New Progress to Protect Meaningful Day
New Updates:
We’re still fighting hard to protect Meaningful Day. Thank you to everyone who attended Lobby Day to amplify our message! Now that Governor Ferguson has reopened budgets, we have a new path toward progress. Members of the House and Senate have informed us there are budget constraints, but there are also clear opportunities to preserve our fully funded CBA.
How You Can Help:
The Council’s work is vital, and the benefits we secure impact all homes. We need your help to build a stronger, more unified voice. This year presents challenges, and funding is at risk. Simply put, we need YOU. If you’re not yet a member of the Council or have homes that aren’t paying dues, please ensure you join us. Your voice matters, and it will make a difference. Help us protect Meaningful Day and sign up at: https://adultfamilyhomecouncil.org/benefits-of-membership
To our members — thank you for your ongoing support! Look out for more weekly webinars at the end of the legislative session. Let’s continue our momentum by following the steps below:
Step 1: Email the Appropriations Committee
- Find your district using the district finder.
- Email all members of the Appropriations Committee. Emails and template are included below:
To:
April.Berg@leg.wa.gov steve.bergquist@leg.wa.gov Brian.Burnett@leg.wa.gov michelle.caldier@leg.wa.gov lisa.callan@leg.wa.gov April.Connors@leg.wa.gov chris.corry@leg.wa.gov Julio.Cortes@leg.wa.gov Travis.Couture@leg.wa.gov beth.doglio@leg.wa.gov mary.dye@leg.wa.gov joe.fitzgibbon@leg.wa.gov mia.gregerson@leg.wa.gov Michael.Keaton@leg.wa.gov mari.leavitt@leg.wa.gov debra.lekanoff@leg.wa.gov nicole.macri@leg.wa.gov Deb.Manjarrez@leg.wa.gov Matt.Marshall@leg.wa.gov timm.ormsby@leg.wa.gov Joshua.Penner@leg.wa.gov strom.peterson@leg.wa.gov gerry.pollet@leg.wa.gov skyler.rude@leg.wa.gov cindy.ryu@leg.wa.gov joe.schmick@leg.wa.gov larry.springer@leg.wa.gov monica.stonier@leg.wa.gov Chipalo.Street@leg.wa.gov my-linh.thai@leg.wa.gov steve.tharinger@leg.wa.gov
Cc:
Courtney@adultfamilyhomecouncil.org
Draft Message:
My name is [Your Name] and I live in [Your District] I am contacting you on behalf of the Adult Family Council. As you know, Adult Family Homes have collective bargaining rights. Initially, when our council signed our Tentative Agreement (TA), Meaningful Day (MD) was included on line item 7.11 page 20 of the current CBA and line item 7.11 page 19 of our Tentative Agreement both are found below:
2023-2025 CBA: https://ofm.wa.gov/sites/default/files/public/labor/agreements/23-25/nse_afhc.pdf
2025-2027 Tentative Agreement: https://ofm.wa.gov/sites/default/files/public/labor/agreements/25-27/nse_afhc.pdf
Our Director of Government Affairs consulted with our attorney, and we want to bring attention to a problem with the proposed budgets. When the final budget passes and includes a fully funded CBA, yet removal of MD, according to: RCW 41.56.029 found here: https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=41.56.029, we would need to go back to negotiations.
For reference:
(7) The legislature must approve or reject the submission of the request for funds as a whole. If the legislature rejects or fails to act on the submission, any collective bargaining agreement must be reopened for the sole purpose of renegotiating the funds necessary to implement the agreement.
As you know, negotiations are costly to the state and while going back to negotiations isn’t our preference, our focus is to preserve the care for so many who receive MD. [Say How This Service Impacts Your Home.]
When session concludes, I invite you to tour my home to see firsthand the value we have to Washington State.
Thank you in advance,
[Your Name]
💡TIP: Include a picture of your home/link to your website!
Step 2: Email the Ways and Means Committee
Send the same email to all members of the Ways and Means Committee. Emails are noted below:
To:
matt.boehnke@leg.wa.gov john.braun@leg.wa.gov annette.cleveland@leg.wa.gov steve.conway@leg.wa.gov manka.dhingra@leg.wa.gov Perry.Dozier@leg.wa.gov noel.frame@leg.wa.gov chris.gildon@leg.wa.gov drew.hansen@leg.wa.gov bob.hasegawa@leg.wa.gov claudia.kauffman@leg.wa.gov ron.muzzall@leg.wa.gov jamie.pedersen@leg.wa.gov marcus.riccelli@leg.wa.gov june.robinson@leg.wa.gov rebecca.saldana@leg.wa.gov mark.schoesler@leg.wa.gov derek.stanford@leg.wa.gov Nikki.Torres@leg.wa.gov yasmin.trudeau@leg.wa.gov keith.wagoner@leg.wa.gov judith.warnick@leg.wa.gov lisa.wellman@leg.wa.gov claire.wilson@leg.wa.gov
Cc:
Courtney@adultfamilyhomecouncil.org
Questions?
Contact our Director of Government Affairs and Advocacy:
Courtney Williams, MPA
Courtney@adultfamilyhomecouncil.org
Not a Member Yet?
Membership fees enable the Council to cover legal expenses and fund staff to advocate with the state and regulatory agencies. The participation of every adult family home is vital to ensuring fair regulations and rates that accurately reflect the costs of caring for our vulnerable adults. Consider becoming a member of the Council to help us continue improving conditions for all adult family homes in Washington State.