BILL REQ. #:  S-3719.1 

Read first time 01/28/14.   Referred to Committee on Health Care .

     AN ACT Relating to suicide prevention; amending 2012 c 181 s 1 (uncodified); reenacting and amending RCW 43.70.442; adding a new section to chapter 71.24 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 43.70 RCW.

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

Sec. 1   2012 c 181 s 1 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows:
     (1) The legislature finds that:
     (a) According to the centers for disease control and prevention:
     (i) In 2008, more than thirty-six thousand people died by suicide in the United States, making it the tenth leading cause of death nationally.
     (ii) During 2007-2008, an estimated five hundred sixty-nine thousand people visited hospital emergency departments with self-inflicted injuries in the United States, seventy percent of whom had attempted suicide.
     (iii) During 2008-2009, the average percentages of adults who thought, planned, or attempted suicide in Washington were higher than the national average.
     (b) According to a national study, veterans face an elevated risk of suicide as compared to the general population, more than twice the risk among male veterans. Another study has indicated a positive correlation between posttraumatic stress disorder and suicide.
     (i) Washington state is home to more than sixty thousand men and women who have deployed in support of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
     (ii) Research continues on how the effects of wartime service and injuries, such as traumatic brain injury, posttraumatic stress disorder, or other service-related conditions, may increase the number of veterans who attempt suicide.
     (iii) As more men and women separate from the military and transition back into civilian life, community mental health providers will become a vital resource to help these veterans and their families deal with issues that may arise.
     (c) Suicide has an enormous impact on the family and friends of the victim as well as the community as a whole.
     (d) Approximately ninety percent of people who die by suicide had a diagnosable psychiatric disorder at the time of death, such as depression. Most suicide victims exhibit warning signs or behaviors prior to an attempt.
     (e) Improved training and education in suicide assessment, treatment, and management has been recommended by a variety of organizations, including the United States department of health and human services and the institute of medicine.
     (2) It is therefore the intent of the legislature to help lower the suicide rate in Washington by requiring certain health professionals to complete training in suicide assessment, treatment, and management as part of their continuing education, continuing competency, or recertification requirements.
     (3) The legislature does not intend to expand or limit the existing scope of practice of any health professional affected by this act.

