BILL REQ. #:  H-0988.1 

Read first time 01/24/2007.   Referred to Committee on Health Care & Wellness.

     AN ACT Relating to fairness and equity in health professions licensing fees; and amending RCW 43.70.250.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 43.70.250 and 2006 c 72 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, it shall be the policy of the state of Washington that the cost of each professional, occupational, or business licensing program be fully borne by the members of ((that)) every profession, occupation, or business. The secretary shall from time to time establish the amount of all application fees, license fees, registration fees, examination fees, permit fees, renewal fees, and any other fee associated with licensing or regulation of professions, occupations, or businesses administered by the department. In fixing said fees, the secretary shall set the fees for each program at a sufficient level to defray the costs of administering that program and the cost of regulating licensed volunteer medical workers in accordance with RCW 18.130.360, except as provided in RCW 18.79.202 until June 30, 2013. All such fees shall be fixed by rule adopted by the secretary in accordance with the provisions of the administrative procedure act, chapter 34.05 RCW.
     (2)(a) The secretary shall set fees for all certified health professions regulated by the department so that the fees are equal for all certified health professions and are set at a sufficient level to defray the costs of administering all certified health profession programs.
     (b) The secretary shall set fees for all registered health professions regulated by the department so that the fees are equal for all registered health professions and are set at a sufficient level to defray the costs of administering all registered health profession programs.
     (c) The secretary shall set fees for all licensed health professions regulated by the department so that the fees are equal for all licensed health professions and are set at a sufficient level to defray the costs of administering all licensed health profession programs.