S-1032               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 4308

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1985 Regular Session

By Senators Kreidler and Zimmerman

Read first time 2/8/85 and referred to Committee on Parks and Ecology.

AN ACT Transferring certain responsibilities from the department of social and health services to the department of ecology; and creating new sections.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The departments of social and health services and ecology were created in 1970.  At that time, the legislature recognized that the protection of the natural environment and the protection of the public health were closely interrelated activities.  The enabling statutes, RCW 43.21A.140 and 43.20A.140, directed each agency to consult with the other "in order that to the fullest extent possible, agencies concerned with the preservation of life and health, and agencies concerned with the protection of the environment may integrate their efforts and endorse policies in common."

          Increasing awareness of incidents involving air, water, and land pollution resulting in health problems have caused citizens to be confused about the responsibility of the departments of ecology and social and health services.

          Examples of areas in which both agencies have responsibilities include:  Toxic and hazardous waste disposal; ground water contamination affecting drinking water; radioactive material handling and disposal; and pollution of Puget Sound resulting in shellfish area closures.

          The purpose of this act is to consolidate the department of social and health services office of environmental health programs at the state level within the department of ecology, while retaining in local government those functions presently performed by local boards of health and implementing local health agencies.

          The department of ecology shall coordinate the functions transferred by this act with its existing programs and with the programs of the local boards of health to eliminate duplicative regulatory programs in a manner consistent with the policies and requirements of state law.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     The office of environmental health programs of the department of social and health services, with appropriate elements of the office of public health laboratories and epidemiology as provide direct support to the office of environmental health programs, shall be transferred to the department of ecology.  The effective date of this transfer shall be July 1, 1986.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     There is created within the department of ecology one additional exempt position of assistant director.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.     A transition team shall be formed to develop a plan for orderly and efficient transfer of duties and staff from the department of social and health services office of environmental health programs to the department of ecology.  The transition team shall consist of one environmental health director and one local health officer, as selected by their respective organizations, and one representative of the attorney general's office.  The plan will be submitted to the legislature by January 1, 1986.  The plan shall include:

          (1) Recommendations relating to special needs required to effect a smooth, timely, and efficient transfer and implementation of this act;

          (2) An analysis of the impact of the transfer on programs administered by local health agencies, including recommendations for improving state and local coordination;

          (3) A comprehensive organizational assessment of the department of ecology and the reporting relationship of the office of environmental health programs within the agency, along with recommendations to ensure that public health is given appropriate emphasis; and

          (4) A review of existing statutes pertaining to the department of social and health services and the state board of health.  The plan shall identify appropriate revisions needed to reflect the transfer of responsibilities contained in this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.  All rules of the department of social and health services and the state board of health that are administered by the office of environmental health programs, or local health departments with technical support provided by the office of environmental health programs, in effect on the effective date of the transfer shall become rules of the department of ecology.