SENATE BILL REPORT

                            HB 1058

     AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES,

                         MARCH 23, 1993

Brief Description:  Providing for public hospital district chaplains.

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

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended. 

     Signed by Senators Talmadge, Chairman; Deccio, Franklin, McAuliffe, McDonald, Moyer, Prentice, Quigley, and Winsley.

Minority Report:  Do not pass as amended. 

     Signed by Senator Niemi.

Staff:  Martin Lovinger (786‑7443)

Hearing Dates: March 22, 1993; March 23, 1993

BACKGROUND:

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

SUMMARY:

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

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENT:

It is clarified that Article I, Section 11 of the Washington Constitution must be amended for this act to take effect.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available

Effective Date:  The act takes effect on January 1, 1994 if a constitutional amendment is approved at the November 1993 general election.

TESTIMONY FOR:

Chaplains enhance the healing process, comfort the sick and dying and assist families in coping.  The intent is to meet the spiritual needs of patients and their families in a timely manner.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:

Chaplain service should be provided by volunteers to avoid the appearance of entanglement of church and state.

TESTIFIED:  Senator Franklin (pro); Greg Vigdor, Washington State Hospital Association (pro); John Underreiner, Evergreen Hospital Medical Center and King County Public Hospital District #2 (pro); Jerry Sheehan, American Civil Liberties Union (con)