Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Education Committee |
HB 2708
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: Establishing a work group on school-based health centers.
Sponsors: Representatives Stonier, Riccelli, Harris, Robinson, Leavitt, Senn, Pettigrew, Macri, Appleton, Davis, Tharinger, Pollet and Ormsby.
Brief Summary of Bill |
|
Hearing Date: 1/27/20
Staff: Ethan Moreno (786-7386).
Background:
Department of Health.
The Department of Health (DOH) administers various programs and services that promote public health through disease and injury prevention, immunization, newborn screening, professional and health care facility licensing, and public education. The DOH is also involved the promotion of safe and healthy schools, including duties related to environmental health, immunization, and sexual health education.
School-Based Health Centers.
Washington statutes include numerous requirements related to protecting and promoting student health, but state law does not include provisions governing school-based health centers (SBHCs). However, numerous SBHCs have been established in Washington's public schools, including in most Seattle public middle and high schools.
Seattle Public Schools indicates that 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:
The DOH is directed to establish a 27-member work group on the SBHCs. The DOH must appoint one representative to the work group from a list of specified state agencies and private entities, examples of which include:
The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction;
The DOH;
The Department of Children, Youth, and Families;
The Office of the Insurance Commissioner;
Tribal educational and health agencies;
The Washington School-Based Health Alliance;
The Washington chapter of the American academy of pediatrics;
The Washington State School Directors' Association;
The Washington Education Association;
The School Nurse Organization of Washington;
The Washington State Hospital Association;
Medicaid managed care organizations;
Private health insurers;
Local health jurisdictions;
The Washington State Parent Teacher association.
The work group is directed to assess different models currently used for establishing, operating, and funding SBHCs, and to make recommendations for:
a statewide definition and model options for SBHCs;
ways to address barriers to replication and sustainability statewide for SBHCs; and
statewide funding for SBHCs.
The work group must meet at least four times and report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the appropriate committees of the Legislature by December 1, 2020.
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.