HOUSE BILL REPORT

SHB 1558

As Amended by the Senate

BYHouse Committee on Health Care (originally sponsored by Representatives Inslee, P. King, Van Luven, Appelwick, Beck, Wineberry, Wood, Rector, Smith, Brekke, Baugher, Winsley, Leonard, Todd, Ballard, Nutley, Rayburn, Jacobsen, Hankins, Braddock, Grant, Locke, Brumsickle, Jesernig, Wang, Betrozoff, Wolfe, Brough, Horn, Basich, Bowman and Ferguson)

Regulating use of steroids.

House Committe on Health Care

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (8)

      Signed by Representatives Braddock, Chair; Day, Vice Chair; Brooks, Ranking Republican Member; Cantwell, Morris, Sommers, Vekich and Wolfe.

House Staff:John Welsh 786-7131)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 14, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Steroids are synthetic derivatives of male hormones.  They are used by some athletes to build up muscles.  The use of steroids has been linked to serious side effects such as mood swings, severe ache, baldness, sterility, abnormal liver function, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and, possibly, cancer of the liver.

The increase in the inappropriate use of steroids, especially among teenage boys, has been alarming.  A recent study indicated that as many as half a million teenage boys may be using steroids, primarily for body building purposes.  Further, most got these drugs through illegal sources.

There is no regulation of steroid drugs in current law.

SUMMARY:

Steroids are defined as anabolic steroids of specified chemical derivatives, androgens, or growth hormones.  The Board of Pharmacy may add or delete other steroid chemical derivatives by rule and must inform the legislature of the rationale.

Practitioners are prohibited from prescribing steroids solely for the purpose of enhancing athletic ability without a medical necessity to do so, and must maintain patient medical records showing the diagnosis and purpose of any prescription for steroids.  A violation of this requirement is a gross misdemeanor.

Possession of up to 200 tablets or eight cubic centimeter bottles of steroids is punishable as a gross misdemeanor.  Possession of greater amounts is punishable as a Class C felony.

Public schools must post signs on the premises of athletic departments advising students of the health risks of using steroids to enhance athletic ability and the penalties provided by law.

EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENTS:  The definition of steroids is revised to remove specific references to all the possible steroid classifications, and the Board of Pharmacy is required to define steroid classifications by rule and inform the Legislature by December 1 annually.

School authorities shall prohibit students who have violated the provisions of this act from participating in school athletic events for not less than one year.

Fiscal Note:      No Impact.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    William Scheyer, Washington State Medical Society; Charles R. James, Board of Pharmacy; John Gorow, Association of Washington School Principals; Representative Jay Inslee, Ed Lanlainry, Washington State Coaches Association; Gary Moore, Washington State Coaches Association; Cliff Gillies, Washington Interscholastic Athletic Association; Tim Tubbs, Washington State Coaches Association and Jeff Larsen, Washington Osteopathic Medical Association and Washington Association of Naturopathic Physicians.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The use of steroids by would-be athletes poses a dangerous risk to their health and safety including heart disease and cancer.  Steroids are a dangerous drug, and its use is accelerating principally among high school students.  Physicians should not prescribe them except for therapeutic purposes.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      Yeas 97; Excused 1

Excused:    Representative Wang