Summary

If the alternative legislation introduced by members is adopted by the Council, it along with I-27 would be on the February ballot

Story

Five members of the King County Council have introduced legislation that would—if passed—add an alternative to Initiative 27 on the February ballot.

I-27 proposes a ban on Community Health Engagement Locations (CHEL) across King County. If the alternative legislation introduced by members, Proposed Ordinance 2017-0420, is adopted by the Council, it along with I-27 would be on the February ballot, giving the voters a choice between I-27 and the Council's alternative ordinance. The text of I-27 will still appear on the ballot unchanged. The proposed alternative legislation would implement all the findings of the Heroin and Opioid Addiction Task Force, including the operation of up to two CHEL sites in King County.

The legislation is scheduled for a public hearing and vote at this Monday’s regularly scheduled 1:30 p.m. meeting. A simple majority of 5 votes in favor would place the language on the February ballot. Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles is the lead sponsor of the legislation with Council Chair Joe McDermott and Councilmembers Claudia Balducci, Rod Dembowski, and Larry Gossett serving as cosponsors.

BACKGROUND: Initiative 27, which qualified to be placed on the February ballot, would ban community health engagement locations (CHEL) anywhere in King County. The proposed alternate was proposed as Ordinance 2017-0420. If passed by voters, it would authorize a three year pilot project during which up to two CHELs could be operated in King County in hotspots of concentrated substance use and related overdoes. If this proposed alternative ordinance were adopted by the Council on Monday, it along with I-27 would be on the ballot, giving the voters a choice between I-27 and the Council's alternative ordinance.