Read first time 02/02/2007.   Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

     AN ACT Relating to the reporting of physician convictions for driving while under the influence to an approved substance abuse program; and adding a new section to chapter 43.43 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 43.43 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Upon a guilty plea or conviction of a person for violations of RCW 46.61.502 or 46.61.504, the prosecuting attorney shall notify the state patrol of such guilty plea or conviction.
     (2) When the state patrol receives information that a person has pled guilty to or been convicted of one of the violations under subsection (1) of this section, the state patrol shall transmit that information to the department of health. It is the duty of the department of health to identify whether the person holds a credential issued by the medical quality assurance commission under RCW 18.130.040 and chapter 18.71 RCW, and provide this information to the commission. The commission shall review the information provided by the department of health and assess whether or not the physician should be referred to the impaired physician program under RCW 18.71.330 and 18.130.175.