HOUSE BILL REPORT

SB 6213

BYSenators West and Rasmussen

Revising provisions for reimbursement to department of social and health services employees for costs related to assaults.

House Committe on Human Services

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (10)

      Signed by Representatives Sayan, Chair; Scott, Vice Chair; Moyer, Ranking Republican Member; Tate, Assistant Ranking Republican Member; Anderson, Brekke, Hargrove, Leonard, Padden and Winsley.

House Staff:John Welsh (786-7133)

Rereferred House Committee on Appropriations

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (24)

      Signed by Representatives Locke, Chair; Grant, Vice Chair; H. Sommers, Vice Chair; Silver, Ranking Republican Member; Youngsman, Assistant Ranking Republican Member; Belcher, Bowman, Brekke, Brough, Dorn, Ferguson, Hine, Inslee, May, McLean, Nealey, Peery, Rust, Sayan, Spanel, Sprenkle, Valle, Wang and Wineberry.

House Staff:      Michelle Hauth (786-7384)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 28, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Currently, institutional care employees of the departments of Social and Health Services and Veterans Affairs who provide direct care and are innocent victims of physical assaults by residents, patients, and juvenile offenders can be reimbursed for any sick leave taken or salary lost as a result of the assault, supplementary to benefits provided under the industrial insurance laws.

SUMMARY:

All employees of the departments of Social and Health Services and Veterans Affairs are eligible for reimbursement for costs related to assaults by residents, patients, and juvenile offenders.  The program is no longer limited to employees who provide direct care services.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    (Human Services)  Scott Sigman, Washington Federation of State Employees.

(Appropriations)  No one.

House Committee - Testified Against:      (Human Services)  No one.

(Appropriations)  No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    (Human Services)  State employees working in state institutions are often subject to abuse and assaults by patients, residents, and juvenile offenders.  The intent of the program established in 1986 was to reimburse these employees for their time and salary lost as a result of physical injuries caused by these assaults.  However, the program is being interpreted to apply only to "direct care" employees.  While the vast majority of assaults occur to such employees, there are a handful of other employees who are innocent victims of assault.  These should be included in the program too out of a sense of equity, justice and compassion.

(Appropriations)  None.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      (Human Services)  None.

(Appropriations)  None.