SENATE BILL REPORT

SHB 1376

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.

Background: Training program in suicide assessment, treatment, and management means an empirically supported training program approved by a disciplining authority that contains three elements: suicide assessment, including screening and referral; suicide treatment; and suicide management. The disciplining authority may approve a training program that excludes one of these elements if it is inappropriate for the profession. Programs containing only screening and training elements must be at least three hours in length; other programs must be at least six hours long.

Beginning January 1, 2014, certain health professions must complete training programs in suicide assessment, treatment, and management every six years as part of their continuing education requirements. These professions are counselors and advisers; chemical dependency professionals; marriage and family therapists; mental health counselors; occupational therapy practitioners; psychologists; and social workers. Health care professionals who are applying for initial licensure may delay completion of this training if the individual can demonstrate successful completion of a six-hour program in suicide assessment, treatment, and management that is listed on the Best Practices Registry of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the Suicide Prevention Resource Center.

A disciplining authority of a profession may specify training and experience requirements that exempt a professional from the suicide assessment, treatment, and management training. The Board of Occupational Therapy Practice may exempt occupational therapists from this training requirement if the therapist has only brief or limited patient contact.

Summary of Bill: Suicide assessment, treatment, and management trainings must be at least six hours in length, unless a disciplinary authority determines that training which includes only screening and referral elements is appropriate for the profession. If this is the case, training must be at least three hours in length. The requirement that a training program must be listed on the Best Practices Registry of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the Suicide Prevention Resource Center to be accepted as meeting the criteria to delay a training for new licensees is removed. Instead, first training may be delayed for six years after initial licensure if the professional can demonstrate successful completion of an approved training program.

The definition of training in suicide assessment, treatment, and management is modified to permit a training program that includes only screening and referral elements, if appropriate for the professions. This permits the profession to exclude suicide treatment and suicide management elements from the training program. The Board of Occupational Therapy may approve training that includes only screening and referral elements, if appropriate for an occupational therapy practitioner's practice setting.