BILL REQ. #:  S-0155.2 

Read first time 01/21/09.   Referred to Committee on Higher Education & Workforce Development.

     AN ACT Relating to encouraging training for medical students, nurses, and medical technicians and assistants to work with adult patients with developmental disabilities; and adding a new section to chapter 28B.115 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 28B.115 RCW to read as follows:
     The state of Washington promotes improving medical services to adult individuals with developmental disabilities. Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, medical students at the University of Washington, nursing students at schools of nursing within the state of Washington, and special and technical care students at technical schools within the state of Washington would benefit from specialized training and exposure to the unique care needs for adults that are developmentally disabled. The board shall develop a centralized program for grants for institutions for programs designed to develop training projects focused upon improvement of services to adult individuals with developmental disabilities. The board shall administer the grant program in consultation with the department of health. The board shall report to the appropriate committees of the legislature by December 1, 2010. The report must include information regarding grants awarded under this section, as well as any other efforts or progress in expanding or improving training for students in treating adult individuals with developmental disabilities.