SENATE BILL REPORT
ESHB 2411
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
As Passed Senate, March 3, 2020
Title: An act relating to suicide prevention.
Brief Description: Preventing suicide.
Sponsors: House Committee on Health Care & Wellness (originally sponsored by Representatives Orwall, Kilduff, Gildon, Leavitt, Paul, Cody, Davis, Pollet, Goodman, Wylie, Doglio and Morgan).
Brief History: Passed House: 2/12/20, 95-0.
Committee Activity: Health & Long Term Care: 2/21/20, 2/24/20 [DP].
Floor Activity:
Passed Senate: 3/03/20, 48-0.
Brief Summary of Engrossed First Substitute Bill |
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SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG TERM CARE |
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Cleveland, Chair; Randall, Vice Chair; O'Ban, Ranking Member; Becker, Conway, Dhingra, Frockt, Keiser, Muzzall, Rivers and Van De Wege.
Staff: Greg Attanasio (786-7410)
Background: Counselors, substance use disorder professionals, marriage and family therapists, mental health counselors, social workers, occupational therapy practitioners, and psychologists must complete training in suicide assessment, treatment, and management every six years as part of their continuing education requirements.
Other health care professionals, including physicians, chiropractors, physician assistants, pharmacists, dentists, naturopaths, and athletic trainers, must take a one-time training in suicide assessment, treatment, and management as part of their continuing education requirements.
The Department of Health (DOH) maintains a list of model trainings that meet the minimum standards to be approved for continuing education credit.
Summary of Engrossed First Substitute Bill: Advanced Training. Beginning July 1, 2021, the second training for a psychologist, marriage and family therapist, mental health counselor, advanced social worker, independent clinical social worker, or an associate advanced or independent clinical social worker must either be:
an advanced training focused on suicide management, suicide care protocols, or effective treatments; or
a training in a treatment modality shown to be effective in working with people who are suicidal, including dialectical behavior therapy, collaborative assessment and management of suicide risk, or cognitive behavior therapy—suicide management.
DOH must develop minimum standards for this training and include training that meets the minimum standards on the model list. A person is exempt from the training if they can demonstrate the training is not reasonably available.
One-Time Training. Optometrists, acupuncture, and Eastern medicine practitioners are added to the one-time training requirement for suicide assessment, treatment, and management.
Veterinarians and Veterinary Technicians. Beginning July 1, 2022, all veterinarians and veterinary technicians must complete one-time suicide prevention training developed by the Veterinary Board of Governors (VBG). When developing the training, the VBG must consult with the University of Washington's Forefront Suicide Prevention Center of Excellence and affected professional associations. The training must:
recognize that veterinarians treat animal patients and have limited interaction with animal patient owners;
focus on mental health and well-being;
include general content on suicide risk, prevention, and resources;
include specific content on imminent harm by lethal means; and
be three hours in length.
The hours spent completing the training must count toward meeting applicable continuing education requirements. The VBG may exempt a veterinarian or a veterinary technician from the requirement if they completed substantially equivalent training between July 1, 2019, and July 1, 2022.
Construction Industry Training. Subject to appropriation, the University of Washington's Forefront Suicide Prevention Center of Excellence (FSPCE) must develop an online, interactive training module in suicide prevention, and a series of complementary modules to be delivered by the construction industry, which must include training on available resources, lethal means safety, screening tools, men's mental health, and a refresher on the online training.
When developing the training, the FSPCE must coordinate with associations representing the construction industry. The training must be developed by July 1, 2021.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: The bill contains several effective dates. Please refer to the bill.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: It is important that the bill provides for a different program for veterinarians. Suicide prevention is a priority for the construction industry and this bill will provide needed information. FSPCE has been working to implement suicide prevention training policies for past five years and can customize programs for certain industries.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Representative Tina Orwall, Prime Sponsor; Tom Kwieciak, Building Industry Association of Washington; Greg Hanon, Washington State Veterinary Medical Association; Dale Bright, Laborers Local Union 242; Heather Kurtenbach, Business Agent, Ironworkers Local 86; Larry Wright, Forefront Suicide Prevention, UW—School of Social Work; Mandi Kime, Associated General Contractors; Dewayne Holzemdorf, Fasst.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.