Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 246-928-442 and new section in chapter 246-928 WAC, Respiratory care practitioners. The department of health (department) is considering implementing ESSB 5229 (chapter 276, Laws of 2021) by requiring health equity continuing education for respiratory care practitioners. The department may also consider additional changes to update, clarify, and streamline this rule section as appropriate.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Rule making is necessary to align chapter 246-928 WAC with recent legislation. ESSB 5229, which passed during the 2021 legislative session, requires respiratory care practitioners and many other Washington health care professionals to complete continuing education on health equity.

As part of this rule making, the department will consider: (1) Whether two or more hours of health equity continuing education hours will be required for respiratory care practitioners; (2) the total amount of continuing education hours required; and (3) other issues related to continuing education. The department will also consider amendments to update and streamline WAC 246-928-442 as appropriate.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Ted Dale, Office of Health Professions, P.O. Box 47850, Olympia, WA 98504, phone 360-236-2991, TTY 711, email ted.dale@doh.wa.gov, website www.doh.wa.gov.

Additional comments: Rule-making notices will be delivered via the GovDelivery respiratory care practitioner health profession list. To receive notices, interested persons may go to https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WADOH/subscriber/new. After signing in, please click open the box labeled "Health Systems Quality Assurance." Next click open the box labeled "Health Professions" and then check "Respiratory Care Practitioner Program." You may check other boxes next to one or more of the professions listed to receive information regarding those professions.