Washington 2019-2020 Regular Session Status: Enacted 1 D cosponsors

SB 5560 — Concerning mediation of disputes between elected officials.

Last action — Effective date 7/28/2019.

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed House
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 24, 2019. Enacted.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 74% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 2 sponsors

    1 primary, 1 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (1 D).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 3 recorded votes so far.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

1 added · 1 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updated version of SB 5560 introduced a new section that clarifies the mediation process for disputes involving elected officials. One significant change is the removal of language that paused the statute of limitations during the mediation period, meaning that parties are encouraged to resolve disputes through mediation without additional delays in legal proceedings. This change is important because it encourages quicker resolutions by ensuring that legal timelines remain intact while addressing conflicts, ultimately benefiting the public by reducing prolonged disputes between elected officials.

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S-1477.1SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5560State of Washington66th Legislature2019 Regular SessionBySenate Law & Justice (originally sponsored by Senators Padden and Pedersen)READ FIRST TIME 02/08/19.AN ACT Relating to mediation of disputes between elected officials;
S-0260.2SENATE BILL 5560State of Washington66th Legislature2019 Regular SessionBySenators Padden and PedersenAN ACT Relating to mediation of disputes between elected officials;
A new section is added to chapter 42.17A RCW to read as follows:(1) Before a lawsuit may be commenced in disputes between elected officials, as the term "elected official" is defined in subsection (7) of this section, in their official capacity, the party bringing the claim must first notify in writing the other parties to the claim.
A new section is added to chapter 42.17A RCW to read as follows:(1) Before a lawsuit may be commenced in disputes between elected officials, as the term "elected official" is defined in subsection (6) of this section, in their official capacity, the party bringing the claim must first notify in writing the other parties to the claim.
and(c) Include a copy of this section.(2) The making of a written, good faith notice requesting mediation prior to commencing a lawsuit by the party bringing the claim as provided in subsection (1) of this section tolls the statute of limitations until the ninetieth day from the date of notice, or the day following the date set in subsection (5) of this section, or mediation ends, whichever is later.(3) After the notice of mediation has been provided to all interested parties, unless otherwise agreed to by the parties, all interested parties must mediate pursuant to the process set forth in this section within ninety days or by the date set in subsection (5) of this section.
and(c) Include a copy of this section.(2) After the notice of mediation has been provided to all interested parties, unless otherwise agreed to by the parties, all interested parties must mediate pursuant to the process set forth in this section within ninety days or by the date set in subsection (4) of this section.
If any party refuses to mediate, fails to mediate in good faith, or if mediation does not resolve the claim, the party bringing the claim may commence a lawsuit on the claim upon the passage of the 90th day from the date of notice or the day following the date set in subsection (5) of this section, whichever is later.(4) The mediator shall be agreed upon by the parties.
If any party refuses to mediate, fails to mediate in good faith, or if mediation does not resolve the claim, the party bringing the claim may commence a lawsuit on the claim upon the passage of the 90th day from the date of notice or the day following the date set in subsection (4) of this section, whichever is later.(3) The mediator shall be agreed upon by the parties.
The petition shall be filed in the superior court of the county in which one of the parties serves as an elected official.
The petition shall be filed in the superior court of the county in which one of the parties serves as a county official.
If any party is a superior court judge and all the parties serve in the same county, the action shall be filed in an adjacent county.(5) Upon designation of a mediator by the parties or the court, the mediator and the parties or the parties' representatives shall establish a date for the mediation.
If any party is a superior court judge and all the parties serve in the same county, the action shall be filed in an adjacent county.(4) Upon designation of a mediator by the parties or the court, the mediator and the parties or the parties' representatives shall establish a date for the mediation.
If a date cannot be agreed upon within ten days of the designation or appointment of the mediator, a party may petition the court, as set forth in subsection (4) of this section, to set a date for the mediation.
If a date cannot be agreed upon within ten days of the designation or appointment of the mediator, a party may petition the court, as set forth in subsection (3) of this section, to set a date for the mediation.
The mediation shall occur within ninety days from the day the notice is provided under subsection (1) of this section, or on a later date if agreed to by all parties and the mediator or as scheduled by the court.(6) Costs of the mediation, including reasonable compensation for the mediator's services, shall be paid equally by the parties unless the superior court determines otherwise in its order appointing the mediator.
The mediation shall occur within ninety days from the day the notice is provided under subsection (1) of this section, or on a later date if agreed to by all parties and the mediator or as scheduled by the court.(5) Costs of the mediation, including reasonable compensation for the mediator's services, shall be paid equally by the parties unless the superior court determines otherwise in its order appointing the mediator.
If the matter is not resolved by mediation and the parties cannot agree as to how costs are assessed among the parties, the court that resolves the matter shall determine how costs are assessed among the parties.(7) For the purposes of this section, "elected official" means:(a) Any elected or appointed county officer as enumerated in RCW 36.16.030;(b) Equivalent positions whether elected or appointed in charter counties;
If the matter is not resolved by mediation and the parties cannot agree as to how costs are assessed among the parties, the court that resolves the matter shall determine how costs are assessed among the parties.(6) For the purposes of this section, "elected official" means:(a) Any elected or appointed county officer as enumerated in RCW 36.16.030;(b) Equivalent positions whether elected or appointed in charter counties;
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Action History

