SENATE BILL REPORT

HB 1296

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Health & Long-Term Care, April 2, 2003

Title: An act relating to making corrections to the department of health's professional and facilities licensing provisions.

Brief Description: Making corrections to the department of health's professional and facilities licensing provisions.

Sponsors: Representatives Moeller and Pflug; by request of Department of Health.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Health & Long-Term Care: 3/20/03, 4/2/03 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG-TERM CARE

Majority Report: Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Deccio, Chair; Winsley, Vice Chair; Brandland, Franklin, Keiser, Parlette and Thibaudeau.

Staff: Tanya Karwaki (786-7447)

Background: The Department of Health and the various professional boards regulate 55 types of health care professions and 45 types of health related facilities and services. These entities issue credentials, establish minimum standards for professional practice, and take disciplinary actions against credentialed members of the profession that engage in unprofessional conduct. Disciplinary actions for health care providers who are licensed, certified, or registered are generally governed by the Uniform Disciplinary Act.

Summary of Bill: Technical changes are made as follows: a reference to a fee for a physician "certificate" is changed to "license;" a reference to in-home services agencies licensed under "chapter 71.12 RCW" is changed to "chapter 71A.12 RCW;" one of the two identical statutory sections requiring that those who purchase, dispense, or distribute legend drugs must maintain records to account for these drugs is eliminated.

Dispensing optician apprentices are added to the Uniform Disciplinary Act. This provision takes effect on July 1, 2003.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed, except for section 2, relating to dispensing apprentices, which takes effect on July 1, 2003.

Testimony For: These are technical changes to the Department of Health statutes.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: Ron Weaver, Department of Health (pro).