S-0989.1          _______________________________________________

                                 SENATE BILL 5454

                  _______________________________________________

State of Washington              52nd Legislature             1991 Regular Session

By Senators West, Vognild, von Reichbauer, Snyder and Johnson.

Read first time January 31, 1991.  Referred to Committee on Health & Long‑Term Care.Allowing mandatory continuing medical education credit in the area of professional liability risk management.

     AN ACT Relating to mandatory continuing education credit; and amending RCW 18.71.080.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

     Sec. 1.  RCW 18.71.080 and 1985 c 322 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

     Every person licensed to practice medicine in this state shall register with the director of licensing annually, and pay an annual renewal registration fee determined by the director as provided in RCW 43.24.086.  The board may establish rules and regulations governing mandatory continuing education requirements which shall be met by physicians applying for renewal of licenses.  The rules and regulations shall provide that mandatory continuing education requirements may be met in part by physicians showing evidence of the completion of approved activities relating to professional liability risk management.  Any failure to register and pay the annual renewal registration fee shall render the license invalid, but such license shall be reinstated upon written application therefor to the director, and payment to the state of a penalty fee determined by the director as provided in RCW 43.24.086, together with all delinquent annual license renewal fees:  PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That any person who fails to renew the license for a period of three years, shall in no event be entitled to renew the license under this section.  Such a person in order to obtain a license to practice medicine in this state, shall file an original application as provided for in this chapter, along with the requisite fee therefor.  The board, in its sole discretion, may permit such applicant to be licensed without examination if it is satisfied that such applicant meets all the requirements for licensure in this state, and is competent to engage in the practice of medicine.