H-3617.1 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL 2366
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State of Washington 55th Legislature 1998 Regular Session
By Representatives Carlson, Pennington, Radcliff, Mielke, Mulliken, Boldt, Gardner, Sheahan, Bush, Anderson, Mitchell, Dyer, Schoesler and McDonald
Prefiled 1/9/98. Read first time 01/12/98. Referred to Committee on Health Care.
AN ACT Relating to providing infectious disease testing for good samaritans; adding a new section to chapter 70.05 RCW; creating a new section; and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that citizens who assist individuals in emergency situations perform a needed and valuable role that deserves recognition and support. The legislature further finds that emergency assistance in the form of mouth to mouth resuscitation or other emergency medical procedures resulting in the exchange of bodily fluids significantly increases the odds of being exposed to a deadly infectious disease. Some of the more life-threatening diseases that can be transferred during an emergency procedure where bodily fluids are exchanged include hepatitis A or B, hepatitis non A or B, tuberculosis, HIV, and AIDS. The legislature further finds that a number of good samaritans who perform life-saving emergency procedures such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation are unable to pay for the tests necessary for detecting infectious diseases that could have been transmitted during the emergency procedure. It is the purpose of this act to provide infectious disease testing at no cost to good samaritans who request testing for infectious diseases after rendering emergency assistance that has brought them into contact with a bodily fluid.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 70.05 RCW to read as follows:
Any person, who without compensation or the expectation of compensation renders emergency care, as defined in RCW 4.24.310, at the scene of an emergency that brings them into contact with bodily fluids shall be provided the opportunity to have infectious disease testing provided by a local public health department free of charge, provided the person needing the test has no insurance coverage. The department of health shall adopt rules concerning the use of this public health service.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.
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