Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Health Care & Wellness Committee

ESSB 5307

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: Concerning evaluating military training and experience toward meeting licensing requirements in medical professions.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care (originally sponsored by Senators Kilmer, Hewitt, Regala, Conway, Kastama, Hobbs, King, Rockefeller, Swecker and Roach).

Brief Summary of Engrossed Substitute Bill

  • Requires military training or experience to be recognized toward licensure for certain health professions, unless the training or experience is determined not to be equivalent to state standards.

Hearing Date: 3/9/11

Staff: Jim Morishima (786-7191).

Background:

The Department of Health (DOH) and various boards and commissions regulate a variety of health professions. Each profession is subject to its own unique credentialing standards such as education, clinical training, and the passage of examinations.

When an applicant with military experience applies for a credential, the DOH and the boards and commissions may, depending on the circumstances, count military training and experience toward the requirements for credentialing. Whether military training will be counted toward the credentialing requirements depends on a variety of factors, including the requirements for credentialing, the military training and experience at issue, and the statutory authority of the DOH, board, or commission with respect to the profession.

Summary of Bill:

An applicant with military training or experience satisfies the training or experience requirements toward licensure as a health professional unless the relevant disciplining authority determines that military training or experience is not substantially equivalent to state standards. This requirement applies to the following professions:

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.