Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Health Care & Wellness Committee

HB 1003

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Background:

Department of Social and Health Services Investigations.

The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) must initiate investigations upon the report of abuse, abandonment, neglect, exploitation, and financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult. If the initial report to the DSHS or its investigation shows that the conduct may have been criminal, the DSHS must immediately report the information to law enforcement. In addition, when a report or investigation involves a licensed health care provider, the DSHS must notify the relevant disciplining authority.

Upon receiving a report of possible abuse or neglect of a child, the DSHS must investigate and provide a report to Child Protective Services. If a report is accepted for investigation by the DSHS, the investigation must occur within a specific timeframe, but may not continue for more than 90 days unless a law enforcement agency or prosecutor has allowed for a longer investigation.

Individuals with a finding of fact, final order, or conclusion of law finding him or her guilty of abuse, neglect, exploitation, or abandonment of a minor or a vulnerable adult are prohibited from being employed in the care of a vulnerable adult or from having unsupervised access to a vulnerable adult.

Investigations of Health Care Providers.

The Department of Health and the 15 health professions boards and commissions (disciplining authorities) have regulatory authority over their respective health professions, including issuing licenses, administering investigations, and conducting disciplinary hearings. A disciplining authority may take immediate action against a credentialed health care provider by summarily suspending the person's credential. In cases in which a credentialed health care provider is prohibited from practicing in another state, the disciplining authority in Washington must issue a summary suspension until the disciplinary proceedings in Washington have been completed.

Summary of Bill:

Any credentialed health care provider or applicant for a health professions credential who is prohibited from employment in the care of vulnerable adults based upon a finding of neglect or abuse of a minor or abuse, abandonment, neglect, or financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult must have his or her health professions credential summarily suspended. The health care provider is prohibited from practicing his or her profession until the Department of Health or the appropriate health professions board or commission has completed its disciplinary proceedings.