Read first time 01/30/13.   Referred to Committee on Public Safety.

     AN ACT Relating to community assistance referral and education services; and adding a new section to chapter 35.21 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 35.21 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Any fire department may develop a community assistance referral and education services program to provide community outreach and assistance to residents of its district in order to advance injury and illness prevention within its community. The program should identify members of the community who use the 911 system for low acuity assistance calls (calls that are nonemergency or nonurgent) and connect them to their primary care providers, other health care professionals, low-cost medication programs, and other social services. The program may also provide a fire department- based, nonemergency contact in order to provide an alternative resource to the 911 system. The program may hire health care professionals as needed.
     (2) A participating fire department may seek grant opportunities and private gifts in order to support its community assistance referral and education services program.
     (3) In developing a community assistance referral and education services program, a fire department may consult with the health care personnel shortage task force to identify health care professionals capable of working in a nontraditional setting and providing assistance, referral, and education services.
     (4) Community assistance referral and education services programs implemented under this section must, at least annually, measure any reduction of repeated use of the 911 emergency system and any reduction in avoidable emergency room trips attributable to implementation of the program. Results of findings under this subsection must be reportable to the legislature or other local governments upon request. Findings should include estimated amounts of medicaid dollars that would have been spent on emergency room visits had the program not been in existence.
     (5) For purposes of this section, "fire department" includes city and town fire departments, fire protection districts organized under Title 52 RCW, and regional fire authorities organized under chapter 52.26 RCW.