[atlas:bill]

WHEREAS, An adequate supply of health care personnel is of critical importance to the well-being of Washington residents; and

WHEREAS, Washington state is facing a growing public health crisis because of a shortage of health care personnel; and

WHEREAS, The shortage of health care personnel threatens the ability of Washington residents to continue to obtain quality, accessible health care;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring, That a Health Care Work Force Commission is established. The commission shall consist of no more than seventeen members appointed in the following manner:

(1) Two members from the House of Representatives, one from the majority party and one from the minority party, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House;

(2) Two members from the Senate, one from the majority party and one from the minority party, to be appointed by the President of the Senate;

(3) One member shall represent hospitals, to be appointed by the Governor;

(4) One member shall represent public hospital districts, to be appointed by the Governor;

(5) One member shall represent nurses, to be appointed by the Governor;

(6) One member shall represent physicians, to be appointed by the Governor;

(7) One member shall represent allied health professionals, to be appointed by the Governor;

(8) One member shall represent long-term care providers, to be appointed by the Governor;

(9) One member shall represent the Washington State Department of Health;

(10) One member shall represent the Work Force Training and Education Coordinating Board;

(11) One member shall represent the Higher Education Coordinating Board;

(12) One member shall represent the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges;

(13) One member shall represent the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction;

(14) One member shall represent organized labor, to be appointed by the Governor; and

(15) The Governor shall appoint a chairperson of the commission who has no connection to the health care industry and who shall represent the public at large; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That consistent with funds appropriated specifically for this purpose, the commission may hire staff, appoint technical advisory committees, and contract for professional assistance. State agencies, the Senate, and the House of Representatives may provide staff support upon request of the commission. The commission also has authority to seek and expend funds from private foundations; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That in the conduct of its business, the commission shall have reasonable access to health care personnel and related work force data available to all state agencies. All state agencies shall provide the commission with all requested health personnel data and other relevant work force information maintained by their agencies in a timely manner; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That members of the commission shall receive no compensation for their service, except that travel expenses shall be reimbursed from whatever funds are made available to the commission, pursuant to RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060, and for members of the Legislature appointed to the commission, travel expenses shall be reimbursed pursuant to RCW 44.04.120; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the commission shall develop a Washington state strategic plan for ensuring an adequate supply of health personnel and safeguarding the ability of the health care delivery system in Washington state to provide quality, accessible health care to residents of Washington, which shall:

(1) Identify ways to increase the capacity of health professions' training programs to prepare students to meet the increasing need for health care workers;

(2) Identify ways to improve the marketing and outreach of the health professions and improve recruitment of and support for students interested in them;

(3) Recommend changes to streamline entry to practice regulations and requirements. The commission shall not entertain discussions on changes to existing scopes of practice;

(4) Recommend changes to federal and state statutes and regulations that prevent stimulating and rewarding practice environments;

(5) Recommend ways to increase the diversity of health professions, engage families transitioning from welfare to work, and encourage other currently unemployed workers to seek jobs in the health care industries; and

(6) Identify existing funding mechanisms that may be used to implement the commission's recommendations; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the commission shall submit an interim report to the Governor and the Legislature on or before December 31, 2002, and a final report to include a state strategic plan by December 31, 2003. The commission shall cease to exist on December 31, 2003.