Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Education Committee |
HB 2288
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: Creating statutory authorization for school-based health centers.
Sponsors: Representatives Leavitt, Gildon, Barkis, Davis, Callan, Frame, Doglio and Kloba.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 1/27/20
Staff: Ethan Moreno (786-7386).
Background:
School district boards of directors (school boards) have exclusive control of all school property, real or personal, belonging to the district. Subject to certain requirements and limitations, school boards may purchase, lease, receive, and hold real and personal property in the name of the district, and may rent, lease, sell, or otherwise dispose of district property.
Washington statutes do not include provisions addressing school-based health centers (SBHCs), but numerous SBHCs have been established in Washington's public schools, including in most Seattle public middle and high schools.
According to Seattle Public Schools, services provided at an SBHC of the district are available to all students, regardless of ability to pay, although a student's insurance may be billed for provided services. Services provided at these SBHCs include immunizations, sports physicals, prescriptions, reproductive healthcare, mental health counseling, lab tests, and nutrition counseling. Families must enroll their student to receive most services at an SBHC of the district, but students may enroll themselves for confidential health services.
Summary of Bill:
School districts may enter into agreements with health care providers to establish SBHCs for the provision of services exclusively to district students, employees, and employees' dependents.
The agreements must take the form of a lease of district property to private or public health care providers for those entities' provision of health care services. The agreements must also include the following provisions:
the maximum term of the lease and any and all renewal terms may not exceed 10 years;
all lease renewals require mutual agreement of the parties;
the lessees and any sublessees have must have sole responsibility for all services, activities, and operations of the SBHC;
the lease amount must be sufficient to reimburse the district for any and all of its direct costs associated with the SBHC; and
the district is not required to receive fair market value for the leased area if it determines the SBHC will provide sufficient benefit to the district, its students, and staff.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 24, 2020.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.