HB 1605-S - DIGEST

(DIGEST AS ENACTED)

     Declares an intent that department of corrections staff and jail staff who, in the course of their regularly assigned job responsibilities, may come within close physical proximity to offenders and detained people be notified of the results of an HIV antibody test when the test is mandated by law pursuant to chapter 70.24 RCW.

     Declares that the legislature does not intend, through this act, to mandate disclosure of the results of voluntary and anonymous tests, but intends to continue to protect the confidential exchange of medical information related to voluntary and anonymous pretest counseling, HIV testing, posttest counseling, and AIDS counseling as provided by chapter 70.24 RCW.

     Directs the department to develop and implement policies and procedures for the uniform distribution of communicable disease prevention guidelines to all corrections staff who, in the course of their regularly assigned job responsibilities, may come within close physical proximity to offenders with communicable diseases.

     Requires the department of health and the department of corrections to report to the legislature by January 1, 1998, on the following:  (1) Changes made in rules and department of corrections and local jail policies and procedures to implement this act; and (2) a summary of the number of times and the circumstances under which individual corrections staff and jail staff members were informed that a particular offender or detainee had a sexually transmitted disease or other communicable disease.  The department of health and the department of corrections shall cooperate with local jail administrators to obtain the information from local jail administrators that is necessary to comply with this section.