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Ross hopes his first House
vote is for 'Washington Rest in Peace Act'
Navy veteran votes to move HB 1168 forward from
House Judiciary Committee
Rep. Charles Ross wasn't a
state lawmaker when a hate group protested at the funeral of a military
veteran in Yakima, or when the state Senate failed to pass the
"Washington Rest in Peace Act" in the closing hours of the 2006
legislative session. He's glad to be serving in the House of
Representatives now that the measure has been reintroduced.
"I've voted on
housekeeping and ceremonial bills in the House chamber, but no policy
bills yet," said Ross, R-Naches, who was sworn in as 14th District state
representative on Jan. 5. "I was pleased to help pass this bill from the
House Judiciary Committee today and I want it to be the first policy
bill I vote for in the House chamber."
House Bill 1168 would require protesters at funerals to remain at
a distance of 500 feet or be charged with a misdemeanor under the
state's disorderly conduct law. Introduced last
year as House Bill 3293, the measure would amend the state's disorderly
conduct statute to include intentionally engaging in fighting or
tumultuous conduct, or making unreasonable noise, within 500 feet of:
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the location where a
funeral or burial is being performed;
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a funeral home during
the viewing of a deceased person;
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a building in which a
funeral or memorial service is being conducted; or
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a funeral procession,
if the person engaging in the protest knows that the procession is
taking place.
Ross, a Navy veteran and licensed funeral director, is a co-sponsor of
HB 1168. Congress adopted a similar measure last year, but it only
covers national cemeteries, leaving non-federal cemeteries and funeral
chapels across Washington unprotected.
"This bill should have
been passed last year. The Speaker of the House promised it would be the
first bill the House votes on in 2007, and I'm confident that promise
will be kept," he said. # # #
Contact: Rep. Ross, (360) 786-7856 or
Eric Campbell, Public Information Officer, (360) 786-7720
Visit
http://www.houserepublicans.wa.gov/Ross
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