Sec. 2   RCW 43.70.442 and 2013 c 78 s 1 and 2013 c 73 s 6 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
     (1)(a) ((Beginning January 1, 2014,)) Each of the following professionals certified or licensed under Title 18 RCW shall, at least once every six years, complete training in suicide assessment, treatment, and management that is approved, in rule, by the relevant disciplining authority:
     (i) An adviser or counselor certified under chapter 18.19 RCW;
     (ii) A chemical dependency professional licensed under chapter 18.205 RCW;
     (iii) A marriage and family therapist licensed under chapter 18.225 RCW;
     (iv) A mental health counselor licensed under chapter 18.225 RCW;
     (v) An occupational therapy practitioner licensed under chapter 18.59 RCW;
     (vi) A psychologist licensed under chapter 18.83 RCW;
     (vii) An advanced social worker or independent clinical social worker licensed under chapter 18.225 RCW; ((and))
     (viii) A social worker associate--advanced or social worker associate -- independent clinical licensed under chapter 18.225 RCW;
     (ix) A chiropractor licensed under chapter 18.25 RCW;
     (x) A naturopath licensed under chapter 18.36A RCW;
     (xi) A licensed practical nurse, registered nurse, or advanced registered nurse practitioner licensed under chapter 18.79 RCW;
     (xii) An osteopathic physician and surgeon licensed under chapter 18.57 RCW;
     (xiii) An osteopathic physician assistant licensed under chapter 18.57A RCW;
     (xiv) A physical therapist or physical therapist assistant licensed under chapter 18.74 RCW; and
     (xv) A physician assistant licensed under chapter 18.71A RCW.
     (b) A physician licensed under chapter 18.71 RCW shall, at least once every eight years, complete training in suicide assessment, treatment, and management that is approved, in rule, by the medical quality assurance commission.
     (((b))) (c) The requirements in (a) and (b) of this subsection apply to a person holding a retired active license for one of the professions in (a) or (b) of this subsection.
     (((c))) (d) The training required by this subsection must be at least six hours in length, unless a disciplinary authority has determined, under subsection (8)(b) of this section, that training that includes only screening and referral elements is appropriate for the profession in question, in which case the training must be at least three hours in length.
     (2)(a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection((,)):
     (i) A professional listed in subsection (1)(a)(i) through (viii) of this section must complete the first training required by this section during the first full continuing education reporting period after January 1, 2014, or the first full continuing education reporting period after initial licensure or certification, whichever occurs later; and
     (ii) A professional listed in subsection (1)(a)(ix) through (xiv) or (b) of this section must complete the first training required by this section during the first full continuing education reporting period after the effective date of this section or the first full continuing education reporting period after initial licensure or certification, whichever is later.
     (b) A professional listed in subsection (1)(a) or (b) of this section applying for initial licensure ((on or after January 1, 2014,)) may delay completion of the first training required by this section for six years after initial licensure if he or she can demonstrate successful completion of the training required in subsection (1) of this section no more than six years prior to the application for initial licensure.
     (3) The hours spent completing training in suicide assessment, treatment, and management under this section count toward meeting any applicable continuing education or continuing competency requirements for each profession.
     (4)(a) A disciplining authority may, by rule, specify minimum training and experience that is sufficient to exempt a professional from the training requirements in subsection (1) of this section.
     (b) The board of occupational therapy practice may exempt an occupational therapy practitioner from the training requirements of subsection (1) of this section if the occupational therapy practitioner has only brief or limited patient contact.
     (5)(a) The secretary and the disciplining authorities shall work collaboratively to develop a model list of training programs in suicide assessment, treatment, and management.
     (b) When developing the model list, the secretary and the disciplining authorities shall:
     (i) Consider suicide assessment, treatment, and management training programs of at least six hours in length listed on the best practices registry of the American foundation for suicide prevention and the suicide prevention resource center; and
     (ii) Consult with public and private institutions of higher education, experts in suicide assessment, treatment, and management, and affected professional associations.
     (c) The secretary and the disciplining authorities shall report the model list of training programs to the appropriate committees of the legislature no later than December 15, 2013.
     (d) The secretary and the disciplining authorities shall update the list at least once every two years. When updating the list, the secretary and the disciplining authorities shall, to the extent practicable, endeavor to include training on the model list that includes content specific to veterans. When identifying veteran-specific content under this subsection, the secretary and the disciplining authorities shall consult with the Washington department of veterans affairs.
     (6) Nothing in this section may be interpreted to expand or limit the scope of practice of any profession regulated under chapter 18.130 RCW.
     (7) The secretary and the disciplining authorities affected by this section shall adopt any rules necessary to implement this section.
     (8) For purposes of this section:
     (a) "Disciplining authority" has the same meaning as in RCW 18.130.020.
     (b) "Training in suicide assessment, treatment, and management" means empirically supported training approved by the appropriate disciplining authority that contains the following elements: Suicide assessment, including screening and referral, suicide treatment, and suicide management. However, the disciplining authority may approve training that includes only screening and referral elements if appropriate for the profession in question based on the profession's scope of practice. The board of occupational therapy may also approve training that includes only screening and referral elements if appropriate for occupational therapy practitioners based on practice setting.
     (9) A state or local government employee is exempt from the requirements of this section if he or she receives a total of at least six hours of training in suicide assessment, treatment, and management from his or her employer every six years. For purposes of this subsection, the training may be provided in one six-hour block or may be spread among shorter training sessions at the employer's discretion.
     (10) An employee of a community mental health agency licensed under chapter 71.24 RCW or a chemical dependency program certified under chapter 70.96A RCW is exempt from the requirements of this section if he or she receives a total of at least six hours of training in suicide assessment, treatment, and management from his or her employer every six years. For purposes of this subsection, the training may be provided in one six-hour block or may be spread among shorter training sessions at the employer's discretion.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 71.24 RCW to read as follows:
     To the extent that funds are specifically appropriated for this purpose, the department shall implement a pilot program to support primary care providers in the assessment and provision of appropriate diagnosis and treatment of adults with mental and behavioral health disorders and track outcomes of the program. The program must be designed to promote more accurate diagnoses and treatment through timely case consultation between primary care providers and psychiatric specialists, and focused on educational learning collaboratives with primary care providers.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   A new section is added to chapter 43.70 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The secretary, in consultation with the steering committee convened in subsection (3) of this section, shall develop a Washington plan for suicide prevention. The plan must, at a minimum:
     (a) Examine data relating to suicide in order to identify patterns and key demographic factors;
     (b) Identify key risk and protective factors relating to suicide; and
     (c) Identify goals, action areas, and implementation strategies relating to suicide prevention.
     (2) When developing the plan, the secretary shall consider national research and practices employed by the federal government, tribal governments, and other states, including the national strategy for suicide prevention. The plan must be written in a manner that is accessible, and useful to, a broad audience. The secretary shall periodically update the plan as needed.
     (3) The secretary shall convene a steering committee to advise him or her in the development of the Washington plan for suicide prevention. The committee must consist of representatives from the following:
     (a) Experts on suicide assessment, treatment, and management;
     (b) Institutions of higher education;
     (c) Tribal governments;
     (d) The state department of veterans affairs;
     (e) Suicide prevention advocates, at least one of whom must be a suicide survivor and at least one of whom must be a survivor of a suicide attempt;
     (f) Local health departments or districts; and
     (g) Any other organizations or groups the secretary deems appropriate.
     (4) The secretary shall complete the plan no later than November 15, 2015, publish the report on the department's web site, and submit copies to the governor and the relevant standing committees of the legislature.