BILL REQ. #:  H-4283.1 

Read first time 01/23/2004.   Referred to Committee on Health Care.

     AN ACT Relating to using the health professions account for professional education and recruitment and retention; and amending RCW 43.70.320.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 43.70.320 and 1993 c 492 s 411 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) There is created in the state treasury an account to be known as the health professions account. All fees received by the department for health professions licenses, registration, certifications, renewals, or examinations and the civil penalties assessed and collected by the department under RCW 18.130.190 shall be forwarded to the state treasurer who shall credit such moneys to the health professions account.
     (2) All expenses incurred in carrying out the health professions licensing activities of the department shall be paid from the account as authorized by legislative appropriation. Any residue in the account shall be accumulated and shall not revert to the general fund at the end of the biennium.
     (3) The secretary shall biennially prepare a budget request based on the anticipated costs of administering the health professions licensing activities of the department which shall include the estimated income from health professions fees.
     (4) The board or commission of any individual health profession listed in RCW 18.130.040(2)(b) whose resources exceed one hundred twenty percent of the cost of administering that profession's program may spend any funds over the one hundred twenty percent of the cost of administering that profession's program. The secretary of health is responsible for determining whether an individual profession meets this requirement. Funds may be spent to support activities that promote efforts affecting the profession including, but not limited to, professional education and recruitment and retention.