| Passed by the House March 23, 2009 Yeas 96 FRANK CHOPP ________________________________________ Speaker of the House of Representatives Passed by the Senate March 31, 2009 Yeas 45 BRAD OWEN ________________________________________ President of the Senate | I, Barbara Baker, Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is HOUSE BILL 1322 as passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on the dates hereon set forth. BARBARA BAKER ________________________________________ Chief Clerk | |
| Approved April 9, 2009, 2:22 p.m. CHRISTINE GREGOIRE ________________________________________ Governor of the State of Washington | April 10, 2009 Secretary of State State of Washington |
| State of Washington | 61st Legislature | 2009 Regular Session |
Read first time 01/19/09. Referred to Committee on Health Care & Wellness.
AN ACT Relating to scoliosis screening in schools; creating a new section; and repealing RCW 28A.210.180, 28A.210.190, 28A.210.200, 28A.210.210, 28A.210.220, 28A.210.240, and 28A.210.250.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1 The legislature recognizes that schools and
their health personnel are important elements in ensuring the health of
Washington's youth. Allowing school personnel to focus their efforts
on providing the best care is essential for continued success.
Schools are currently required to screen students for scoliosis,
which affects approximately two to three percent of the general
population. Detection and identification of cases that require medical
attention is vital. However, the legislature finds that schools are
not the ideal setting for these screenings, nor are they the best use
of school health personnel resources. The lack of a simple and rapid
test that provides reliable diagnoses results in referrals to
unnecessary care, which is limited in effectiveness for mild to
moderate cases. This may lead to financial and emotional hardship for
the student and family. Scoliosis screening is more appropriately
provided as part of preventive care by a student's primary care
provider.
Removing scoliosis screening as a responsibility of school
districts will result in more reliable diagnoses, and allow school
health personnel to focus their efforts on improving the health of
their unique student populations.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2 The following acts or parts of acts are each
repealed:
(1) RCW 28A.210.180 (Screening program for scoliosis -- Purpose) and
1991 c 86 s 1, 1990 c 33 s 201, 1985 c 216 s 1, & 1979 c 47 s 1;
(2) RCW 28A.210.190 (Screening program for scoliosis -- Definitions)
and 1991 c 86 s 2, 1990 c 33 s 202, 1985 c 216 s 2, & 1979 c 47 s 2;
(3) RCW 28A.210.200 (Screening program for scoliosis -- Examination
of children -- Personnel making examinations, training for) and 1991 c 86
s 3, 1990 c 33 s 203, 1985 c 216 s 3, & 1979 c 47 s 3;
(4) RCW 28A.210.210 (Screening program for scoliosis -- Records -- Parents or guardians notification, contents) and 1990 c 33 s 204, 1985
c 216 s 4, & 1979 c 47 s 4;
(5) RCW 28A.210.220 (Screening program for scoliosis -- Distribution
of rules, records and forms) and 1990 c 33 s 205 & 1979 c 47 s 5;
(6) RCW 28A.210.240 (Screening program for scoliosis -- Pupils
exempt, when) and 1985 c 216 s 5 & 1979 c 47 s 6; and
(7) RCW 28A.210.250 (Screening program for scoliosis -- Sanctions
against school officials failing to comply) and 1990 c 33 s 207 & 1979
c 47 s 7.