Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Health Care & Wellness Committee |
HB 1768
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 substance use disorder professional practice.
Sponsors: Representatives Davis, Macri, Jinkins, Ormsby, Slatter and Tharinger.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 2/15/19
Staff: Chris Blake (786-7392).
Background:
Chemical Dependency Professionals.
Chemical dependency professionals are health care providers who assist persons to develop and maintain abstinence from alcohol and other drugs. The Department of Health certifies chemical dependency professionals. To become certified, a person must meet specific education, examination, and experience requirements.
In their practice, chemical dependency professionals use the core competencies of chemical dependency counseling which include the assessment and diagnosis of chemical dependency, chemical dependency treatment planning and referral, patient and family education, individual and group counseling, relapse prevention counseling, and case management. These activities are to be performed with the stated goal of assisting patients in achieving and maintaining abstinence from alcohol and drugs and developing independent support systems.
Substance Use Disorders.
In 2013 the American Psychiatric Association released the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM 5). The DSM 5 replaced the terms "substance abuse" and "substance dependence" with the single term "substance use disorder." The term "substance use disorder" includes a scale of subcategories of mild, moderate, and severe for defining the extent of the person’s condition.
Summary of Bill:
References to the purpose of chemical dependency counseling being assisting clients with the achievement and maintenance of abstinence from alcohol and drug use are removed.
Chemical dependency professionals are renamed "substance use disorder professionals" and chemical dependency professional trainees are renamed "substance use disorder professional trainees." Persons holding the titles of "chemical dependency professional" or "chemical dependency professional trainee" are considered to have the titles of "substance use disorder professional" or "substance use disorder professional trainee," respectively, until the person's certification expires or is renewed. Statutory references to chemical dependency professionals are changed accordingly. The term "chemical dependency" is changed to "substance use disorder" in the Substance Use Disorder Professionals' Practice Act.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after the adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed, except for section 12, relating to training in suicide assessment, treatment, and management, which takes effect on August 1, 2020, and section 18, relating to the examination and evaluation of minor approved for inpatient admission, which takes effect on July 1, 2026.