HOUSE BILL REPORT

SB 6587

As Passed House:

March 5, 2002

Title:  An act relating to eye banks.

Brief Description:  Repealing state regulation of eye banks.

Sponsors:  By Senators Thibaudeau and Deccio; by request of Department of Health.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Health Care:  2/25/02 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 3/5/02, 97-0.

Brief Summary of Bill

$The authority of the Department of Health to license and regulate eye banks is repealed.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE

Majority Report:  Do pass. Signed by 9 members: Representatives Cody, Chair; Schual‑Berke, Vice Chair; Campbell, Ranking Minority Member; Alexander, Conway, Darneille, Edwards, Ruderman and Skinner.

Staff:  John Welsh (786‑7133).

Background:

Eye banks provide services for collecting and harvesting eye tissue.  Washington has one eye bank licensed by the state to provide corneal tissue for transplantation.  This eye bank is also regulated by the federal Food and Drug Administration.

The Department of Health has identified the regulation of the corneal eye bank as a potential  budget reduction in compliance with the Governor's proposed budget.

Summary of Bill:

The authority of the Department of Health to license eye banks is repealed.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  Eye banks are already regulated by the federal Food and Drug Administration, and state regulation is duplicative and unnecessary.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Senator Thibaudeau, prime sponsor; and Gary Bennett, Department of Health.