HOUSE BILL REPORT

SHB 1094

As Amended by the Senate

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.

Senate Amended.

Passed Senate: 4/9/01, 49-0.

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.

EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENT(S):

A surrender of a license must be reported to the federal data bank.  No sanctions may be imposed upon a person solely for the practice of reflexology.

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.