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Bill Watch
- 2003 Session
Last updated: 4/28/03
Bolded items are technically dead.
See also:
Bill Watch 2002 |
Bill Watch 2004
| Bill Watch 2005 |
Bill Watch 2006
Washington
State Legislature
It is the policy of the Washington
State Board of Health (Policy 01-001)
to monitor and comment on issues before the Legislature that fall into at
least one of the following four categories.
-
Category 1: Impacts
the Boards statutory authority
-
Category 2: Runs
counter to a policy direction the Board has established in rule
-
Category 3: Is directly
related to one of the Priority Topics established by the Board each
biennium, as supported by a Board-approved work plan, interim
document, or final report
-
Category 4: Is directly
related to a policy issue addressed in a policy statement adopted by the
Board prior to each session
| Bill Number: |
SHB
1068 | HB 1646 | SSB 5764 |
| Short Title: |
Public
water fluoridation |
| Prime Sponsor: |
Campbell
| Bush | Roach |
|
Status: |
Technically dead. |
| Digest: |
HB
1068 requires a vote on any local ordinance providing for
fluoridation.
HB 1646 and SB 5764 finds that it is in the public interest that
before the fluoridation of a public water system, the customers
of the public water system or the elected local public water
system governing body should make the final decision on the
addition of fluoride to the public water system. |
| Full Text: |
Full
text of SHB 1068 | Full
text of SSB 5764 |
| Reason for Interest: |
Category
1: Would open up Chapter 43.20 to add specific restriction
to Board's broad authority.
Category
4: Fluoridation mentioned in Sense of the Board as
cost-effective response to dental access problems for children. |
| Explanation: |
Would
strip local boards and the state board of health of authority to order fluoridation
as a public health response. |
| Recommendation: |
Neutral.
Sent letter. Testify. |
| Board Action: |
Vickie
Ybarra testified. Letter
from Linda Lake and Vickie Ybarra. |
| Staff Assigned: |
Doreen Garcia
Back to top
|
|
| Bill
Number: |
HB
1318 | HB 5649 |
| Short
Title: |
U.S.
food code |
| Prime
Sponsor: |
Darnielle
| Swecker |
| Status: |
HB
1318 signed by the Governor April 17. |
| Digest: |
Authorizes
the state board of health to reference the United States food
and drug administration's food code for the purpose of adopting
food service rules. |
| Full
Text: |
Full
text of HB 1318 |
| Reason
for Interest: |
Category
1: Adds new section to Board's authorizing statute (RCW 43.20). |
| Explanation: |
This
is Department of Health request legislation submitted in
consultation with the Board. See
memo
from October Board packet for more information. |
| Recommendation: |
Support.
Testify. |
| Board
Action: |
Letter
from Linda Lake regarding HB 1318.
Letter from
Linda Lake regarding HB 5649 |
| Staff
Assigned: |
Marianne Seifert
Back
to top |
|
| Bill Number: |
HB
1125 | SHB
1754 | HB 1758 |
| Short Title: |
Concerning
the slaughter, preparation, and sale of certain poultry. |
| Prime Sponsor: |
Eickmeyer |
| Status: |
ESHB
1754 sent to the Governor April 27. Amended to establish temporary permit
mechanism for small pastured poultry farmers, to address only chickens. and to
remove reference to
boards of health rules. |
| Digest: |
HB
1754 provides
that rules adopted by the state board of health, the department
of health, or a local health jurisdiction, as defined in RCW
43.70.575, regulating food or food service establishments do not
apply to the slaughter and preparation of one thousand or fewer
poultry animals in a calendar year by the agricultural producer
of the poultry for the sale of the whole or cut-up raw poultry
by the producer directly to retail customers, or to such sale. (Note: HB 1125 would exempt from
Washington Department of Agriculture regulation only; HB 1758 would be specific to
chicken.) |
| Full Text: |
Full
text of SHB 1754 | Full
text of ESHB 1754 |
| Reason for Interest: |
Category
1: Would have removed small poultry producers engaged in retail sales
from regulation under the SBOH Food Code, chapter 43.70 RCW. |
| Explanation: |
See
letter. |
| Recommendation: |
Oppose
HB 1754.
Submit letter. Testify if asked.
Recommend amendment to ESHB 1754 |
| Board Action: |
Letter
from Linda Lake on HB 1754 |
Letter
from Linda Lake on ESHB 1754 |
| Staff Assigned: |
Marianne Seifert
Back to top |
|
| Bill
Number: |
ESHB
1852 |
| Short
Title: |
Facilitating
collaboration among health care work force stakeholders to
address the health care personnel shortage |
| Prime
Sponsor: |
Schual-Berke |
| Status: |
Passed
both houses. |
| Digest: |
Directs
the Workforce Training Board to facilitate ongoing collaboration
among stakeholders in order to address the health care personnel
shortage. The stakeholders shall: (1) 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; (2) Develop
and implement a work force data collection and analysis system
to assess health care work force supply and demand; and (3)
Report to the governor and legislature by December 31, 2004, and
by December 31, 2006, on progress on the state plan and make
additional recommendations as necessary. Repeals RCW
28B.125.005, 28B.125.010, 28B.125.020, and 28B.125.030. |
| Full
Text: |
Full
text of ESHB 1852 |
| Reason
for Interest: |
Category
3: Related to priority topic Health Disparities |
| Explanation: |
Follows
up on the Health Care Personnel Shortage Task Force work.
