SENATE BILL REPORT

SHB 1303

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.

As Reported by Senate Committee On:

Health & Long-Term Care, March 26, 2009

Sponsors: House Committee on Health Care & Wellness (originally sponsored by Representatives Moeller, Green and Roberts).

Majority Report: Do pass.

Signed by Senators Keiser, Chair; Franklin, Vice Chair; Pflug, Ranking Minority Member; Becker, Fairley, Marr, Murray and Parlette.

Background: Local health jurisdictions are authorized to conduct child mortality reviews, which is the process of examining factors that may have contributed to the deaths of children less that 18 years old. This may include a systematic review of medical, clinical, and hospital records; home interviews with parents or caretakers; and discussions with professionals in medical, behavioral, educational or other fields that are pertinent to particular death under review.

Currently, the Department of Health (DOH) collects child mortality reviews and enters them into a database and provides technical assistance using funding from the federal Maternal and Child Health Block Grant.

Summary of Bill: DOH must assist local health departments to collect the reports of any child mortality reviews and assist the departments to enter the reviews into a database. DOH must respond to any requests for information from the database, to the extent its not protected health information. DOH must also provide technical assistance to local health departments and child death review coordinators and encourage communication among child death review teams. DOH must conduct these activities using only federal and private funding.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: This will help to maintain an important database of information on childhood mortality in our state.