BILL REQ. #:  S-3528.2 

Read first time 01/11/12.   Referred to Committee on Health & Long-Term Care.

     AN ACT Relating to the health care workforce; amending RCW 28C.18.120; reenacting and amending RCW 28C.18.010; adding new sections to chapter 28C.18 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 35.21 RCW.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 28C.18.010 and 2009 c 151 s 5 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
     Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this title.
     (1) "Adult basic education" means instruction designed to achieve mastery of skills in reading, writing, oral communication, and computation at a level sufficient to allow the individual to function effectively as a parent, worker, and citizen in the United States, commensurate with that individual's actual ability level, and includes English as a second language and preparation and testing service for the general education development exam.
     (2) "Board" means the workforce training and education coordinating board.
     (3) "Director" means the director of the workforce training and education coordinating board.
     (4) "Industry skill panel" means a regional partnership of business, labor, and education leaders that identifies skill gaps in a key economic cluster and enables the industry and public partners to respond to and be proactive in addressing workforce skill needs.
     (5) "Task force" means the health care personnel shortage task force.
     (6) "Training system" means programs and courses of secondary vocational education, technical college programs and courses, community college vocational programs and courses, private career school and college programs and courses, employer-sponsored training, adult basic education programs and courses, programs and courses funded by the federal workforce investment act, programs and courses funded by the federal vocational act, programs and courses funded under the federal adult education act, publicly funded programs and courses for adult literacy education, and apprenticeships, and programs and courses offered by private and public nonprofit organizations that are representative of communities or significant segments of communities and provide job training or adult literacy services.
     (((6))) (7) "Vocational education" means organized educational programs offering a sequence of courses which are directly related to the preparation or retraining of individuals in paid or unpaid employment in current or emerging occupations requiring other than a baccalaureate or advanced degree. Such programs shall include competency-based applied learning which contributes to an individual's academic knowledge, higher-order reasoning, and problem-solving skills, work attitudes, general employability skills, and the occupational-specific skills necessary for economic independence as a productive and contributing member of society. Such term also includes applied technology education.
     (((7))) (8) "Workforce development council" means a local workforce investment board as established in P.L. 105-220 Sec. 117.
     (((8))) (9) "Workforce skills" means skills developed through applied learning that strengthen and reinforce an individual's academic knowledge, critical thinking, problem solving, and work ethic and, thereby, develop the employability, occupational skills, and management of home and work responsibilities necessary for economic independence.

Sec. 2   RCW 28C.18.120 and 2003 c 278 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     The board shall convene a health care personnel shortage task force. The task force shall meet biannually to establish and maintain a state strategic plan ensuring an adequate supply of health care personnel and safeguarding the ability of the health care delivery system in Washington state to provide quality, accessible health care to Washington residents. The task force must:
     (1) ((Facilitate ongoing collaboration among stakeholders in order)) Consist of stakeholders who shall work collaboratively with each other and the board to address the health care personnel shortage. The stakeholder groups are to be selected by the board, but must include at least one representative of long-term care workers;
     (2) ((In collaboration with stakeholders, establish and maintain a state strategic plan for ensuring an adequate supply of health care personnel that safeguards the ability of the health care delivery system in Washington state to provide quality, accessible health care to residents of Washington; and
     (3))) Make recommendations on development of a single portal for entry into the health care professions in order to recruit more individuals into entry level health care occupations and promote adequate preparation prior to entry;
     (3) Identify ways to increase educational capacity and efficiency in health care training programs to enable more people to qualify to work in health care occupations. This must include methods to train people currently in the workforce and development of a career ladder to move people from entry level health care occupations to positions that require more training and experience;
     (4) Identify ways to monitor, manage, and retain critical professions where they are most needed. Recommendations may include:
     (a) Creation of new professions in both dental and medical fields that are trained and compensated for work in underserved communities; and
     (b) Ways to coordinate between health professions, education and training opportunities including apprenticeships, and ways to expand use of professionals trained outside the state;
     (5) Examine the scope of practice of health care licensees to ensure that licensees work at the top of the scope of their licenses and also issue recommendations on scope of practice issues as they relate to ensuring an adequate supply of qualified health care personnel. The task force may assist the department of health in performing sunrise reviews relating to scope of practice;
     (6) Develop a data collection and analysis system to assist health workforce supply and demand;
     (7) Enable local communities to implement strategies to alleviate the health care personnel shortage in their areas. This includes assisting local fire departments in developing a community worker program under section 5 of this act;
     (8) Develop a mechanism to ensure continued collaboration among stakeholders, track progress, create accountability, and to plan for future health workforce needs;
     (9) Investigate other activities as the task force deems necessary to develop a qualified health care workforce;
     (10) Coordinate grant activity as provided in section 4 of this act; and
     (11) Report to the governor and legislature by December 31, 2003, and annually thereafter, on progress on the state strategic plan and make additional recommendations as necessary.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 28C.18 RCW to read as follows:
     The task force may receive and expend federal funds and private gifts or grants, which funds must be expended in accordance with any conditions upon which the funds are contingent. Money received under this section may be used to support task force activities, including providing job training funding to entry level professions identified in the state strategic plan.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   A new section is added to chapter 28C.18 RCW to read as follows:
     The task force must develop a health care workforce grant assistance program. The program must provide assistance to Washington-based grant applicants of state and federal health care workforce grants and must:
     (1) Coordinate the activities of grantees who have received federal grants for health care workforce activities to ensure they are abiding by and consulting with the state strategic plan;
     (2) Provide grant writing assistance to grant applicants; and
     (3) Coordinate with local economic development councils.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   A new section is added to chapter 35.21 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Any fire department may develop a community assistance referral and education services program to provide community outreach and assistance to residents of its district in order to advance injury and illness prevention within their communities. The program should identify members of the community who use the 911 system for low acuity assistance calls and connect them to their primary care providers, other health care professionals, low-cost medication programs, and other social services. The program may also provide a fire department-based nonemergency contact in order to provide an alternative resource to the 911 system. The program may hire health care professionals as needed.
     (2) A fire department may seek grant opportunities and private gifts in order to support its community assistance referral and education services program.
     (3) In developing a community assistance referral and education services program, a fire department may consult with the health care personnel shortage task force to identify health care professions capable of working in a nontraditional setting and providing assistance, referral, and education services.
     (4) Community assistance referral and education services programs implemented under this section must, at least annually, measure any reduction of repeated use of the 911 emergency system and any reduction in avoidable emergency room trips attributable to implementation of the program. Results of findings under this subsection are reportable to the legislature or other local governments upon request.