HOUSE BILL REPORT

SHB 1094

As Passed House:

February 27, 2001

Title:  An act relating to the surrender of a health care professional's license.

Brief Description: Allowing a health care professional to surrender his or her license to practice.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Health Care (originally sponsored by Representatives Skinner, Schual‑Berke, Cody, Campbell, Conway, Ruderman, Dunshee, Alexander, Edmonds, Kenney, Edwards and Kagi).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Health Care:  1/23/01, 1/25/01 [DPS].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 2/27/01, 95-0.

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

$Includes the surrender of a health practitioner=s license to practice in lieu of other sanctions specified under the Uniform Disciplinary Act.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 11 members: Representatives Campbell, Republican Co‑Chair; Cody, Democratic Co‑Chair; Schual‑Berke, Democratic Vice Chair; Skinner, Republican Vice Chair; Alexander, Ballasiotes, Conway, Edmonds, Marine, McMorris and Ruderman.

Staff:  John Welsh (786‑7133).

Background:

The Uniform Disciplinary Act provides procedures and sanctions for unprofessional conduct committed by health professionals regulated by the Department of Health.  Sanctions include revocation or suspension of a license to practice, restriction of practice, censure or reprimand, probation, fines, corrective action, and refund of client fees.

The voluntary surrender by a practitioner of a license, certificate, or registration to practice is not included as sanction.

Summary of Bill:

The surrender of a practitioner=s license to practice is included in the list of sanctions to be considered by professional disciplinary authorities in lieu of other sanctions provided under the Uniform Disciplinary Act.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.

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

Testimony For: Practitioners electing to retire from practice and surrender their license should be allowed to as an alternative to applying harsher sanctions.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  (Support) Carl Nelson, Washington State Medical Association.