AN
ACT Relating to providing infectious disease testing for good samaritans;
amending RCW 70.24.084, 70.05.070, and 70.05.120; adding a new section to
chapter 70.05 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 70.24 RCW; creating a new
section; prescribing penalties; 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). Individuals infected by these diseases value confidentiality regarding
this information. 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 and to further protect the testing
information once obtained through confidentiality provisions.
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.
The
information obtained from infectious disease testing is subject to statutory
confidentiality provisions, including those of chapters 70.24 and 70.05 RCW.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 3. A
new section is added to chapter 70.24 RCW to read as follows:
(1)
In order to assure compliance with the protections under this chapter and the
rules of the board, and to assure public confidence in the confidentiality of
reported information, the department shall:
(a)
Report annually to the board any incidents of unauthorized disclosure by the
department, local health departments, or their employees of information
protected under RCW 70.24.105. The report shall include recommendations for
preventing future unauthorized disclosures and improving the system of
confidentiality for reported information; and
(b)
Assist health care providers, facilities that conduct tests, local health
departments, and other persons involved in disease reporting to understand,
implement, and comply with this chapter and the rules of the board related to
disease reporting.
(2)
This section is exempt from RCW 70.24.084, 70.05.070, and 70.05.120.
Sec.
4. RCW
70.24.084 and 1988 c 206 s 914 are each amended to read as follows:
(1)
Any person aggrieved by a violation of this chapter shall have a right of
action in superior court and may recover for each violation:
(a)
Against any person who negligently violates a provision of this chapter, one
thousand dollars, or actual damages, whichever is greater, for each violation.
(b)
Against any person who intentionally or recklessly violates a provision of this
chapter, ((two)) ten thousand dollars, or actual damages,
whichever is greater, for each violation.
(c)
Reasonable attorneys' fees and costs.
(d)
Such other relief, including an injunction, as the court may deem appropriate.
(2)
Any action under this chapter is barred unless the action is commenced within
three years after the cause of action accrues.
(3)
Nothing in this chapter limits the rights of the subject of a test for a
sexually transmitted disease to recover damages or other relief under any other
applicable law.
(4)
Nothing in this chapter may be construed to impose civil liability or criminal
sanction for disclosure of a test result for a sexually transmitted disease in
accordance with any reporting requirement for a diagnosed case of sexually
transmitted disease by the department or the centers for disease control of the
United States public health service.
Sec.
5. RCW
70.05.070 and 1993 c 492 s 239 are each amended to read as follows:
The
local health officer, acting under the direction of the local board of health
or under direction of the administrative officer appointed under RCW 70.05.040
or 70.05.035, if any, shall:
(1)
Enforce the public health statutes of the state, rules of the state board of
health and the secretary of health, and all local health rules, regulations and
ordinances within his or her jurisdiction including imposition of penalties
authorized under RCW 70.119A.030, the confidentiality provisions in RCW
70.24.105 and rules adopted to implement those provisions, and filing of
actions authorized by RCW 43.70.190;
(2)
Take such action as is necessary to maintain health and sanitation supervision
over the territory within his or her jurisdiction;
(3)
Control and prevent the spread of any dangerous, contagious or infectious
diseases that may occur within his or her jurisdiction;
(4)
Inform the public as to the causes, nature, and prevention of disease and
disability and the preservation, promotion and improvement of health within his
or her jurisdiction;
(5)
Prevent, control or abate nuisances which are detrimental to the public health;
(6)
Attend all conferences called by the secretary of health or his or her
authorized representative;
(7)
Collect such fees as are established by the state board of health or the local
board of health for the issuance or renewal of licenses or permits or such
other fees as may be authorized by law or by the rules of the state board of
health;
(8)
Inspect, as necessary, expansion or modification of existing public water
systems, and the construction of new public water systems, to assure that the
expansion, modification, or construction conforms to system design and plans;
(9)
Take such measures as he or she deems necessary in order to promote the public
health, to participate in the establishment of health educational or training
activities, and to authorize the attendance of employees of the local health
department or individuals engaged in community health programs related to or
part of the programs of the local health department.
Sec.
6. RCW
70.05.120 and 1993 c 492 s 241 are each amended to read as follows:
Any
local health officer or administrative officer appointed under RCW 70.05.040,
if any, who shall refuse or neglect to obey or enforce the provisions of
chapters 70.05, 70.24, and 70.46 RCW or the rules, regulations or orders
of the state board of health or who shall refuse or neglect to make prompt and
accurate reports to the state board of health, may be removed as local health
officer or administrative officer by the state board of health and shall not
again be reappointed except with the consent of the state board of health. Any
person may complain to the state board of health concerning the failure of the
local health officer or administrative officer to carry out the laws or the
rules and regulations concerning public health, and the state board of health
shall, if a preliminary investigation so warrants, call a hearing to determine
whether the local health officer or administrative officer is guilty of the
alleged acts. Such hearings shall be held pursuant to the provisions of
chapter 34.05 RCW, and the rules and regulations of the state board of health
adopted thereunder.
Any
member of a local board of health who shall violate any of the provisions of
chapters 70.05, 70.24, and 70.46 RCW or refuse or neglect to obey or
enforce any of the rules, regulations or orders of the state board of health
made for the prevention, suppression or control of any dangerous contagious or
infectious disease or for the protection of the health of the people of this
state, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be fined not
less than ten dollars nor more than two hundred dollars. Any physician who
shall refuse or neglect to report to the proper health officer or
administrative officer within twelve hours after first attending any case of contagious
or infectious disease or any diseases required by the state board of health to
be reported or any case suspicious of being one of such diseases, shall be
guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be fined not less than ten
dollars nor more than two hundred dollars for each case that is not reported.
Any
person violating any of the provisions of chapters 70.05, 70.24, and
70.46 RCW or violating or refusing or neglecting to obey any of the rules,
regulations or orders made for the prevention, suppression and control of
dangerous contagious and infectious diseases by the local board of health or
local health officer or administrative officer or state board of health, or who
shall leave any isolation hospital or quarantined house or place without the
consent of the proper health officer or who evades or breaks quarantine or
conceals a case of contagious or infectious disease or assists in evading or
breaking any quarantine or concealing any case of contagious or infectious
disease, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be
subject to a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars nor more than one
hundred dollars or to imprisonment in the county jail not to exceed ninety days
or to both fine and imprisonment.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 7.
Sections 1 and 2 of this act are necessary for the immediate preservation of
the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its
existing public institutions, and take effect immediately.
