HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1058

                  As Amended by the Senate

Title:  An act relating to public hospital districts.

Brief Description:  Providing for public hospital district chaplains.

Sponsors:  Representatives Franklin, Zellinsky, Campbell, Kremen, Padden and L. Johnson.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Local Government, January 28, 1993, DP;

  Passed House, February 8, 1993, 58-37;

  Amended by Senate.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 8 members:  Representatives H. Myers, Chair; Bray, Vice Chair; Edmondson, Ranking Minority Member; Reams, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Horn; Rayburn; Van Luven; and Zellinsky.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  Signed by 4 members:  Representatives Dunshee; R. Fisher; Romero; and Springer.

Staff:  Steve Lundin (786-7127).

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

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

EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENT(S): A technical correction citing the correct constitutional provision is made.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  January 1, 1994, if a related constitutional amendment is approved by the voters.

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:  (pro):  Representative Franklin, prime sponsor; and Greg Vigdor, Washington State Hospital Association.

VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE:

Yeas 58; Nays 37; Excused 3

Nays:  Representatives Anderson, Ballasiotes, Brown, Cole G, Cothern, Dunshee, Eide, Finkbeiner, Fisher R, Hansen, Heavey, Jacobsen, Johanson, Johnson R, Jones, Karahalios, Kessler, King, Kohl J, Lemmon, Leonard, Linville, Locke, Long, Meyers R, Morris, Ogden, Pruitt, Riley, Romero, Rust, Schmidt, Springer, Thibaudeau, Wang, Wineberry, Wolfe

Excused:  Representatives Appelwick, Scott, Talcott