_______________________________________________
ENGROSSED
SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1672
_______________________________________________
Passed
Legislature - 1993 Regular Session
State
of Washington 53rd Legislature 1993
Regular Session
By
Read
first time 03/03/93.
Creating the eye care for the homeless program in Washington.
AN ACT Relating to public health; adding new
sections to chapter 43.20A RCW; and creating a new section.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.
The legislature finds that many homeless people in the state of Washington have
impaired eyesight that reduces their chances of obtaining employment or
training for employment. The legislature finds that it is in the public
interest to facilitate ophthalmologists, optometrists, and opticians in
providing free vision services to homeless people of the state.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.
The secretary of the department of social and health services shall coordinate
the efforts of nonprofit agencies working with the homeless, the Washington
academy of eye physicians and surgeons, the Washington optometric association,
and the opticians association of Washington to deliver vision services to the
homeless free of charge. The secretary shall enter into agreements identifying
cooperating agencies and the circumstances under which specified services will
be delivered.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. To
the extent consistent with the department's budget, the secretary shall pay for
the eyeglasses hardware prescribed and dispensed pursuant to the program set up
in sections 2 through 6 of this act. The secretary shall also attempt to
obtain private sector funding for this program.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.
Ophthalmologists, optometrists, and dispensing opticians may utilize used
eyeglass frames obtained through donations to this program.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. An
ophthalmologist, optometrist, or dispensing optician who provides:
(1) Free vision services; or
(2) Eyeglasses, or any part thereof, including
used frames, at or below retail cost to homeless people in the state of
Washington
and who is not reimbursed for such services or eyeglasses
as allowed for in section 6 of this act, is not liable for civil damages for
injury to a homeless person resulting from any act or omission in providing
such services or eyeglasses, other than an act or omission constituting gross
negligence or intentional conduct.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 6.
Nothing in sections 2 through 6 of this act shall prevent ophthalmologists,
optometrists, or dispensing opticians from collecting for either their goods or
services, or both from third-party payers covering the goods or services for
homeless persons.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 7.
The program created in sections 2 through 6 of this act shall be known as the
eye care for the homeless program in Washington.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 8.
Sections 2 through 7 of this act are each added to chapter 43.20A RCW.
