H-2065.1                  _______________________________________________

                                             SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1672

                              _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              53rd Legislature                             1993 Regular Session

By House Committee on Human Services (originally sponsored by Representatives Wineberry, J. Kohl, Wood, Anderson, Sheldon, Veloria, Scott, Jones, Ludwig, Brough and Foreman)

Read first time 03/03/93.

Creating the eye care for the homeless program in Washington.

          AN ACT Relating to public health; adding new sections to chapter 43.20A; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that many homeless people in the state of Washington have impaired eyesight that reduces their chances of obtaining employment or training for employment.  The legislature finds that it is in the public interest to facilitate ophthalmologists, optometrists, and opticians in providing free vision services to homeless people of the state.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  The secretary of the department of social and health services shall coordinate the efforts of nonprofit agencies working with the homeless, the Washington academy of eye physicians and surgeons, the Washington optometric association, and the opticians association of Washington to deliver vision services to the homeless free of charge.  The secretary shall enter into agreements identifying cooperating agencies and the circumstances under which specified services will be delivered.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  To the extent consistent with the department's budget, the secretary shall pay for the eyeglasses hardware prescribed and dispensed pursuant to the program set up in sections 2 through 6 of this act.  The secretary shall also attempt to obtain private sector funding for this program.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.  Ophthalmologists, optometrists, and dispensing opticians may utilize used eyeglass frames obtained through donations to this program.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.  An ophthalmologist, optometrist, or dispensing optician who provides:

          (1) Free vision services; or

          (2) Eyeglasses, or any part thereof, including used frames, at or below retail cost to homeless people in the state of Washington

shall be immune from all civil or administrative processes except for malicious conduct clearly intended to harm these persons.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6.  Nothing in sections 2 through 6 of this act shall prevent ophthalmologists, optometrists, or dispensing opticians from collecting for either their goods or services, or both from third-party payers covering the goods or services for homeless persons.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7.  The program created in sections 2 through 6 of this act shall be known as the eye care for the homeless program in Washington.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8.  Sections 2 through 7 of this act are each added to chapter 43.20A RCW.

                                                           --- END ---