AN ACT Relating to providing notice to first responders that a person with a disability may be present at the scene of an emergency; adding a new section to chapter 43.70 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 38.52 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 43.70 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The department of health in collaboration with the department of social and health services, the Washington state patrol, the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs, and the superintendent of public instruction, shall:

(a) Design and print a decal no larger than three inches by three inches that includes the shape of a puzzle piece colored safety orange on a dark background with no writing thereon that can be placed on the outside or inside of an entrance to a building or on the windshield or license plate of a vehicle to provide notice to first responders, including firefighters, law enforcement, paramedics, emergency medical technicians, and others providing ambulance, medical, or other emergency services, that a person with a disability may be present in the building or vehicle;

(b) Distribute information on the availability of decals to fire departments, police departments, health care facilities, schools, and other public places and how parents and others can obtain the decals. This information must also be made available on the web sites of public agencies such as the department of health, the department of social and health services, fire departments, police departments, schools, and other relevant agencies;

(c) Design a training program that will familiarize first responders and 911 personnel for the identification and use of information that a person with a disability may be present at the scene of an emergency and the techniques for best handling such situations in order to maximize the safety of persons with a disability, minimize the likelihood of injury to persons with a disability, and promote the safety of all persons present. The program must include a checklist of disabilities, symptoms of such disabilities, things to do and not do relevant to a particular disability so first responders/emergency personnel can easily and quickly determine the specific scenario they are entering into. The department shall make the training program available to all first responder agencies in the state; and

(d) Require a person who is the parent or guardian of a person who is diagnosed as disabled to obtain new decals for a residence or vehicle on a periodic basis such as every six months or twelve months, on the disabled person's birthday, the annual license tab renewal date, or the date property taxes are due to keep the information as current as possible.

(2) For purposes of this section, "person with a disability" means an individual who has been diagnosed with a physical, mental, emotional, intellectual, behavioral, developmental, or sensory disability.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 38.52 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The director, through the state enhanced 911 coordinator, and in collaboration with the department of health, the department of social and health services, the Washington state patrol, the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs, and other individuals and entities at the discretion of the director, shall assess the resources, capabilities, and procedures available or required in order to include as part of the enhanced 911 emergency service the ability to allow an immediate display on the screen of the orange symbol designed under section 1 of this act indicating that a person with a disability may be present at the scene of an emergency, the caller's identification, location, phone number, address, and license plate number if made available, that is linked to the caller, emergency contact information for others who will know about the person with a disability such as siblings, grandparents, friends, or neighbors, if made available, information regarding alternative residences and vehicles a person with a disability frequently or regularly lives or commutes in, if made available, detailed information regarding the disability of the person including a picture and physical description of a person, if made available, and the name, address, and phone number of the diagnosing physician, if made available.

(2) In order to use the system, a person who is the parent or guardian of a disabled person must submit proof of the diagnosis of the disability by a licensed health care physician along with the information listed in subsection (1) of this section.

(3) The director shall consider allowing or requiring persons who choose to provide the information listed in subsection (1) of this section to review and update their information in the system on a periodic basis to keep the information as current as possible.

(4) All information provided under subsection (1) of this section must remain confidential unless the person providing the information provides written permission to release the information for purposes of this act or the information is otherwise releasable or available under other provisions of law.

(5) First responders and emergency personnel and their employing agencies are immune from civil liability and are not liable for damages for any acts or omissions in the performance of their duties unless the act or omission is the result of willful misconduct or gross negligence.

(6) For purposes of this section, "person with a disability" means an individual who has been diagnosed with a physical, mental, emotional, intellectual, behavioral, developmental, or sensory disability.

--- END ---