HOUSE BILL REPORT

SHB 1043

BYHouse Committee on Health Care (originally sponsored by Representatives Wineberry, Niemi, Lux, Braddock and Brooks)

Establishing procedures for reportable diseases.

House Committe on Health Care

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (9)

      Signed by Representatives Braddock, Chair; Day, Vice Chair; Brooks, Bumgarner, Cantwell, Lux, D. Sommers, Sprenkle and Vekich.

House Staff:Bill Hagens (786-7131)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 19, 1987

BACKGROUND:

Presently, provisions governing the reporting of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and the confidential handling of such data are found in the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) and not statute.  Further, present WAC listings of reportable diseases do not include all life threatening diseases associated with AIDS, such as AIDS Related Complex (ARC).

SUMMARY:

The identity of persons who have acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) shall be confidential.

The State Board of Health is precluded from requiring health care providers to report AIDS infections, unless the case falls within the AIDS definitional category IV (most serious) as defined by the Center for Disease Control (CDC).  This is an expansion of the number of infections reported.  The State Board of Health may require notification of other categories of AIDS if a related effective treatment is found.

The Board of Health is required to periodically determine whether or not these restrictions should be amended because of public health need.  If so, it should make appropriate recommendations to the legislature.

Provisions are made that nothing in this act shall limit public health officials from controlling diseases through existing powers.

Fiscal Note:      Requested February 20, 1987.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Representative Wineberry, prime sponsor; John Peppert, Department of Social and Health Services; and Patricia McInturff, Seattle/King County Department of Public Health.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The bill is needed to protect confidentiality and to expand the number of AIDS related infections to be reported.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.