SENATE BILL REPORT
SHB 1094
As Reported By Senate Committee On:
Health & Long‑Term Care, March 28, 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 & Long‑Term Care: 3/15/01, 3/28/01 [DPA].
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG‑TERM CARE
Majority Report: Do pass as amended.
Signed by Senators Thibaudeau, Chair; Franklin, Vice Chair; Costa, Deccio, Fraser, Parlette and Winsley.
Staff: Joan Mell (786‑7447)
Background: The Uniform Disciplinary Act provides procedures and sanctions for unprofessional conduct committed by health professionals regulated through 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 Amended 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. Surrender of a license must be reported to the federal databank.
Reflexologists cannot be sanctioned for the practice of reflexology through July 2002.
Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill: A provision is added to clarify that surrender of a license must be reported to the federal database. A provision is added pertaining to sanctions against reflexologists.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: The bill is needed to provide an alternative sanction for health care practitioners. Surrender of a license would be reported to the federal databank the same way a license revocation would be reported. The Department of Health supports the bill.
Testimony Against: None.
Testified: Linda Hall, WA St Dental Assn. (pro); Carl Nelson, WSMA (pro); Sue Shoblom, Dept. of Health.