BP BHEAD INT S [atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to the merger of the health professions account and the medical disciplinary account; amending RCW 18.71.310; adding a new section to chapter 18.71 RCW; creating new sections; repealing RCW 18.71.400 and 18.71.410; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 18.71 RCW to read as follows:

All assessments, fines, and other funds collected or received under this chapter must be deposited in the health professions account and used solely to administer and implement this chapter.

Sec. 2. RCW 18.71.310 and 1994 sp.s. c 9 s 330 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The commission shall enter into a contract with the committee to implement an impaired physician program. The impaired physician program may include any or all of the following:

(a) Contracting with providers of treatment programs;

(b) Receiving and evaluating reports of suspected impairment from any source;

(d) Referring impaired physicians to treatment programs;

(e) Monitoring the treatment and rehabilitation of impaired physicians including those ordered by the commission;

(f) Providing post-treatment monitoring and support of rehabilitative impaired physicians;

(g) Performing such other activities as agreed upon by the commission and the committee; and

(h) Providing prevention and education services.

(2) A contract entered into under subsection (1) of this section shall be financed by a surcharge of up to twenty-five dollars per year on each license renewal or issuance of a new license to be collected by the department of health from every physician and surgeon licensed under this chapter in addition to other license fees ((~~and the medical discipline assessment fee established under RCW 18.72.380~~)). These moneys shall be placed in the health professions account to be used solely for the implementation of the impaired physician program.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The department of health shall merge the medical license renewal fee and the medical disciplinary assessment fee into a single medical renewal fee, which shall be deposited into the health professions account. The initial amount of the merged fee shall be the sum of the medical license renewal fee and the medical disciplinary assessment fee as of January 1, 1997. The department may make future adjustments to the amount of the merged fee pursuant to RCW 43.70.250.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The department of health shall transfer the entire balance of the medical disciplinary account to the health professions account to be used solely to administer and implement the provisions of chapter 18.71 RCW. Until changes to fees are adopted by rule under section 3 of this act, the department shall deposit any fees intended for the medical disciplinary account into the health professions account and utilize them solely to administer and implement the provisions of chapter 18.71 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The following acts or parts of acts are each repealed:

(1) RCW 18.71.400 and 1996 c 191 s 56, 1993 c 367 s 18, 1991 c 3 s 170, 1985 c 7 s 62, & 1983 c 71 s 1; and

(2) RCW 18.71.410 and 1991 sp.s. c 13 s 17, 1985 c 57 s 6, & 1983 c 71 s 2.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 1997.