SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SHB 2151

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

          Health & Long-Term Care, February 23, 1996

Title:  An act relating to department of health responsibility for uniform administrative procedures for credentialing health professionals.

Brief Description:  Establishing uniform licensing procedures.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Health Care (originally sponsored by Representatives Dyer, Backlund, Cody and Murray; by request of Department of Health).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Health & Long-Term Care:  2/23/96 [DPA].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG-TERM CARE

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

  Signed by Senators Quigley, Chair; Wojahn, Vice Chair; Deccio, Fairley, Franklin, Thibaudeau, Winsley and Wood.

Staff:  Rhoda Jones (786-7198)

Background:  The Department of Health is the licensing and regulatory authority for 16 health professions and the central host agency for 15 other regulated health professions for administrative purposes.

The Secretary of Health is responsible for setting all license, certification and registration fees.  By law, regulatory program costs are borne by licensees of the respective health professions, and the fees must be set at sufficient levels to defray administrative costs.

Administrative procedures and requirements relating to license application forms, renewal periods, late renewal periods and penalties, scheduling and notice of examinations, differ across regulatory programs.

Summary of Amended Bill:  The Secretary of Health, in consultation with the professional boards and commissions, is required to establish by rule, uniform procedures, requirements and fees for such administrative duties as issuing original licenses, renewals, late renewals, reissuance of credentials, and late renewals penalties.  The secretary is given the option to extend or otherwise modify the duration of any licensing, certification or registration period.

Administrative procedures and requirements do not include qualifications for licensure, scopes of practice or disciplinary authority granted to boards or commissions.

This rule-making authority expires July 1, 1998, unless extended by the Legislature.  The secretary must report to the Legislature by December 31, 1997, with recommendations on rule-making authority over administrative procedures and requirements.

The department is required to establish a domestic violence control program for health care professionals.

The department is prohibited from disclosing the private addresses of health care professionals regulated by the state.

Technical changes are made to conform to existing law. 

Amended Bill Compared to Substitute Bill:  The Department of Health must establish an educational program for health care professionals on domestic violence.  The department may not release the private addresses or phone numbers of health care professionals unless the credentialed professional specifically requests the information be released.  This information may be released to educational or professional associations.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  This will make administrative procedures in licensing and regulation more effective and efficient.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Ron Weaver, DOH; Nick Federici, WSNA; Carl Nelson, WSMA.