H-0167.1 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL 1080
_______________________________________________
State of Washington 56th Legislature 1999 Regular Session
By Representatives Carlson, Ogden, Pennington, Dunn, Tokuda, Stensen, O'Brien, Morris, Conway, Lambert, Lantz, Wood, Rockefeller, Parlette, Esser and Lovick
Read first time 01/14/1999. Referred to Committee on Health Care.
AN ACT Relating to providing infectious disease testing for good samaritans; adding a new section to chapter 70.05 RCW; creating a new section; and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that citizens who assist individuals in emergency situations perform a needed and valuable role that deserves recognition and support. The legislature further finds that emergency assistance in the form of mouth to mouth resuscitation or other emergency medical procedures resulting in the exchange of bodily fluids significantly increases the odds of being exposed to a deadly infectious disease. Some of the more life-threatening diseases that can be transferred during an emergency procedure where bodily fluids are exchanged include hepatitis A, B, and C, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The legislature further finds that a number of good samaritans who perform life-saving emergency procedures such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation are unable to pay for the tests necessary for detecting infectious diseases that could have been transmitted during the emergency procedure. It is the purpose of this act to provide infectious disease testing at no cost to good samaritans who request testing for infectious diseases after rendering emergency assistance that has brought them into contact with a bodily fluid.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 70.05 RCW to read as follows:
A person rendering emergency care or transportation, commonly known as a "Good Samaritan," as described in RCW 4.24.300 and 4.24.310, may request and receive appropriate infectious disease testing free of charge from the local health department of the county of her or his residence, if: (1) While rendering emergency care she or he came into contact with bodily fluids; and (2) she or he does not have health insurance that covers the testing. Nothing in this section requires a local health department to provide health care services beyond testing. The department shall adopt rules implementing this section.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. 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 immediately.
--- END ---