BILL REQ. #:  Z-0878.2 

Read first time 01/18/08.   Referred to Committee on Health Care & Wellness.

     AN ACT Relating to vulnerable adult fatality review; and adding a new section to chapter 74.34 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 74.34 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The department may conduct a vulnerable adult fatality review in the event of a death of a vulnerable adult when the department has reason to believe that the death of the vulnerable adult may be related to the abuse, abandonment, exploitation, or neglect of the vulnerable adult, or may be related to the vulnerable adult's self-neglect, and the vulnerable adult was:
     (a) Receiving home and community-based services in his or her own home, described under chapters 74.39 and 74.39A RCW within sixty days preceding his or her death; or
     (b) Living in his or her own home and was the subject of a referral under chapter 74.34 RCW received by the department within twelve months preceding his or her death.
     (2) All files, reports, records, communications, and working papers used or developed for purposes of a fatality review are confidential and not subject to disclosure pursuant to RCW 74.34.095.
     (3) The department may adopt rules to implement this section.