Z-0365.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 5447

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

By Senators Deccio, Wojahn, Wood and Fairley

Read first time 01/27/97.  Referred to Committee on Health & Long‑Term Care.

Providing for disclosure of information obtained by the department of health related to meeting licensing standards in hospitals.

    AN ACT Relating to the disclosure of information obtained by the department of health related to meeting licensing standards in hospitals; and amending RCW 70.41.150.

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

    Sec. 1.  RCW 70.41.150 and 1985 c 213 s 24 are each amended to read as follows:

    Information received by the department ((through filed reports, inspection, or)), as ((otherwise)) authorized under this chapter, ((shall not)) must be disclosed ((publicly in such manner as to identify individuals or hospitals, except in a proceeding involving the question of licensure.  Such records of the department shall at all times be available to the council and the members thereof)) consistent with chapter 42.17 RCW, except for complaint information.  Complaint information must be available for disclosure when the department completes its assessment of compliance with licensing standards included in or adopted under this chapter.

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