  1. Effective date 7/28/2019.

  2. Chapter 463, 2019 Laws.

  3. Governor signed.

  4. Delivered to Governor.

  5. Speaker signed.

  6. President signed.

  7. Passed final passage; yeas, 48; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 1.

  8. Senate concurred in House amendments.

  9. Third reading, passed; yeas, 98; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 0.

  10. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

  11. Committee recommendations adopted and the bill amended.

  12. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.

  13. Referred to Rules 2 Review.

  14. Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary at 10:00 AM

  15. CRJ - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).

  16. Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary at 08:00 AM

  17. First reading, referred to Civil Rights & Judiciary.

  18. Third reading, passed; yeas, 48; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 1.

  19. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

  20. 1st substitute bill substituted.

  21. 1st substitute bill substituted.

  22. Placed on second reading consent calendar.

  23. Placed on second reading consent calendar.

  24. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

  25. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

  26. Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice at 10:00 AM

  27. LAW - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.

  28. LAW - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.

  29. Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice at 10:00 AM

  30. First reading, referred to Law & Justice.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 1 co-sponsors · 149 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

  • Padden

Co-sponsors (1)

Not signed on (149)

149 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 149 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Final Passage as Amended by the House (#8)

Passed 48 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 9000
Unaffiliated 26001
Democrat 13000
Total 48001
% of votes cast 98%0%0%2%
How each member voted (49)
Member Party Vote
Honeyford — Yea
Keiser — Yea
Kuderer — Yea
McCoy — Yea
Mullet — Yea
O'Ban — Yea
Padden — Yea
Palumbo — Yea
Randall — Yea
Rivers — Yea
Rolfes — Yea
Sheldon — Yea
Takko — Not Voting
Wilson, L. — Yea
Zeiger — Yea
Bailey — Yea
Becker — Yea
Billig — Yea
Brown — Yea
Carlyle — Yea
Darneille — Yea
Das — Yea
Ericksen — Yea
Frockt — Yea
Hawkins — Yea
Hobbs — Yea
Van De Wege — Yea
Annette Cleveland Democrat Yea
Bob Hasegawa Democrat Yea
Claire Wilson Democrat Yea
Jamie Pedersen Democrat Yea
Jesse Salomon Democrat Yea
Joe Nguyen Democrat Yea
Lisa Wellman Democrat Yea
Liz Lovelett Democrat Yea
Manka Dhingra Democrat Yea
Marko Liias Democrat Yea
Rebecca Saldaña Democrat Yea
Steve Conway Democrat Yea
Victoria Hunt Democrat Yea
Curtis King Republican Yea
Jeff Holy Republican Yea
Jim Walsh Republican Yea
John Braun Republican Yea
Judy Warnick Republican Yea
Keith Wagoner Republican Yea
Mark Schoesler Republican Yea
Phil Fortunato Republican Yea
Shelly Short Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Final Passage as Amended by the House (#9)

