H-4874.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 3134

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1998 Regular Session

By Representatives Skinner, Cody and Conway

Read first time 03/02/98.  Referred to Committee on Health Care.

Creating the office of women's health.

    AN ACT Relating to creation of the office of women's health; adding a new section to chapter 41.06 RCW; and adding a new chapter to Title 43 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  There is created an office of state government to be known as the office of women's health.  The office is vested with all powers and duties created in this chapter and such other powers and duties as may be authorized by law.

    The office shall also perform the following functions:

    (1) Serve as an advocate and provide an articulate focus for the particular health needs of women and disseminate information to the public regarding health services available to women in the state;

    (2) Collect and maintain data concerning specific women's health conditions;

    (3) Promote the development and implementation of education and prevention programs which address at least the following women's health topics:

    (a) Breast cancer detection;

    (b) Cervical cancer prevention and detection;

    (c) Osteoporosis early diagnosis and prevention;

    (d) Heart disease prevention;

    (e) Nutrition and exercise as related to disease prevention;

    (f) Contraception;

    (g) Sexually transmitted disease prevention;

    (h) Prenatal care;

    (i) Menopause; and

    (j) Fertility;

    (4) Analyze and evaluate all budget requests relating to services which affect women's health from departments or agencies within all executive offices and make recommendations to the secretary of human services and other appropriate secretaries regarding coordination and approval of such budget requests;

    (5) Seek, apply for, and encourage the use of all federal funds for women's health research and facilitate the coordination of federal, state, and local policies concerning women's health;

    (6) Determine the extent and availability of federal grants open to Washington research facilities and other Washington groups researching or promoting awareness of conditions unique to or prevalent among women;

    (7) Disseminate information concerning and encourage application for available federal grants for women's health research and education;

    (8) Provide information and referral to women seeking health services;

    (9) Offer recommendations concerning rules and policy affecting women's health education and research;

    (10) Prepare and submit a report to the governor annually.  Such report shall include, but not be limited to, a review of the status of women's health research and policy affecting women's health, recommendations for priorities for the development and coordination of women's health education, and prevention programs.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  The executive head and appointing authority of the office is the director.  The director shall be appointed by the governor, with the consent of the senate, and shall serve at the pleasure of the governor.  The director shall be paid a salary to be fixed by the governor in accordance with RCW 43.03.040.  If a vacancy occurs in the position while the senate is not in session, the governor shall make a temporary appointment until the next meeting of the senate.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 41.06 RCW to read as follows:

    In addition to the exemptions under RCW 41.06.070, the provisions of this chapter shall not apply in the office of women's health to the director, the director's personal secretary and the deputy director.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.  Sections 1 and 2 of this act constitute a new chapter in Title 43 RCW.

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