HOUSE BILL REPORT

ESSB 5307

As Passed House:

April 1, 2011

Title: An act relating to evaluating military training and experience toward meeting licensing requirements in medical professions.

Brief Description: Concerning evaluating military training and experience toward meeting licensing requirements in medical professions.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care (originally sponsored by Senators Kilmer, Hewitt, Regala, Conway, Kastama, Hobbs, King, Rockefeller, Swecker and Roach).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Health Care & Wellness: 3/9/11, 3/16/11 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 4/1/11, 93-0.

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 10 members: Representatives Cody, Chair; Jinkins, Vice Chair; Schmick, Ranking Minority Member; Bailey, Clibborn, Green, Harris, Kelley, Moeller and Van De Wege.

Staff: Jim Morishima (786-7191).

Background:

The Department of Health (DOH) and various boards and commissions regulate a variety of health professions. Each profession is subject to its own unique credentialing standards such as education, clinical training, and the passage of examinations.

When an applicant with military experience applies for a credential, the DOH and the boards and commissions may, depending on the circumstances, count military training and experience toward the requirements for credentialing. Whether military training will be counted toward the credentialing requirements depends on a variety of factors, including the requirements for credentialing, the military training and experience at issue, and the statutory authority of the DOH, board, or commission with respect to the profession.

Summary of Bill:

An applicant with military training or experience satisfies the training or experience requirements toward licensure as a health professional unless the relevant disciplining authority determines that military training or experience is not substantially equivalent to state standards. This requirement applies to the following professions:

• denturists;

• dispensing opticians;

• ocularists;

• pharmacy assistants;

• physician assistants;

• osteopathic physician assistants;

• emergency medical technicians;

• radiologic technologists;

• nursing assistants;

• respiratory care practitioners;

• health care assistants;

• surgical technologists;

• dental assistants;

• expanded function dental auxiliaries;

• physical therapists; and

• physical therapy assistants.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) This bill makes sure that military training and experience is acknowledged in the health professions licensing process. Many people who have served in the armed services have this type of experience, but must start at square one when obtaining a license. It is preferable to require the disciplining authorities to count this experience, unless they find that the experience does not meet state requirements, rather than requiring the various disciplining authorities to develop a process to evaluate military training and experience that may be applied toward meeting training and educational requirements for certain health professions.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: Senator Kilmer, prime sponsor; Mark San Souci, Department of Defense State Liaison Office; and Bob Rudolph, Veterans Legislative Coalition.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.