H-4200.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 2662

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      54th Legislature     1996 Regular Session

By Representatives Patterson, Cooke, Tokuda, Dickerson, Stevens, Boldt, Lambert, Carrell, Brown, Chopp and Costa

Read first time 01/16/96.  Referred to Committee on Children & Family Services.

Providing for education in the recognition of symptoms of drug and alcohol dependency in patients.

    AN ACT Relating to education in the recognition of symptoms of drug and alcohol dependency in patients; amending RCW 74.14B.010; and adding a new section to chapter 18.130 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 18.130 RCW to read as follows:

    The disciplinary authority shall provide a program in continuing education in the recognition of symptoms of drug and alcohol dependency in patients in clinical settings, in accordance with uniform recognized standards developed in consultation with the secretary and the department of social and health services.

    Sec. 2.  RCW 74.14B.010 and 1987 c 503 s 8 are each amended to read as follows:

    Caseworkers employed in children services shall meet minimum standards established by the department of social and health services.  Comprehensive training for caseworkers shall be completed before such caseworkers are assigned to case-carrying responsibilities without direct supervision.  The comprehensive training must include the recognition of symptoms of drug and alcohol dependency in patients in clinical settings in accordance with recognized standards.  Intermittent, part-time, and standby workers shall be subject to the same minimum standards and training.

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