Title: An act relating to providing the secretary of health with authority to administer grants on behalf of the department of health.

Brief Description: Providing the secretary of health with authority to administer grants.

Sponsors: House Committee on Health Care (originally sponsored by Representatives Moeller, Hinkle, Cody, Morrell, Skinner, Campbell, Clibborn, Schual-Berke and Kenney; by request of Department of Health).

Brief History: Passed House: 3/08/05, 97-0.

Committee Activity: Health & Long-Term Care: 3/17/05, 3/21/05 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG-TERM CARE

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Keiser, Chair; Thibaudeau, Vice Chair; Deccio, Ranking Minority Member; Benson, Brandland, Franklin, Johnson, Kastama, Kline, Parlette and Poulsen.

Staff: Sharon Swanson (786-7447)

Background: The purposes of the Department of Health (Department) include the preservation of public health, the monitoring of health care costs, the maintenance of minimal standards for quality in health care delivery, and the general oversight and planning for the state's activities as they relate to health. The Secretary of Health (Secretary) has the authority to:

1)   appoint advisory committees;
2)   undertake studies, research, and analysis;
3)   delegate powers, duties, and functions to Department employees;
4)   enter into contracts on behalf of the Department;
5)   act for the state in the initiation of, or participation in, any intergovernmental program; and
6)   solicit and accept gifts, grants, bequests, devises, or other funds from public and private sources.

Summary of Bill: In addition to contracting authority, the Secretary of Health is given the authority to enter into and distribute grants on behalf of the Department to carry out the purposes of the Department. The Department must report to the Legislature a summary of the grants distributed under this authority for each year of the first biennium that the Secretary has granting authority.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: The bill provides for a technical fix to the current law. The bill provides the Secretary of Health the authority to enter into and issue grants. There is no objection to a reporting requirement.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Representative Jim Moeller; Bill White, Department of Health.