Gov. Gregoire signs bills aimed at protecting children and preventing loads from falling on highways

For Immediate Release: May 13, 2005

OLYMPIA - May 13, 2005 - Gov. Christine Gregoire today signed more than 50 bills, including two that resulted from tragedies. One sets up a task force to find better ways to protect children in troubled home situations and the other prevents loads from falling on highways.

Substitute House Bill 2156 sets up a task force to look at state laws and procedures for returning foster children into troubled home situations. The bill is a result of several deaths of children who had been repeatedly placed in foster care and then returned to their parents.

�These kinds of tragedies happen far too often,� said Gregoire as she signed the bill. �We should give parents a chance, but there comes a time to let the best interests of the child win out.�

Substitute House Bill 1478 makes it a crime to fail to tie down or otherwise secure a vehicle�s cargo if the failure causes personal injury or property damage to someone else. �For anyone who has ever found themselves driving behind dangerously unsecured loads, this bill is long overdue. Hopefully, it will save lives,� Gregoire said.

This bill is an effort to address the harm caused to people like Maria Federici, where the failure to secure a load causes a person severe physical injury. Ms. Federici, who was injured when a piece of furniture struck her car, was present for the bill signing, along with her family and friends. In addition to punishing the person responsible, it also would make victims eligible for benefits under the Crime Victims� Compensation Program.