FINAL BILL REPORT

SHB 1258

C 295 L 17

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Concerning persons with a disability present at the scene of an accident.

Sponsors: House Committee on Judiciary (originally sponsored by Representatives McCabe, Orwall, Johnson, Cody, Dent, Kirby, Griffey, Van Werven, Caldier, Dye, Gregerson, Wylie, Jinkins, Haler, McBride and Muri).

House Committee on Judiciary

House Committee on Appropriations

Senate Committee on Law & Justice

Background:

Department of Health.

The Department of Health (DOH) is tasked with setting minimum standards and establishing training for numerous health care professionals and services, including first responders and emergency medical technicians. The DOH prescribes procedures for certification and decertification, requirements for training curriculums, and standards for ongoing training and evaluation.

Criminal Justice Training Commission.

The Criminal Justice Training Commission provides basic law enforcement training and educational programs for law enforcement, corrections personnel, and other public safety professionals.

Washington Military Department and Enhanced 911.

The phone number 911 is the national emergency phone number in the United States. The Enhanced 911 system (E911) is the result of a 1991 voter referendum directing E911 emergency communications systems to be available statewide. The office coordinating the E911 is located within the Emergency Management Division of the Washington Military Department. The Adjutant General is the Director of the Military Department.

Summary:

Department of Health Led Review and Design of Training Program.

Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the Department of Health (DOH), in collaboration with the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), the state Fire Marshal's Office, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters, must review existing local training programs and training programs being used in other states and design a training program that will familiarize fire department and emergency medical service personnel with the techniques, procedures, and protocols for best handling situations in which persons with disabilities are present at the scene of an emergency in order to maximize the safety of persons with disabilities, minimize the likelihood of injury, and promote the safety of all persons.

The training program must include the following:

• a checklist of disabilities;

• symptoms of such disabilities; and

• things to do and not do relevant to a particular disability in order for responders to easily and quickly determine the specific scenario into which they are entering.

The DOH must make the training program available on its website, and include on the website a list of public and private nonprofit disability-related agencies and organizations and their contact information.

Fire departments and emergency medical service agencies must ensure their officers, employees, and agents are adequately trained in, and familiarized with, techniques, procedures, and protocols for best handling situations in which persons with disabilities are present at the scene of an emergency.

Criminal Justice Training Commission Led Examination of Training Programs.

Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the Criminal Justice Training Commission, in collaboration with the Washington State Patrol (WSP) and others, must examine existing training programs and curricula related to law enforcement officers responding to an emergency where a person with a disability may be present, to ensure that those programs and curricula are consistent with best practices.

Military Department Led Assessment of Enhanced 911.

Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the Adjutant General, through the state Enhanced 911 (E911) coordinator, and in collaboration with the DOH, the DSHS, the WSP, the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, the Washington Council of Police and Sheriff's, the state Fire Marshal's Office, a representative of a first responder organization, and other individuals and entities at the discretion of the Adjutant General, must assess the following:

• the resources necessary to immediately display via the E911 system that a person with a disability may be present at the scene of an emergency, the caller's identification, location, phone number, address, and additional information if made available;

• how to best acquire, implement, and safeguard a secure website and the information provided regarding a person with a disability;

• the information that must remain confidential under law, and how to best ensure this; and

• the need to provide immunity to various agencies, first responders, and emergency personnel.

Definitions.

"Persons with disabilities" means individuals who have been diagnosed medically to have a physical, mental, emotional, intellectual, behavioral, developmental, or sensory disability.

Both "accident" and "emergency" mean an unforeseen combination of circumstances or a resulting situation that results in a need for assistance or relief and calls for immediate action.

Name of the Act.

The act is named the Travis Alert Act.

Votes on Final Passage: