BP BHEAD INT S

AN ACT Relating to food service public health standards; amending RCW 43.20.050; adding new sections to chapter 43.20 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 69.06 RCW.

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

Sec. 1. RCW 43.20.050 and 1992 c 34 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The state board of health shall provide a forum for the development of health policy in Washington state. It is authorized to recommend to the secretary means for obtaining appropriate citizen and professional involvement in all health policy formulation and other matters related to the powers and duties of the department. It is further empowered to hold hearings and explore ways to improve the health status of the citizenry.

(a) At least every five years, the state board shall convene regional forums to gather citizen input on health issues.

(b) Every two years, in coordination with the development of the state biennial budget, the state board shall prepare the state health report that outlines the health priorities of the ensuing biennium. The report shall:

(i) Consider the citizen input gathered at the health forums;

(ii) Be developed with the assistance of local health departments;

(iii) Be based on the best available information collected and reviewed according to RCW 43.70.050 and recommendations from the council;

(iv) Be developed with the input of state health care agencies. At least the following directors of state agencies shall provide timely recommendations to the state board on suggested health priorities for the ensuing biennium: The secretary of social and health services, the health care authority administrator, the insurance commissioner, the administrator of the basic health plan, the superintendent of public instruction, the director of labor and industries, the director of ecology, and the director of agriculture;

(v) Be used by state health care agency administrators in preparing proposed agency budgets and executive request legislation;

(vi) Be submitted by the state board to the governor by June 1 of each even-numbered year for adoption by the governor. The governor, no later than September 1 of that year, shall approve, modify, or disapprove the state health report.

(c) In fulfilling its responsibilities under this subsection, the state board shall create ad hoc committees or other such committees of limited duration as necessary. Membership should include legislators, providers, consumers, bioethicists, medical economics experts, legal experts, purchasers, and insurers, as necessary.

(2) In order to protect public health, the state board of health shall:

(a) Adopt rules necessary to assure safe and reliable public drinking water and to protect the public health. Such rules shall establish requirements regarding:

(i) The design and construction of public water system facilities, including proper sizing of pipes and storage for the number and type of customers;

(ii) Drinking water quality standards, monitoring requirements, and laboratory certification requirements;

(iii) Public water system management and reporting requirements;

(iv) Public water system planning and emergency response requirements;

(v) Public water system operation and maintenance requirements;

(vi) Water quality, reliability, and management of existing but inadequate public water systems; and

(vii) Quality standards for the source or supply, or both source and supply, of water for bottled water plants.

(b) Adopt rules and standards for prevention, control, and abatement of health hazards and nuisances related to the disposal of wastes, solid and liquid, including but not limited to sewage, garbage, refuse, and other environmental contaminants; adopt standards and procedures governing the design, construction, and operation of sewage, garbage, refuse and other solid waste collection, treatment, and disposal facilities;

(c) Adopt rules controlling public health related to environmental conditions including but not limited to heating, lighting, ventilation, sanitary facilities, cleanliness and space in all types of public facilities including but not limited to food service establishments, schools, institutions, recreational facilities and transient accommodations and in places of work;

(d) Adopt rules to implement and enforce sections 2, 3, and 4 of this act;

(e) Adopt rules for the imposition and use of isolation and quarantine;

((~~(e)~~)) (f) Adopt rules for the prevention and control of infectious and noninfectious diseases, including food and vector borne illness, and rules governing the receipt and conveyance of remains of deceased persons, and such other sanitary matters as admit of and may best be controlled by universal rule; and

((~~(f)~~)) (g) Adopt rules for accessing existing data bases for the purposes of performing health related research.

(3) The state board may delegate any of its rule-adopting authority to the secretary and rescind such delegated authority.

(4) All local boards of health, health authorities and officials, officers of state institutions, police officers, sheriffs, constables, and all other officers and employees of the state, or any county, city, or township thereof, shall enforce all rules adopted by the state board of health. In the event of failure or refusal on the part of any member of such boards or any other official or person mentioned in this section to so act, he shall be subject to a fine of not less than fifty dollars, upon first conviction, and not less than one hundred dollars upon second conviction.

(5) The state board may advise the secretary on health policy issues pertaining to the department of health and the state.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 43.20 RCW to read as follows:

Owners of food service establishments or, in the case of public entities, supervisors of food service establishments, shall maintain, in a location accessible to employees, an adequate supply of single-service food service gloves. Persons handling food in the food service establishment shall use single-service food service gloves as required by the board of health. The board of health shall adopt a rule that sets forth practical parameters for the use of single-service food service gloves.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 43.20 RCW to read as follows:

(1) All persons issued food handler permits, food and beverage service workers' permits, or other similar permits, upon first-time application, or treatment as such, the applicant must comply with subsection (2) of this section and must be tested for hepatitis A and B and tuberculosis before issuance of the food handlers permit. Medical testing shall not apply to permit holders who are in compliance with RCW 69.06.010. If at any time the permit holder allows their permit to lapse beyond the requirement of RCW 69.06.010, he or she will revert to the status of a first-time applicant and be required to apply as a first-time applicant, and is subject to first-time application requirements as set forth in this section.

(2)(a) The local health officer shall furnish to an applicant for a permit or renewal of a permit a copy of the latest edition of the food and beverage service workers' manual, as prepared by the department of health and approved by the secretary.

(b) In order to qualify for issuance of a permit or renewal of a permit, the applicant shall demonstrate his or her knowledge of elementary acceptable practices in the sanitary preparation, service, and storage of food and beverages, and the proper sanitation of equipment and facilities, by satisfactorily completing an examination conducted by the local health officer or his or her authorized representative on such subjects, based on the practices and procedures set forth in the food and beverage service workers' manual.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 69.06 RCW to read as follows:

Food service establishment owners and food handler and food and beverage service worker permittees and licensees shall comply with the requirements of section 2 of this act.