McKenna wants increased protection for elderly

BRAD SHANNON; The Olympian

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Attorney General Rob McKenna rolled out his yearly wish list for the state Legislature on Wednesday in Olympia, including new sanctions for those who abuse the elderly, tougher penalties for domestic violence and an update of the state’s auto lemon law.

McKenna also proposes ending a political impasse over how to deal with improper discussions by city councils, school boards and other local government boards in closed-door, or “executive,” sessions. A tougher bill stalled last year amid fears that recorded executive sessions could compromise a city’s legal standing, even if a recording were available only for a judge to review in the event of a dispute.

McKenna wants to create a records-law training requirement for local governments. He also would require recording of executive sessions once a court finds a government board made an “intentional” violation of the Open Public Meetings Act. House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler, D-Hoquiam, is sponsoring the bill.

The state attorney general has a list of requests for the Legislature, including tougher penalties for those who abuse elders, and an update to the vehicle lemon law.

McKenna also wants a crackdown on prison inmates who abuse the state’s open-records law by using records requests to harass officials. He would let the state win orders barring requests from nuisance inmates, saving what he estimated is $500,000 a year he has put into his other crime-oriented initiatives.

Sen. Janea Holmquist, R-Moses Lake, and Sen. Mike Carrell, R-Lakewood, are sponsoring the inmate-records bill.

McKenna, a Republican, is just starting his second term in office and has a track record of getting bills passed in the Democrat-controlled Legislature. A rundown of what else he has in mind:

Elder abuse: Creating mandatory add-ons to sentences for those who commit crimes against vulnerable adults, including the elderly and the disabled. The added prison times for physical abuse or financial exploitation would range from 18 months to five years.

Child porn: Creating a new “viewing” crime, while also creating an exemption for law enforcement personnel who must view such material as evidence.

Domestic violence: Treating serial abusers as severely as burglars and drug traffickers by allowing past misdemeanor offenses to be counted in sentencing.

Defective cars: Updating the state’s 21-year-old auto lemon law. It would extend warranties or the “eligibility period” to 36 months or 36,000 miles. McKenna would broaden the basis of claims to include two or more life-threatening defects or five nonconformities with a warranty.

Prize fraud: Requiring better disclosures by Internet firms that offer prizes and promotions, and clarifying that a seller cannot charge for goods or services that were not solicited.

Tobacco: Barring sales and delivery of tobacco products via the Internet to individuals.