – Authorizes a birth parent to complete <a class="more-link" href="http://mikecarrell.src.wastateleg.org/many-of-my-bills-are-approved-by-the-house/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
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		<title>An update on my MDS treatment</title>
		<link>http://mikecarrell.src.wastateleg.org/an-update-on-my-mds-treatment/</link>
		<comments>http://mikecarrell.src.wastateleg.org/an-update-on-my-mds-treatment/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 15 Apr 2013 17:03:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mike Carrell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[E-newsletter]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health Care]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kitchen Cabinet]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mike Carrell]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Charlotte Carrell]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[leukemia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MDS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Seattle Cancer Care Alliance]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mikecarrell.src.wastateleg.org/?p=5568</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I&#8217;m preparing to begin aggressive treatment for my MDS, a pre-leukemia condition which affects the cells in my blood and bone. All of my procedures will be outpatient at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, and the treatment is scheduled to begin April 17th. It is a 100-day process that begins with low-doses of chemotherapy to lower my body&#8217;s defenses and help increase the chance that the procedure will be successful. On the 23rd, I will undergo a low dose of full body radiation and then within a few hours I will be injected with my brother&#8217;s stem cells. Doctors are hopeful that my brother&#8217;s healthy stem cells will march in and take over for the weakened marrow cells in my body. I want to express to you how appreciative Charlotte and I are of your letters, cards, gifts, thoughts, and prayers. I don&#8217;t think we could make it through what lies ahead of us without your support. Thank you so much for your concern, and please continue to pray for us. I believe it truly does make a difference. Click here to read the full Kitchen Cabinet for April 15.]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>DOC needs to show it is ready to reform</title>
		<link>http://mikecarrell.src.wastateleg.org/doc-needs-to-show-it-is-ready-to-reform/</link>
		<comments>http://mikecarrell.src.wastateleg.org/doc-needs-to-show-it-is-ready-to-reform/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 29 Mar 2013 00:54:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mike Carrell</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Fraud and Abuse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Government Reform]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kitchen Cabinet]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Legislature]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Belinda Stewart]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bernie Warner]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Department of Corrections]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Executive Ethics Board]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jim Hargrove]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Senate Human Services and Corrections Committee]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Washington State Senate]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mikecarrell.src.wastateleg.org/?p=5560</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[My ethics charges against former Department of Corrections manager Belinda Stewart were found to be valid. Stewart was fined $17,000 and a(nother) letter of reprimand was placed in her employee file. The investigation into those charges by the state Executive Ethics Board revealed a host of other potential problems within management at DOC, including conflicts of interest, lack of accountability and acquiescence of responsibility. Not to mention the fact that the department has had three different leaders in just the past few years, and front-line workers are so fed up that they&#8217;ve created their own website to help draw attention to their department&#8217;s condition. It is clear to me that a better good faith effort to clean up the ethics problems at DOC would send a great message to lawmakers, rank-and-file employees and the public in general that the department is cleaning house. Just like shaking a Christmas tree before you take it home to make sure all the dead needles fall away, corrections managers need to shed their dead weight so the taxpayers of this state can see clearly that the department is ready to reform itself. Management must be held to the same standard as front-line employees and the department must rid itself of the double standard that currently exists. In that regard, I&#8217;ve asked acting DOC secretary Bernie Warner to fire Belinda Stewart and make a series of moves to bring accountability back to the department&#8217;s management. In fact, as the Chair of the Senate Human Services and Corrections Committee, it is my responsibility to vet the gubernatorial appointee before he can be confirmed by the full Senate. However, in a letter to me regarding this matter, Warner explains that he believes the third letter of reprimand (from as many department heads) and the financial penalty imposed by the ethics board is enough punishment for breaking state law. He closes by stating his intention to continue Stewart&#8217;s employ at the agency. My office door has been revolving with the number of DOC whistleblowers who are bringing in stack after stack of evidence showing management&#8217;s lack of accountability, questionable decision-making, and retaliation against anyone trying to right an observed wrong. However it seems that Warner is trying to find a way to justify the lack of action by the department; at the very minimum I believe his inaction is sending a message that department leadership is at least partially culpable as well. As <a class="more-link" href="http://mikecarrell.src.wastateleg.org/doc-needs-to-show-it-is-ready-to-reform/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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