HOUSE BILL REPORT

                      HB 1651

                     As Reported By House Committee on:

                              Local Government

Title:  An act relating to public hospital districts.

Brief Description:  Providing for public hospital district chaplains.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives Franklin, Edmondson, Haugen, Ferguson, Valle and Wood.

Brief History:

   Reported by House Committee on:

Local Government, March 1, 1991, DPS.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Majority Report: That Substitute House Bill No. 1651 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 14 members:  Representatives Haugen, Chair; Cooper, Vice Chair; Ferguson, Ranking Minority Member; Mitchell, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Bray; Edmondson; Franklin; Horn; Nealey; Nelson; Rayburn; Roland; Wynne; and Zellinsky.

Staff:  Steve Lundin (786-7127).

Background:  Public hospital districts are authorized to provide a variety of health related facilities and services.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  Public hospital districts are authorized to employ chaplains for their hospitals, health care facilities, and hospice programs.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  A one sentence, new section authorizes public hospital districts to hire chaplains, rather than adding two words to a six page long section of law. 

A section is added providing an effective date of January 1, 1991, if a constitutional amendment is approved authorizing hospital districts to employ chaplains.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill:  The act takes effect on January 1, 1992 if a constitutional amendment is approved at the November 1991, general election.

Testimony For:  The auditor indicates that the constitution precludes hospital districts from employing chaplains.  Chaplains can play an essential role in both the healing process and dying.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  (testified in support):  Greg Vigdor, Washington State Hospital Association; and Jerry Sheehan, American Civil Liberties Union (if amendment adopted).