SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5200

                As Passed Senate, March 4, 1999

Title:  An act relating to removing the termination of the secretary's authority for administrative procedures.

Brief Description:  Removing the termination of the secretary of health's authority for administrative procedure.

Sponsors:  Senators Thibaudeau, Deccio, Wojahn and Winsley; by request of Department of Health.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Health & Long-Term Care:  1/21/99, 2/1/99 [DP].

Passed Senate, 3/4/99, 48-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG-TERM CARE

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Thibaudeau, Chair; Wojahn, Vice Chair; Costa, Deccio, Franklin, Johnson and Winsley.

Staff:  Rhoda Jones (786-7198)

Background:  In 1996, the Legislature directed the Department of Health, in consultation with health profession boards and commissions, to consolidate the administrative requirements for the regulation of all health care professions into one process.  This resulted in a single, uniform administrative process for application procedures for health care credentials, license renewals, auditing continuing education requirements, and re-issuing expired credentials.

The secretary's authority to continue establishing these uniform administrative procedures will sunset March 1, 1999 unless the sunset clause is repealed.

Summary of Bill:  The current statute is amended, repealing the sunset clause on the secretary's authority over administrative procedures and requirements for credentialing.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  This process has been very successful and one agency should have authority to continue it.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Pat Brown, DOH (pro); Dale Rogers, Compression in Actions (pro).