FINAL BILL REPORT

                      HB 1115

                                  C 3 L 91

                            Synopsis As Enacted

Brief Description:  Revising references that are incorrect as a result of the creation of the department of health under chapter 9, Laws of 1989 1st ex.s.

By Representatives Appelwick, Padden, Dellwo and Paris; by request of Statute Law Committee.

House Committee on Health Care

Background:  The Legislature created the Department of Health in 1989.  Many of the department's responsibilities were transferred from other agencies, such as the Department of Social and Health Services, the Department of Licensing, the Hospital Commission, the State Health Coordinating Council, and the Board of Pharmacy.

References to these agencies in the transferred statutes number in the thousands.  The proper statutory transfer of all these functions would require legislation of over 600 pages.  Instead, these functions were initially transferred by reference for proper amendment of each transferred section of RCW at a subsequent date.

Summary:  Over a thousand technical and clarifying statutory changes are made changing the names of agencies and administrators of transferred functions to "Department of Health" and "Secretary of Health" and correcting gender references.

Votes on Final Passage:

House 97    0

Senate   43    0

Effective:     July 28, 1991