H-0528.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 1035

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      54th Legislature     1995 Regular Session

By Representatives Thibaudeau, Morris, Scott, Tokuda, Costa, Mason, Brown, Ogden, Basich, Wolfe, Patterson and Chopp

Prefiled 12/30/94.  Read first time 01/09/95.  Referred to Committee on Children & Family Services.

Requiring the attorney general to convene a death investigation if a death occurs in a residential facility operated or under the control of the department of social and health services.

    AN ACT Relating to death investigations in residential facilities operated or under control of the department of social and health services; and adding a new section to chapter 43.20A RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 43.20A RCW to read as follows:

    (1) If a death occurs in a residential facility operated by or under contract with the department of social and health services, the attorney general shall convene a death investigation team to review the circumstances of the death.  The team shall be made up of the following individuals:  (a) A representative of local law enforcement; (b) a representative of the local prosecuting attorney's office; (c) an assistant attorney general; (d) a physician licensed under chapter 18.71 RCW; (e) the county coroner or medical examiner; and (f) any other individual or individuals the council chooses to select based on the circumstances of the death.

    (2) The death investigation team shall review each death occurring in a residential facility operated or under contract with the department of social and health services and report its findings and recommendations to the attorney general, the governor, the secretary of the department of social and health services, and the local prosecuting attorney.

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