1638-S AMH BENS BLAC 48

SHB 1638 - H AMD 0199 WITHDRAWN 3-17-03

By Representative Benson

On page 4, after line 11, insert the following:

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 50.20 RCW to read as follows:

(1) Credentialed health care professionals listed in RCW 18.130.040 shall be deemed to be dislocated workers for the purpose of commissioner approval of training under RCW 50.20.043 if they are unemployed as a result of contracting hepatitis C in the course of employment and are unable to continue to work in their profession because of a significant risk that such work would pose to other persons and that risk cannot be eliminated.

(2) For purposes of subsection (1) of this section, a health care professional who was employed on a full-time basis in their profession, shall be presumed to have contracted hepatitis C in the course of employment. This presumption may be rebutted by a preponderance of the evidence that demonstrates that the health care professional contracted hepatitis C as a result of activities or circumstances not related to employment."

Renumber the remaining sections consecutively and correct any cross-references accordingly.

EFFECT: Allows health care professionals who contract hepatitis C at work and cannot continue to work in their profession without posing a risk to other people to qualify for commissioner approval of training programs. Creates a presumption that certain health care professionals with hepatitis C contracted the disease at work.