BILL REQ. #:  S-0140.1 

Read first time 01/10/11.   Referred to Committee on Financial Institutions, Housing & Insurance.

     AN ACT Relating to life insurance when an order regarding life sustaining treatment has been issued or implemented; adding a new section to chapter 48.23 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 48.24 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 48.23 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The issuing or implementation of a physician order for life sustaining treatment does not restrict, inhibit, or impair in any manner the sale, procurement, or issuance of any policy of life insurance, nor does it modify the terms of an existing policy of life insurance, notwithstanding any term of the policy to the contrary.
     (2) For the purposes of this section "physician order for life sustaining treatment" means a document, commonly referred to as a do not resuscitate order, that is signed by a physician, summarizing the wishes of an individual regarding life-sustaining treatment through specific medical orders including an individual's preference for resuscitation, medical intervention, use of antibiotics, and artificially administered fluids and nutrition.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 48.24 RCW to read as follows:
     Section 1 of this act applies to group life insurance policies regulated under this chapter.