Brief Description: Requiring multicultural education for health professionals.

Sponsors: Senators Franklin, Regala, Keiser, Eide, Prentice, Thibaudeau, Jacobsen, Fairley, McAuliffe, Fraser, Spanel, Kline, Kohl-Welles and Shin.

Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care
Senate Committee on Ways & Means
House Committee on Health Care

Background: Persons of color experience disparities from the general population in education, employment, health living conditions, access to health care, and other social determinants of health.

For quite some time, communities of color have been voicing concerns about health disparities. Out of these concerns and policy makers' sensitivity to the issue, Senate Concurrent Resolution 8419 was introduced and passed by the Legislature in 2004 creating the Joint Select Committee on Health Disparities.

The committee issued a report on health disparities in Washington on November 1, 2005. The report included findings and recommendations to be considered by the Legislature. The committee identified the need to enhance the knowledge, attitudes, and practice skills of health professionals and those working with diverse populations to achieve a greater understanding of the relationship between culture and health.

Summary: Multi-cultural health is defined. The Department of Health is required to establish an ongoing multi-cultural health awareness and education program. Disciplining authorities that offer continuing education may provide multi-cultural health training. Education programs for health care professions are required to integrate instruction in multi-cultural health into the basic education preparation curriculum no later than July 1, 2008.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate      32   13
House      67   31   (House amended)
Senate      35   12   (Senate concurred)

Effective: June 7, 2006