HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SHB 1809

                    As Amended by Senate

Title:  An act relating to naturopath's authority to give direction to persons licensed under chapter 18.79 RCW.

Brief Description:  Authorizing naturopaths to give direction to registered nurses.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Health Care (originally sponsored by Representatives Dyer and Dickerson).

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Health Care:  2/21/95, 2/24/95 [DPS].

  Floor Activity:

     Passed House:  3/8/95, 98-0.

Senate Amended.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 13 members:  Representatives Dyer, Chairman; Backlund, Vice Chairman; Hymes, Vice Chairman; Dellwo, Ranking Minority Member; Cody, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Campbell; Casada; Conway; Crouse; Kessler; Morris; Sherstad and Skinner.

Staff:  John Welsh (786-7133).

Background:  Currently, nurses and licensed practical nurses may work under the direction of a physician, dentist, osteopathic or podiatric physician or physician assistant, or advanced nurse practitioner.

Current law, however, does not authorize the nurse or licensed practical nurse to work under the direction of a naturopathic physician.

Summary of Bill:  Nurses and licensed practical nurses are authorized to work under the direction of a naturopathic physician, consistent with their scopes of practice.

EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENT(S):

The Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission must develop rules for nursing practice under the direction of naturopathic physicians.

The act takes effect August 1, 1996.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.

Effective Date of Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Nurses should have the option to work with naturopathic physicians.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Jeff Larsen and Dr. Patricia Hastings, Washington Association of Naturopathic Physicians (pro); Steve Borukowitz, Department of Health; and Lisa Thatcher, Washington State Nurses Association.

Votes on Final Passage:

Yeas 98