| One Hearing Down, More to Come! |
| Our legislators have an opportunity to ban private prisons in Washington State by passing HB2576 and SB6442 this legislative session! The first hearing of SB6442 happened in the Senate Human Services Committee on this last Wednesday, Jan 28th, and the House Public Safety Committee will hear the bill on Monday, Feb. 3 at 1:30. Since the bills need to get out of committee by February 7th, our legislators need to act swiftly in order to prevent the spread of private prisons in our state and to stop the renewal of contracts for private prisons (eg NWDC) that are already operating here. |
| Two actions you can take to support the passage of this bill: 1. BEFORE Monday, 2/3 at 1:00pm – Call, Email and Tweet House Public Safety Committee Members: Email House Public Safety Committee Members by 2/3 at 1pm (scroll down for form emails, contact info, and talking points!) Tweet House Public Safety Committee Members by clicking this link (or copy and paste into your Twitter feed: Representative, can we count on you to make WA state the next state to #BanPrivatePrisons? Pass #HB2576! @RogerGoodman45 @laurendavisWA @tinaorwall @pettigrew_e) Spread the news! Take it one step further by telling your friends and family about it and inviting them to take action! Forward this email, share info on social media, text your buddies and coworkers! 2. On Monday, 2/3 at 1:30pm – Attend House Public Safety Hearing for HB2576 Location: John L. O’Brien Building Hearing Room D at the state capital in Olympia. Come early so you can get a seat! These hearings are short so there may not be time for additional testimonies, but your presence and signing on in favor of the bill is incredibly helpful and shows how much support there is for the bill. Sign in favor of the bill, which is now done electronically in all committees. To do this, you may: Go to one of the Committee Sign-In kiosks located in the main hallway of the Cherberg Building and the O’Brien Building, each Senate and House hearing room, or the first floor of the Legislative Building and the Pritchard Building; or Access the Committee Sign-In Program from a web-enabled device (smartphone, laptop or tablet), only while on campus and connected to the Legislature’s WSLPublic wireless Internet network For transportation: We’re trying a carpool app! Fill this out if you can offer a ride or if you need a ride.There is also parking nearby, but no guarantees as to whether it will be available. Public transit in Olympia is now free and there are buses that go directly to the capital. |
| Background Information for Contacting your Legislators Make sure you call and individually email each House Public Safety Committee member before the hearing, asking for their support of the bill, using our form email below. Utilize our scripts below and be sure to emphasize this effort is about ending ALL forms of private prisons (including administrative detention) in Washington. |
| Contact Info: House Public Safety Committee |
| Roger Goodman, Committee Chair 360-786-7878 Roger.Goodman@leg.wa.gov Lauren Davis, Vice Chair (360) 786-7910 Lauren.Davis@leg.wa.gov Sherry Appleton, 2nd Vice Chair (360) 786-7934 Sherry.Appleton@leg.wa.gov John Lovick (360) 786-7804 John.Lovick@leg.wa.gov Tina Orwall (360) 786-7834 Tina.Orwall@leg.wa.gov Mike Pellicciotti (360) 786-7898 Mike.Pellicciotti@leg.wa.gov Eric Pettigrew (360) 786-7838 Eric.Pettigrew@leg.wa.gov Brad Klippert, Ranking Minority Member (360) 786-7882 Brad.Klippert@leg.wa.gov Robert Sutherland, Assistant Ranking Minority Member (360) 786-7967 Robert.Sutherland@leg.wa.gov Jenny Graham (360) 786-7962 Jenny.Graham@leg.wa.gov Dan Griffey (360) 786-7966 Dan.Griffey@leg.wa.gov |
| Form Letters / Scripts:For Organizational Reps: Calling Script for House Committee Members* *If you are calling as an individual, your script is below this one!*Hi, is Representative (name) available? My name is (your name), and I’m a representative from (your organization), which is part of a coalition of over 190 organizations that supports a private prison ban in Washington State. As a representative of (your organization), I’m calling to let your office know that we support HB2576, and to ask for Representative (rep name) to support the passage of the bill. Can we count on you to support the bill and help it get out of committee? [*add this if it applies to you and you can travel to Olympia when there is a hearing*] Our organization will be attending the hearing on Monday and look forward to signing in favor of the bill at the hearing. Thank you! For Organizational Reps: Form Email for House Public Safety Committee Members* *If you are emailing as an individual, your script is below this one!* Dear Representative (insert name here), My name is (your name), and I’m a representative from (your organization), which is a part of a coalition of over 190 organizations that supports a private prison ban in Washington State. As a representative of (your organization), I’m writing to let you know that we support HB2576, and to ask for your support of the bill. Can we count on you to support the bill and help it to get out of committee? We believe that private prisons have no place in our state, and that this is a critical opportunity to act swiftly and prevent this inhumane industry from profiting off of human suffering in Washington State. [*add this if it applies to you and you can travel to Olympia for the hearing*] Our organization will attend the hearing on Feb. 3 and look forward to signing in favor of the bill at the hearing. Thank you for your support in making Washington State a more just place. Sincerely, (your name) (your organization/title) For Individuals: Calling Script for House Committee Members Hi, is Representative (name) available? My name is (your name), and I am a (eg teacher, concerned WA resident, mother) who supports a private prison ban in Washington State. I’m calling to let your office know that I support HB2576, and to ask for Representative (rep name) to support the passage of the bill. Can I count on you to support the bill and help it get out of committee? [*add this if it applies to you and you can travel to Olympia when there is a hearing*] I will be attending the hearing on Monday and look forward to signing in favor of the bill at the hearing. Thank you! For Individuals: Form Email for House Public Safety Committee Members Dear Representative (insert name here), My name is (your name), and I am a (eg teacher, concerned WA resident, mother) who supports a private prison ban in Washington State. I’m writing to let you know that I support HB2576, and to ask for your support of the bill. Can we count on you to support the bill and help it to get out of committee? I believe that private prisons have no place in our state, and that this is a critical opportunity to act swiftly and prevent this inhumane industry from profiting off of human suffering in Washington State. [*add this if it applies to you and you can travel to Olympia for the hearing*] I will attend the hearing on Feb. 3 and look forward to signing in favor of the bill at the hearing. Thank you for your support in making Washington State a more just place. Sincerely, (your name) |