Passed 98 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 33000
Republican 22000
Democrat 43000
Total 98000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (98)
Member Party Vote
Appleton — Yea
Blake — Yea
Chambers — Yea
Chandler — Yea
Chopp — Yea
Cody — Yea
DeBolt — Yea
Dolan — Yea
Hoff — Yea
Hudgins — Yea
Irwin — Yea
Jenkin — Yea
Kirby — Yea
Klippert — Yea
Kraft — Yea
Kretz — Yea
Maycumber — Yea
McCaslin — Yea
Mead — Yea
Morris — Yea
Mosbrucker — Yea
Pellicciotti — Yea
Pettigrew — Yea
Sells — Yea
Shea — Yea
Smith — Yea
Sullivan — Yea
Sutherland — Yea
Tarleton — Yea
Vick — Yea
Wilcox — Yea
Young — Yea
Van Werven — Yea
Amy Walen Democrat Yea
Beth Doglio Democrat Yea
Bill Ramos Democrat Yea
Chris Kilduff Democrat Yea
Cindy Ryu Democrat Yea
Dave Paul Democrat Yea
Debra Entenman Democrat Yea
Debra Lekanoff Democrat Yea
Derek Stanford Democrat Yea
Drew Hansen Democrat Yea
Gerry Pollet Democrat Yea
Jake Fey Democrat Yea
Javier Valdez Democrat Yea
Joe Fitzgibbon Democrat Yea
John Lovick Democrat Yea
June Robinson Democrat Yea
Kristine Reeves Democrat Yea
Larry Springer Democrat Yea
Lauren Davis Democrat Yea
Laurie Jinkins Democrat Yea
Lillian Ortiz-Self Democrat Yea
Lisa Callan Democrat Yea
Marcus Riccelli Democrat Yea
Mari Leavitt Democrat Yea
Melanie Morgan Democrat Yea
Mia Gregerson Democrat Yea
Mike Chapman Democrat Yea
Monica Jurado Stonier Democrat Yea
My-Linh Thai Democrat Yea
Nicole Macri Democrat Yea
Noel Frame Democrat Yea
Roger Goodman Democrat Yea
Sharon Shewmake Democrat Yea
Sharon Tomiko Santos Democrat Yea
Sharon Wylie Democrat Yea
Shelley Kloba Democrat Yea
Steve Bergquist Democrat Yea
Steve Tharinger Democrat Yea
Strom Peterson Democrat Yea
Tana Senn Democrat Yea
Timm Ormsby Democrat Yea
Tina Orwall Democrat Yea
Vandana Slatter Democrat Yea
Alex Ybarra Republican Yea
Andrew Barkis Republican Yea
Carolyn Eslick Republican Yea
Chris Corry Republican Yea
Chris Gildon Republican Yea
Dan Griffey Republican Yea
Drew MacEwen Republican Yea
Drew Stokesbary Republican Yea
Ed Orcutt Republican Yea
Jenny Graham Republican Yea
Jeremie Dufault Republican Yea
Jim Walsh Republican Yea
Joe Schmick Republican Yea
Keith Goehner Republican Yea
Mary Dye Republican Yea
Matt Boehnke Republican Yea
Michelle Valdez Republican Yea
Mike Steele Republican Yea
Mike Volz Republican Yea
Paul Harris Republican Yea
Skyler Rude Republican Yea
Tom Dent Republican Yea

Official roll call →

3rd Reading & Final Passage (#8)

Passed 48 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 26001
Democrat 13000
Republican 9000
Total 48001
% of votes cast 98%0%0%2%
How each member voted (49)
Member Party Vote
Mullet — Yea
O'Ban — Yea
Padden — Yea
Palumbo — Yea
Randall — Yea
Rivers — Yea
Rolfes — Yea
Bailey — Yea
Becker — Yea
Billig — Yea
Brown — Yea
Carlyle — Yea
Darneille — Yea
Das — Yea
Ericksen — Yea
Frockt — Yea
Hawkins — Yea
Hobbs — Yea
Honeyford — Yea
Keiser — Not Voting
Kuderer — Yea
McCoy — Yea
Wilson, L. — Yea
Zeiger — Yea
Sheldon — Yea
Takko — Yea
Van De Wege — Yea
Annette Cleveland Democrat Yea
Bob Hasegawa Democrat Yea
Claire Wilson Democrat Yea
Jamie Pedersen Democrat Yea
Jesse Salomon Democrat Yea
Joe Nguyen Democrat Yea
Lisa Wellman Democrat Yea
Liz Lovelett Democrat Yea
Manka Dhingra Democrat Yea
Marko Liias Democrat Yea
Rebecca Saldaña Democrat Yea
Steve Conway Democrat Yea
Victoria Hunt Democrat Yea
Curtis King Republican Yea
Jeff Holy Republican Yea
Jim Walsh Republican Yea
John Braun Republican Yea
Judy Warnick Republican Yea
Keith Wagoner Republican Yea
Mark Schoesler Republican Yea
Phil Fortunato Republican Yea
Shelly Short Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety civil-rights elections
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 5560?
SB 5560 is sponsored by Padden and Jamie Pedersen (Democrat).
What is the current status of SB 5560?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 24, 2019. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 5560?
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