SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 6514
As Reported By Senate Committee On:
Health & Long-Term Care, January 23, 1998
Title: An act relating to catheterization of students.
Brief Description: Allowing certain school district employees to refuse to perform bladder catheterizations.
Sponsors: Senators Deccio, Wojahn, Zarelli and Haugen; by request of Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Health & Long‑Term Care: 1/20/98, 1/23/98 [DP].
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH
& LONG-TERM CARE
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Deccio, Chair; Wood, Vice Chair; Benton and Strannigan.
Staff: Rhoda Jones (786-7198)
Background: Public school districts and private schools that offer classes for any of the grades kindergarten through 12 may provide for clean, intermittent catheterization of students. School district employees who are not licensed health care practitioners may provide this service following training, and under the supervision of a licensed health care practitioner who is usually a registered nurse. Public school districts and private schools are not required to provide this service to students.
Summary of Bill: School district employees, except registered nurses, who have not agreed to perform clean intermittent bladder catheterization as part of their job description, may file a written letter refusing to do this procedure on students. Filing such a letter is not grounds for any adverse action against the individual=s employment status.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 19, 1998.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: Nonlicensed school employees are not comfortable performing this procedure. Schools lose good employees because they fear having to perform catheterizations on students.
Testimony Against: None.
Testified: Jeanne Baranski, School Nurse Organization of Washington; Judy Mairer, Jean Ameluxen, OSPI; Don Carlson, Public School Employees of Washington.