| Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research |
BILL ANALYSIS |
| Health Care & Wellness Committee | |
SSB 6470
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in
their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a
statement of legislative intent.
Brief Description: Training medical students, nurses, and medical technicians and assistants to work with patients with developmental disabilities.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care (originally sponsored by Senators Kauffman, Schoesler, Marr, Prentice, Tom, Rasmussen, Kline, Kohl-Welles, Kilmer and Roach).
Brief Summary of Substitute Bill |
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Hearing Date: 2/25/08
Staff: Chris Blake (786-7392).
Background:
The Secretary of Health and the 16 health professions boards and commission regulate 62 health
care professions. These entities conduct several functions including establishing education and
training requirements, enforcing licensing standards, and conducting disciplinary proceedings.
Approximately 300,000 people hold a credential to practice a health profession in Washington.
The Department of Social and Health Services (Department) provides services to persons with
developmental disabilities designed to assist those persons in acquiring and maintaining life
skills. A developmental disability is a condition which started before the age 18, results in a
substantial handicap, is expected to continue indefinitely, and is attributable to mental
retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, or another neurological or other condition similar to
mental retardation.
Summary of Bill:
Subject to available funding, the Department shall administer a grant program to support
research and training projects to improve services to people with developmental disabilities. The
program shall support incentive grants to students and faculty at medical schools, nursing
schools, and special and technical care programs at technical schools. The Department must
submit a report to the Legislature by December 1, 2008 about the incentive grants awarded under
the program, as well as other efforts to expand or improve training for students in treating
individuals with developmental disabilities.
The bill is null and void if not referenced in the operating budget.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed. However, the bill is null and void unless funded in the budget.