SENATE BILL REPORT

SSB 5211

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.

Title: An act relating to prohibiting the use of live animals to practice invasive medical procedures in paramedic training programs.

Brief Description: Prohibiting the use of live animals to practice invasive medical procedures in paramedic training programs.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Palumbo, Rolfes, Hunt and Zeiger).

Committee Activity: Health & Long Term Care: 2/22/19 [DP-WM, DNP, w/oRec].

Ways & Means: 2/25/19, 2/26/19 [DPS, DNP, w/oRec].

Floor Activity:

Passed Senate: 3/12/19, 41-7.

Brief Summary of First Substitute Bill

Requires all paramedic training programs to use only human-based training methods by July 1, 2022.

Majority Report: Do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

Signed by Senators Cleveland, Chair; Randall, Vice Chair; Dhingra, Frockt, Keiser and Rivers.

Minority Report: Do not pass.

Signed by Senators Becker and Van De Wege.

Minority Report: That it be referred without recommendation.

Signed by Senators O'Ban, Ranking Member; Bailey and Conway.

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5211 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

Signed by Senators Rolfes, Chair; Frockt, Vice Chair, Operating, Capital Lead; Mullet, Capital Budget Cabinet; Braun, Ranking Member; Brown, Assistant Ranking Member, Operating; Billig, Darneille, Hasegawa, Hunt, Keiser, Liias, Palumbo, Pedersen, Rivers and Warnick.

Minority Report: Do not pass.

Signed by Senators Honeyford, Assistant Ranking Member, Capital; Bailey, Schoesler, Van De Wege and Wagoner.

Minority Report: That it be referred without recommendation.

Signed by Senators Becker, Carlyle, Conway and Wilson, L..

Background: Paramedics provide pre-hospital medical services including patient assessment, advanced cardiac life support with manual defibrillation, placement of multi lumen airways, administration of certain drugs, and other trauma related medical services. To receive paramedic certification from the Department of Health (DOH), an applicant must successfully complete a DOH approved paramedic training course, pass a DOH approved examination, and provide proof of association with an emergency medical services organization.

Summary of First Substitute Bill: By July 1, 2022, all paramedic training programs training individuals in the medical treatment of humans must only use human-based training methods and may not use live animals. Human-based training includes the use of simulators or human cadavers.

Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Original Bill (Health & Long Term Care): PRO: Technology now allows for the replication of human anatomy to eliminate the need to live animals for training. The University of Washington is currently working on a simulator model to phase out the use of live animals.

Persons Testifying (Health & Long Term Care): PRO: Richard Hall, Washington Alliance for Humane Legislation; Ian Goodhew, UW Medicine/Harborview.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (Health & Long Term Care): No one.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Original Bill (Ways & Means): The committee recommended a different version of the bill than what was heard. PRO: The Harborview Medical Center paramedic training program is the only one that uses live animals to teach cricothyrotomy. A simulator is being developed with a Department of Defense grant. The funding in this bill will allow the simulators to be deployed statewide for paramedic training.

Persons Testifying (Ways & Means): PRO: Ian Goodhew, University of Washington Medicine/Harborview.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (Ways & Means): No one.