Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
Postsecondary Education & Workforce Committee
SB 6258
Brief Description: Creating a nondisciplinary pathway for relinquishing licenses issued by the Washington medical commission.
Sponsors: Senators Muzzall, Nobles and Shewmake; by request of Washington State Medical Commission.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Provides the Washington Medical Commission (Commission) rulemaking authority to create a non-disciplinary pathway for a voluntary relinquishment of licenses issued by the Commission.
Hearing Date: 2/24/26
Staff: Saranda Ross (786-7068).
Background:

The Washington Medical Commission (Commission) regulates the competency and quality of professional health care providers under its jurisdiction by establishing, monitoring, and enforcing qualifications for licensure, consistent standards of practice, continuing competency mechanisms, and discipline.  The Commission issues licenses for physicians (MDs), physician assistants (PAs), certified anesthesiologist assistants (CAAs), and offers limited licenses for international medical graduates.  The Commission currently regulates about 34,000 licenses.

 

The National Practitioner Data Bank collects information on adverse actions against health care practitioners by licensing agencies, health care facilities, professional societies, and medical malpractice payers.
Summary of Bill:

The Commission is authorized to conduct rulemaking for all licenses issued by the Commission to allow for the voluntary relinquishment of the license.  This includes licenses for MDs, PAs, and CAAs, as well as licenses issued under the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact and the Physician Assistant Licensure Compact.  Under these relinquishment rules, a license cannot be relinquished in lieu of discipline or if a licensee is subject to discipline or under investigation by the Commission.  The relinquishment is not an adverse action and as such is not reportable to any disciplinary database, the National Practitioner Data Bank, or other websites.  Licensees who request this relinquishment process agree to the permanent relinquishment of the property right and shall have no right to reinstatement or renewal. 
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.