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ENGROSSED SENATE BILL 6158
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AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
Passed Legislature - 1994 Regular Session
State of Washington 53rd Legislature 1994
Regular Session
By
Read first time 01/14/94. Referred to Committee
on Health & Human Services.
Modifying regulations for control of
tuberculosis.
AN ACT Relating to
tuberculosis; and adding new sections to chapter 70.28 RCW.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec.
1. A new section is added
to chapter 70.28 RCW to read as follows:
(1) Tuberculosis has
been and continues to be a threat to the public's health in the state of
Washington.
(2) While it is
important to respect the rights of individuals, the legitimate public interest
in protecting the public health and welfare from the spread of a deadly
infectious disease outweighs incidental curtailment of individual rights that
may occur in implementing effective testing, treatment, and infection control
strategies.
(3) To protect the
public's health, it is the intent of the legislature that local health
officials provide culturally sensitive and medically appropriate early
diagnosis, treatment, education, and follow-up to prevent tuberculosis.
Further, it is imperative that public health officials and their staff have the
necessary authority and discretion to take actions as are necessary to protect
the health and welfare of the public, subject to the constitutional protection
required under the federal and state Constitutions. Nothing in this chapter
shall be construed as in any way limiting the broad powers of health officials
to act as necessary to protect the public health.
NEW SECTION. Sec.
2. A new section is added
to chapter 70.28 RCW to read as follows:
(1) The state board of
health shall adopt rules establishing the requirements for:
(a) Reporting confirmed
or suspected cases of tuberculosis by health care providers and reporting of
laboratory results consistent with tuberculosis by medical test sites;
(b) Due process
standards for health officers exercising their authority to involuntarily
detain, test, treat, or isolate persons with suspected or confirmed
tuberculosis under RCW 70.28.031 and 70.05.070 that provide for release from
any involuntary detention, testing, treatment, or isolation as soon as the
health officer determines the patient no longer represents a risk to the
public's health;
(c) Training of persons
to perform tuberculosis skin testing and to administer tuberculosis
medications.
(2) Notwithstanding any
other provision of law, persons trained under subsection (1)(c) of this section
may perform skin testing and administer medications if doing so as part of a
program established by a state or local health officer to control tuberculosis.
(3) The board shall
adopt rules under subsection (1) of this section by December 31, 1994.
