FINAL BILL REPORT

HB 2539

C 134 L 18

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Concerning public hospital district health and wellness promotion activities and superintendent appointment and removal.

Sponsors: Representatives Peterson, Griffey, Kloba and Robinson.

House Committee on Local Government

Senate Committee on Local Government

Background:

Public hospital districts, a type of a special purpose district, were created in 1945. Public hospital districts are also municipal corporations authorized to operate hospitals and other health care facilities and to provide hospital and health care services within a specified community.

Terms Defined.

As defined in the public hospital districts statute, other health care facilities means nursing home, extended care, long-term care, outpatient and rehabilitative facilities, ambulances, and such other facilities as are appropriate to the health needs of the population served. Other health care services means nursing home, extended care, long-term care, outpatient, rehabilitative, health maintenance, and ambulance services and such other services as are appropriate to the health needs of the population served.

Public Hospital District Commission Appointment of Superintendents.

Local residents may form a hospital district by an election. A board of commissioners governs each public hospital district. Fifty-eight local communities in Washington have established public hospital districts; 44 have hospitals and the others provide services such as ambulance, urgent care, and nursing homes. 

Each public hospital district commission (commission) is responsible for appointing a hospital superintendent who serves as the chief administrative officer of the public hospital district and who is responsible for controlling the administrative functions of the hospital. Where a public hospital district operates more than one hospital, the commission may appoint up to one superintendent per hospital. Although appointed for an indefinite time, a hospital superintendent's position may terminate at any time at the will of the commission. Appointments and removals of superintendents are done by resolution, which are introduced at a regular meeting and adopted at a subsequent meeting by a majority vote of the commission.

Summary:

Terms Defined.

The terms other health care facilities and other health care services are expanded. Other health care facilities include facilities that promote health, wellness, and the prevention of illness and injury. Other health care services is expanded to include services that promote health, wellness, and the prevention of illness and injury.

Public Hospital District Commission Appointment of Superintendents.

The appointment or removal of a hospital superintendent may be done by resolution, which is introduced at a regular meeting and adopted at the same meeting (rather than the act being limited to adoption at a subsequent meeting) of the commission.

Votes on Final Passage: