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Articles written by Juan Morfin


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  • Standards for pursuits, use of force updated

    Juan Morfin, Washington State Journal|Mar 17, 2022

    Police can pursue and stop vehicles if they have a “reasonable suspicion” of a crime being committed under new legislation that is headed to the desk of Gov. Jay Inslee. The Washington State House of Representatives voted 86-12 in favor of SB 5919 March 4 with bipartisan support. The Senate previously voted in favor of the same bill early last month. This legislation reverses current law which cites “probable cause” as sufficient reason to engage in a vehicular pursuit. Under SB 5919, however, “reasonable suspicion” will be enough to allow an...

  • Use of force modified for youth, mentally ill

    Juan Morfin, Washington State Journal|Mar 17, 2022

    People with mental health problems and juveniles can be detained or restrained by law enforcement, according to new legislation on the use of force. The new law, House Bill 1735, passed the Washington State House with a 90-5 vote, and passed in the Senate 49-0. It was signed into law Friday, March 4 by Gov. Jay Inslee. The bill was drafted to end confusion caused by the adoption of a law last year that prevented crisis responders from receiving police assistance. “It adjusts 2021 police reform legislation by clarifying when an officer can u...

  • Use of force modified for youth, mentally ill

    Juan Morfin, The Washington State Journal|Mar 10, 2022

    People with mental health problems and juveniles can be detained or restrained by law enforcement, according to new legislation on the use of force. The new law, House Bill 1735, passed the Washington State House with a 90-5 vote, and passed in the Senate 49-0. It was signed into law Friday, March 4 by Gov. Jay Inslee. The bill was drafted to end confusion caused by the adoption of a law last year that prevented crisis responders from receiving police assistance. “It adjusts 2021 police reform legislation by clarifying when an officer can u...

  • Standards for pursuits, use of force updated

    Juan Morfin, Washington State Journal|Mar 10, 2022

    Police can pursue and stop vehicles if they have a “reasonable suspicion” of a crime being committed under new legislation that is headed to the desk of Gov. Jay Inslee. The Washington State House of Representatives voted 86-12 in favor of SB 5919 March 4 with bipartisan support. The Senate previously voted in favor of the same bill early last month. This legislation reverses current law which cites “probable cause” as sufficient reason to engage in a vehicular pursuit. Under SB 5919, however, “reasonable suspicion” will be enough to allow an...

  • Covid-19 restrictions begin to relax

    Juan Morfin, Washington State Journal|Feb 17, 2022

    With data indicating a decline in cases and COVID-19 related hospitalizations, the state is entering a period where restrictions can be lifted, Gov. Jay Inslee said. While there is no date to end the universal indoor mask mandate, Inslee said the pause on elective surgeries and procedures at hospitals will end on Feb. 17. Additionally, the mandate requiring masking for outdoor events with 500 people or more will expire a day later. “I think it would be helpful for Washingtonians to have a goal and helpful for them to do whatever planning is n...

  • Senate debates law enforcement use of force

    Juan Morfin, Washington State Journal|Feb 17, 2022

    The amount of force a police officer uses must be “proportional and reasonable,” a bill approved recently by the State Senate says. The bill also specifies officers will also be allowed to engage in vehicular pursuits as long as there is “reasonable suspicion” when making a traffic stop. The Senate voted 31-18 on Senate Bill 5919 on Feb. 9 with a handful of Republicans joining the majority Democrats. The bill cleans up language adopted last year on the use of force that many in the law enforcement community said was confusing and contradictory....

  • Police restraint gets House bill clarification

    Juan Morfin, Washington State Journal|Feb 10, 2022

    Mental health victims and juveniles can be restrained by law enforcement when responding to requests for assistance from crisis responders. That is the thrust of House Bill 1735, which passed the state House with a 90-5 vote and went to the Senate for consideration. The bill is intended to end confusion caused by the adoption of last year's House Bill 1310 which prevented crisis responders from receiving police assistance in detaining or transporting people. “We're talking about hands-on…whether law enforcement can physically interact with peo...

