SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SSB 5445

               As Passed Senate, March 12, 1997

Title:  An act relating to making technical corrections to statutes administered by the department of health.

Brief Description:  Making technical corrections to statutes administered by the department of health.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Health & Long‑Term Care (originally sponsored by Senators Deccio, Wojahn, Wood, Fairley and Winsley).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Health & Long‑Term Care:  2/7/97, 2/18/97 [DPS].

Passed Senate, 3/12/97, 49-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG-TERM CARE

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5445 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Deccio, Chair; Wood, Vice Chair; Benton, Fairley, Franklin, Strannigan and Wojahn.

Staff:  Rhoda Jones (786-7198)

Background:  In 1994, an incorrect reference to the law regulating nursing assistants was made in the Uniform Disciplinary Act.  In 1995, through the passage of two separate bills, a section of law regarding protection of emergency medical service providers from liability was amended twice.  In 1996, double amendments were made to several sections of law pertaining to regulation of speech pathologists, audiologists and hearing instrument fitter/dispensers.  

These technical errors require correction. 

Summary of Bill:  Two sections of law dealing with liability protection for emergency medical service personnel are combined.  The double amendments are eliminated and the other errors mentioned above are corrected, including language specifically stating when hearing aid permits expire.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.

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

Testimony For:  These corrections fix mistakes and make clarifications in current code.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Ron Weaver, Department of Health (pro); Lisa Thatcher, Washington Hearing Aid Society (pro w/amendment).

House Amendment(s):  A final report on nurse delegation is due on December 31, 1998, adding one year to the length of the study.  Nursing assistants may choose not to receive delegation based on patient safety issues.

DSHS is prohibited from imposing civil fines authorized under nursing assistant statutes on adult family homes.

Higher compensation is authorized for members of 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.

The Department of Health is directed to study the feasibility of changing the comprehensive hospital abstract reporting system to include ambulatory and outpatient data.  The department will submit a final report on July 1, 1998.