Passed by the Senate March 13, 1991

Yeas 47 Nays 0

President of the Senate

Passed by the House April 11, 1991

Yeas 92 Nays 0

Speaker of the

House of Representatives

Approved Place Style On Codes above, and Style Off Codes below.

Governor of the State of Washington

CERTIFICATE

I, Gordon Golob, Secretary of the Senate of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5577 as passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on the dates hereon set forth.

Secretary

FILED

Secretary of State

State of Washington

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SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5577

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Passed Legislature - 1991 Regular Session

State of Washington 52nd Legislature 1991 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Health & Long‑Term Care (originally sponsored by Senators West and Niemi; by request of Department of Health).

Read first time March 6, 1991.

AN ACT Relating to the board of medical examiners; amending RCW 18.71.015; and adding a new section to chapter 18.71 RCW.

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

Sec. 1. RCW 18.71.015 and 1990 c 196 s 11 are each amended to read as follows:

There is hereby created a board of medical examiners consisting of six individuals licensed to practice medicine in the state of Washington, one individual who is licensed as a physician assistant under chapter 18.71A RCW, and two individuals who are not physicians, to be known as the Washington state board of medical examiners.

The board shall be appointed by the governor. On expiration of the term of any member, the governor shall appoint for a period of five years an individual of similar qualifications to take the place of such member. Each member shall hold office until the expiration of the term for which such member is appointed or until a successor shall have been appointed and shall have qualified.

Each member of the board shall be a citizen of the United States, must be an actual resident of this state, and, if a physician, must have been licensed to practice medicine in this state for at least five years.

The board shall meet as soon as practicable after appointment and elect a chair and a vice-chair from its members. Meetings shall be held at least four times a year and at such place as the board shall determine and at such other times and places as the board deems necessary. A majority of the board members serving shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of board business.

It shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of a quorum of the board to carry any motion or resolution, to adopt any rule, or to pass any measure((~~, or to authorize or deny the issuance of any certificate~~)). A majority of the members appointed to a panel of the board shall constitute a quorum for the panel to transact business delegated to it by the board.

Each member of the board shall be compensated in accordance with RCW 43.03.240 and in addition thereto shall be reimbursed for travel expenses incurred in carrying out the duties of the board in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060. Any such expenses shall be paid from funds appropriated to the department.

Any member of the board may be removed by the governor for neglect of duty, misconduct, or malfeasance or misfeasance in office.

Vacancies in the membership of the board shall be filled for the unexpired term by appointment by the governor.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 18.71 RCW to read as follows:

The board may adopt rules pursuant to this section authorizing an inactive license status.

(1) An individual licensed pursuant to chapter 18.71 RCW may place his or her license on inactive status. The holder of an inactive license shall not practice medicine and surgery in this state without first activating the license.

(2) The inactive renewal fee shall be established by the secretary pursuant to RCW 43.70.250. Failure to renew an inactive license shall result in cancellation in the same manner as an active license.

(3) An inactive license may be placed in an active status upon compliance with rules established by the board.

(4) Provisions relating to disciplinary action against a person with a license shall be applicable to a person with an inactive license, except that when disciplinary proceedings against a person with an inactive license have been initiated, the license shall remain inactive until the proceedings have been completed.