DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

[Filed July 7, 2020, 3:43 p.m., effective August 7, 2020]

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.

Purpose: WAC 246-916-065 Athletic trainer suicide prevention education, the adopted rule implements ESSB 5688. This bill amended RCW 43.70.442 adding athletic trainers to the list of healthcare professionals required to complete a one-time continuing education course in suicide prevention. The adopted creates a new section of rule that requires athletic trainers to take a one-time training in suicide assessment that includes screening, referral, and imminent harm via lethal means. RCW 43.70.442 instructs the department of health (department) to determine whether a three hour or a six hour education course should be required. The department determined that six hours was necessary in order to include content specific to the assessment of issues related to imminent harm via lethal means.

Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: New WAC 246-916-065.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: ESSB 5688 (chapter 358, Laws of 2019).

Adopted under notice filed as WSR 20-09-110 on April 16, 2020.

A final cost-benefit analysis is available by contacting Bruce Bronoske, Jr., Washington State Department of Health, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504, phone 360-236-4843, fax 360-236-4901, TTY 711, email bruce.bronoske@doh.wa.gov.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Date Adopted: July 7, 2020.

for John Wiesman, DrPH, MPH

WAC 246-916-065Athletic trainer suicide prevention education.

Effective August 1, 2020, a licensed athletic trainer must complete a secretary-approved one-time training that is at least six hours in length for suicide assessment that includes screening, referral, and imminent harm via lethal means elements.

(1) This training must be completed by the end of the first full continuing education reporting period after August 1, 2020, or during the first full continuing education reporting period after initial licensure, whichever is later.

(2) Training accepted by the secretary must be on the department's model list as authorized in chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 14.

(3) Training completed between July 23, 2019, and August 1, 2020, that meets the requirements of subsection (2) or (3) of this section, is accepted as meeting the one-time training requirement of this section.

(4) The hours spent completing the training in suicide assessment under this section count toward meeting applicable continuing education requirements for athletic training license renewal.