SENATE BILL REPORT

                  ESHB 1619

                    As of February 25, 1998

Title:  An act relating to compensation for members of medical boards.

Brief Description:  Increasing compensation for members of medical boards.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Health Care (originally sponsored by Representatives Zellinsky, Dyer, Cody, Skinner, Parlette, Sherstad and Clements).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Health & Long‑Term Care:  2/26/98.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG-TERM CARE

Staff:  Rhoda Jones (786-7198)

Background:  Compensation rates for appointees of boards and committees are fixed in law. Class 1 boards are advisory and receive no compensation.  Class 2 boards receive $35 per day, Class 3 receive $50 and Class 4 up to $50 per day.  The fees are commensurate with their level of responsibility.  These fees are paid for through the profession's licensing fees.  

Summary of Bill:  A new group is created for compensating members of the health care commissions having quasi-judicial functions with responsibilities for policy direction in health professional credentialing programs and performing regulatory and licensing functions.  Members of these commissions may receive compensation of up to $250 per day for each day spent performing authorized duties.

This change would affects the four full-time commissions governing the practices of medicine, dentistry, nursing and chiropractic.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available

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