Title: An act relating to using the health professions account for professional education and recruitment and retention.

Brief Description: Using the health professions account for professional education and recruitment and retention.

Sponsors: Representatives Campbell, Schual-Berke, Rockefeller, Cody and Wallace.

Brief Summary of Bill

• Allows individual health professions boards and commissions to spend resources over 120 percent of the costs of administering that profession's program on activities that support the profession.

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 12 members: Representatives Cody, Chair; Morrell, Vice Chair; Bailey, Ranking Minority Member; Benson, Campbell, Clibborn, Darneille, Edwards, Moeller, Rodne, Schual-Berke and Skinner.

Minority Report: Without recommendation. Signed by 1 member: Representative Alexander.

The Department of Health and the 16 health professions boards and commissions regulate over 250,000 health care professionals in 57 professions. These health care professionals are required to bear the costs of regulating their profession. Credentialing fees and examination fees are established by the Secretary of Health at an amount to cover the estimated costs of licensing and disciplinary activities. These funds are deposited into the Health Professions Account and are spent according to an appropriation request by the Secretary of Health every two years.

Health professions boards and commissions that have resources in the Health Professions Account that exceed 120 percent of the cost of administering that profession's program may spend any funds over that amount to support activities that promote that profession including professional education and recruitment and retention. The Secretary of Health determines whether the 120 percent threshold has been met.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: There are millions of dollars in the Health Professions Account that are paid for by health care professionals that they cannot use to improve their profession.

Testimony Against: There is no limit on how the boards and commissions may spend the money. In some professions expenditures are outpacing revenues.

Persons Testifying: (In support) Representative Campbell, prime sponsor; and Lori Bielinski, Washington State Chiropractic Association.

(Support with concerns) Melanie Stewart, American Association of Massage Therapy, Washington Chapter.