HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2011

As Reported by House Committee On:

Health Care

Title:  An act relating to public psychiatric facilities.

Brief Description:  Clarifying licensing for public psychiatric facilities.

Sponsors:  Representatives Campbell, Darneille, Bush, Lantz and Cody.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Health Care:  2/20/01, 2/22/01 [DP].

  Brief Summary of Bill

$A public entity, including a like institution not otherwise established by statute, which establishes an institution for serving patients with mental illness or chemical dependency must be licensed by the Department of Health.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE

Majority Report:  Do pass. Signed by 14 members: Representatives Campbell, Republican Co‑Chair; Cody, Democratic Co‑Chair; Schual‑Berke, Democratic Vice Chair; Skinner, Republican Vice Chair; Alexander, Ballasiotes, Conway, Darneille, Edmonds, Edwards, Marine, McMorris, Pennington and Ruderman.

Staff:  John Welsh (786‑7133).

Background:

Current law requires that a person, association, or corporation establishing an institution, including a hospital or sanitarium, which cares for patients with mental illness or chemical dependency for compensation must be licensed by the Department of Health.  The operation of an unlicensed institution is a misdemeanor.

There is no specific licensing requirement  for a public entity establishing an institution for serving patients with mental illness or chemical dependency.

Summary of  Bill:

A public entity, including a like facility not otherwise established by statute, establishing an institution serving mentally ill or chemically dependent persons, must be licensed by the Department of Health.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.

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

Testimony For:  The law needs to be clarified to specifically include public entities in the licensing requirement for establishing hospitals and institutions serving the mentally ill.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Representative Campbell, prime sponsor; Jean Wessman, Association of Counties; George Walk, Pierce County; Karl Brimner, Department of Social and Health Services; and Gary Bennett, Department of Health.