BILL REQ. #:  H-2498.1 

READ FIRST TIME 03/09/05.   

     AN ACT Relating to the uniform disciplinary act for health professions; and creating new sections.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The uniform disciplinary act provides a consistent process for addressing acts of unprofessional conduct affecting fifty-nine health professions regulated by the state. The disciplinary authorities include the secretary of health and sixteen boards and commissions charged with protecting the health and safety of patients from unprofessional conduct. It is recognized nationally as a model law and has worked well over time to provide uniformity and efficiency to the disciplinary process.
     The legislature finds that there may be methods for increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of this model through the redistribution of duties between the secretary of health and the health profession boards and commissions. In addition, there is an opportunity to achieve greater consistency in the sanctions imposed across the health professions through specifically identified sanctions for specific acts of unprofessional conduct. A more consistent application of sanctions across professions protects both the safety of the public and the due process rights of all health care professionals.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   The secretary of health shall establish a work group to review the complaint processing and sanction determination phases of the health professions disciplinary process. At the secretary of health's discretion, the work group may include representatives of different health profession boards and commissions, professional associations, and other interested parties. The work group shall submit a report to the legislature by December 1, 2005, with recommendations for creating:
     (1) Greater efficiencies between the health professions boards and commissions and the secretary of health in processing complaints against license holders; and
     (2) More consistent sanction determinations that balance the protection of the public's health and the rights of health care providers among the different health professions, including recommendations for specific ranges of sanctions for each act of unprofessional conduct and the effect of any aggravating and mitigating factors that may apply to each.