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                    ENGROSSED SENATE BILL 5954

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State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

By Senators West, Swecker, Rossi, Snyder and Kohl

Read first time 02/21/97.  Referred to Committee on Higher Education.

Regulating claims against the University of Washington.

    AN ACT Relating to claims against the University of Washington; amending RCW 28B.20.253; adding a new section to chapter 28B.20 RCW; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

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

    Sec. 1.  RCW 28B.20.253 and 1991 sp.s. c 13 s 117 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) A self-insurance revolving fund in the custody of the ((treasurer)) university is hereby created to be used solely and exclusively by the board of regents of the University of Washington for the following purposes:

    (a) The payment of judgments against the university, its schools, colleges, departments, and hospitals and against its regents, officers, employees, agents, and students for whom the defense of an action, claim, or proceeding has been provided pursuant to RCW 28B.20.250.

    (b) The payment of claims against the university, its schools, colleges, departments, and hospitals and against its regents, officers, employees, agents, and students for whom the defense of an action, claim, or proceeding has been provided pursuant to RCW 28B.20.250:  PROVIDED, That payment of claims in excess of twenty-five ((hundred)) thousand dollars must be approved by the state attorney general.

    (c) For the cost of investigation, administration, and defense of actions, claims, or proceedings, and other purposes essential to its liability program.

    (2) Said self-insurance revolving fund shall consist of periodic payments by the University of Washington from any source available to it in such amounts as are deemed reasonably necessary to maintain the fund at levels adequate to provide for the anticipated cost of payments of incurred claims and other costs to be charged against the fund.

    (3) No money shall be paid from the self-insurance revolving fund unless first approved by the board of regents, and unless all proceeds available to the claimant from any valid and collectible liability insurance shall have been exhausted.

    (((4) The state investment board shall invest moneys in the self-insurance revolving fund.  Moneys invested by the investment board shall be invested in accordance with RCW 43.84.150.))

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 28B.20 RCW to read as follows:

    Pursuant to RCW 42.17.310(1)(i) and (j), information in a university claim file or tracking system and reports generated by such a system, other than claims themselves, are privileged and confidential.

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 July 1, 1997.

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