  • House, Senate agree to delay long-term care

    Juan Morfin, Washington State Journal|Feb 3, 2022

    Washington’s highly-touted and highly controversial long-term care program will be delayed by 18 months, as lawmakers work to correct flaws in the program. Gov. Jay Inslee signed bills Jan. 27 to delay the WA Cares payroll tax on Washington workers just days after the Senate voted 46-3 in favor of delaying both the collection of premiums and WA Cares Fund’s implementation. The House of Representatives voted 91-6 in favor of the same bill. Inslee’s action pauses on the collection of premiums. The collection is scheduled to begin July 1, 2023,...

  • New law would increase neighborhood densities

    Juan Morfin, Washington State Journal|Feb 3, 2022

    Forcing higher densities in Washington’s cities will help reduce housing costs, cut fuel emissions and put an end to exclusionary zoning, supporters of House Bill 1782 say. Critics of the idea, however, say it will require significant overhauls in city infrastructure and reduce local control of housing options. The bill addresses the “missing middle,” housing options that exist between single-family homes and apartment complexes, such as duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes. The bill requires cities to allow middle housing in every zone where...

  • House and Senate vote to delay long-term care implementation

    Juan Morfin, Washington State Journal|Jan 27, 2022

    The implementation of Washington’s highly-touted and highly controversial long-term care program should be delayed by 18 months, lawmakers in both the House and Senate decided this week. In a floor debate Jan. 26, the Senate voted 46-3 in favor of delaying both the collection of premiums and WA Cares Fund’s implementation. And on Jan. 19, the House of Representatives did the same, voting 91-6 in favor of the same bill. This bill would result in the Long-Term Services and Supports Trust Program known as WA Cares Fund, signed in 2019, to beg...

  • New law would force cities to increase neighborhood densities

    Juan Morfin, Washington State Journal|Jan 27, 2022

    Forcing higher densities in Washington’s cities will help reduce housing costs, cut fuel emissions and put an end to exclusionary zoning, supporters of House Bill 1782 say. Critics of the idea, however, say it will require significant overhauls in city infrastructure and reduce local control of housing options. The bill addresses the “missing middle,” housing options that exist between single-family homes and apartment complexes, such as duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes. The bill requires cities to allow middle housing in every zone where...

  • Senate OKs boost for election officials safety

    Juan Morfin, Washington State Journal|Jan 20, 2022

    Election officials will get more protection from harassment if SB 5148 becomes law. The bill was approved in the Senate Jan. 12 with 48 yeas and 0 nays. It will be up to the House to approve or amend it. In debate on the Senate floor, Sen. David Frockt, D-Seattle, said the bill will address a “grievous threat” to our democratic system. “Here in our own state, in Washington State, which inspired this legislation last year, the top elections official, a deputy to our former Secretary of State...

  • Bill aims to help homeless & former foster care college students

    Juan Morfin, Washington State Journal|Jan 20, 2022

    Homeless students at community and technical colleges across the state will get the help they need if HB 1601 becomes law. If passed, the bill would provide homeless students and students who age out of the foster care system help with access to laundry storage, shower facilities, locker rooms, food banks, technology, reduced-price meals or meal plans, case management services and short-term housing/housing assistance. “This results in people not being able to graduate or go onto a career. It hurts our students, our institutions and our local c...

  • Bill aims to help homeless & former foster care college students

    Juan Morfin, Washington State Journal|Jan 13, 2022

    Homeless students at community and technical colleges across the state will get the help they need if HB 1601 becomes law. If passed, the bill would provide homeless students and students who age out of the foster care system help with access to laundry storage, shower facilities, locker rooms, food banks, technology, reduced-price meals or meal plans, case management services and short-term housing/housing assistance. “This results in people not being able to graduate or go onto a career. It hurts our students, our institutions and our local c...