Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Health Care & Wellness Committee

HB 1240

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.

Brief Description: Concerning suicide review teams.

Sponsors: Representatives Mosbrucker, Orwall, Dent, Smith, Bergquist, Dye, Corry, Wylie, Callan, Macri and Irwin.

Brief Summary of Bill

  • Establishes the Washington Youth Suicide Review Team to review the circumstances related to suicides occurring among youth up to age 24.

Hearing Date: 1/29/19

Staff: Jim Morishima (786-7191).

Background:

I. Suicide Prevention Plans.

The Washington State Suicide Prevention Plan, which was adopted in 2016, identifies goals in the following areas:

In addition, Washington State's Plan for Youth Suicide Prevention, last updated in 2014, states the following goals for youth suicide prevention:

II. Child Mortality Reviews.

Local health departments are authorized to conduct child mortality reviews. A child mortality review is a process for examining factors that contribute to the deaths of children less than 18 years of age. The process may include:

Summary of Bill:

The Department of Health (DOH) must establish the Washington Youth Suicide Review Team (WYSRT) to review the circumstances related to suicides occurring among youth up to age 24. The WYSRT consists of the following members:

The WYSRT must:

The DOH must convene the meetings of the WYSRT and provide assistance as necessary. Health care providers are required to disclose, without a patient's authorization, health care information requested by the DOH to support the activities of the WYSRT.

All health care information collected by the WYSRT is confidential. Records collected by the WYSRT may be used only for supporting the WYSRT's activities. No identifying information relating to the deceased person, the person's guardians, or anyone interviewed by the WYSRT may be disclosed, and any such information must be redacted from any records produced as part of the WYSRT's activities.

Witness statements, documents collected from witnesses, or summaries of those statements or records prepared by the WYSRT are not subject to public disclosure, discovery, subpoena, or introduction into evidence in any administrative, civil, or criminal proceeding related to the death of a person reviewed. This does not restrict or limit the discovery or subpoena from a health provider of records or documents maintained by the provider in the ordinary course of business, regardless of whether the records or documents have been supplied to a local health jurisdiction. The discovery or subpoena of documents from witnesses is not restricted simply because a copy of a document was collected as part of the WYSRT.

The WYSRT must report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature by June 1, 2021. The report must include information regarding the feasibility of establishing locally based youth suicide review teams. Any compilation of data must be summarized in a manner to prevent the identification of information of any specific person who was the subject of review.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested January 28, 2019.

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