Amended to include language similar to the task
force's target populations language (which includes underserved
populations such as rural communities and racially and
ethnically diverse youth and adults). |
| Recommendation: |
Support.
Submit letter . |
| Board
Action: |
Letter from Linda Lake and Vickie
Ybarra |
| Staff
Assigned: |
Marianne Seifert
Back
to top |
|
| Bill
Number: |
SHB
2015 |
| Short
Title: |
Providing
for greater access to health insurance for small employers and
their employees. |
| Prime
Sponsor: |
Kessler |
| Status: |
Technically dead. |
| Digest: |
Provides
for greater access to health insurance for small employers and
their employees. |
| Full
Text: |
Full
text of 2015 |
| Reason
for Interest: |
Category
3: Related to priority topic Access to Critical Health
Services |
| Explanation: |
See
letter |
| Recommendation: |
Submit letter with concerns. |
| Board
Action: |
Letter
from Linda Lake. |
| Staff
Assigned: |
Don Sloma
Back
to top |
|
| Bill
Number: |
SSB
5039 | SHB 1638 |
| Short
Title: |
Relating
to hepatitis C |
| Prime
Sponsor: |
Kastama
| Schual-Berke |
| Status: |
House
version of SHB 5039 sent to the Governor on April 27.
SHB 1636 is technically dead. |
| Digest: |
SB
5039 directs the secretary
of health to contract, or enter into other agreements, with the
University of Washington medical center to design and implement
all parts of a state plan for the prevention and management of
hepatitis C, by December 31, 2003. Requires the department of
health to submit the completed state plan to the legislature
before implementation and by December 31, 2003.
HB 1638 directs the secretary of
health to design a state plan for the prevention and management
of hepatitis C by July 1, 2004.
|
| Full
Text: |
Full
text of SSB 5039 | Full
text of E2SHB1638 |
| Reason
for Interest: |
Category
1: SHB 1638 would give the Board specific statutory authority
to make rules implementing state plan. |
| Explanation: |
Board, at
request of WSALPHO, has asked staff to participate in review of
rules, regulations, and policies related to HIV, and to consider
need for bloodborne pathogen rule that could encompass hepatitis
C. See letter for more information.
|
| Recommendation: |
Support
concept, recommend amendment. Send
letter. |
| Board
Action: |
Letter
from Linda Lake |
| Staff
Assigned: |
Craig McLaughlin
Back
to top |
|
| Bill Number: |
SB 5059 |
| Short Title: |
Including genetic
information as a protected category in the law against
discrimination. |
| Prime Sponsor: |
Franklin |
| Status: |
Technically dead. |
| Digest: |
Includes genetic
information as a protected category in the law against
discrimination. |
| Full Text: |
Full
text of 5059 |
| Reason for Interest: |
Category
3: Implements recommendation of the Genetics Task Force. |
| Explanation: |
Implements
recommendation of Genetics Task Force |
| Recommendation: |
If heard, send letter
from Linda Lake stating this was a recommendation of the GTF and
explaining GTF process. |
| Board Action: |
None |
| Staff Assigned: |
Don Sloma
Back to top |
|
| Bill
Number: |
SB
5060 | HB 1412 |
| Short
Title: |
Children's
environmental health and protection advisory council |
| Prime
Sponsor: |
Franklin
| Schual-Berke |
| Status: |
Technically dead. |
| Digest: |
Provides that the
advisory council shall: (1) Meet at least four times a year; (2) Review and comment on existing laws, rules, regulations, and
standards to ensure that they adequately protect the health of
children from environmental hazards; (3) Work collaboratively with state agencies and others without
duplicating current work in this area; and (4) Report to the governor and the legislature by December 1,
2004, and December 1, 2005, with recommendations on changes in
regulation that would reduce children's exposure to
environmental hazards and recommendations for collaborative
approaches to public education. |
| Full
Text: |
Full
text of 5060 |
| Reason
for Interest: |
Category
1: Assigns
significant new work to the Board by statute without additional state
resources. Category 3: Relates to Board priorities Environmental
Health, Health Disparities, Children's
Health and Well Being. |
| Explanation: |
Requires Board to staff
the advisory council and allows
it to solicit and spend external public and private funds to do so.
June 30, 2006 sunset clause. Board recommends amendment
making work conditional on securing funding. Proposed language
contained in proposed Senate substitute. |
| Recommendation: |
Support
concept. Recommend amendment. |
| Board
Action: |
Letter
from Linda Lake regarding SB 5060.
Letter from
Linda Lake regarding HB 1412. |
| Staff
Assigned: |
Marianne Seifert
Back to top |
|
| Bill
Number: |
SB
5085 |
| Short
Title: |
Water
recreation facilities |
| Prime
Sponsor: |
Honeyford |
| Status: |
Technically
dead. |
| Digest: |
Not available. |
| Full
Text: |
Full
text of 5085 |
| Reason
for Interest: |
Category
1: Repeals
existing Board authority to regulate water recreation
facilities. |
| Explanation: |
Would
repeal several sections of Chapter 70.90 RCW that regulate
pools, spas, and other water recreation facilities. The existing
language authorizes the Board to write rules and the Department
of Health to require compliance. Board rules are Chapter 246-260
WAC. |
| Recommendation: |
Oppose.
If heard, send letter. |
| Board
Action: |
None. |
| Staff
Assigned: |
Marianne Seifert
Back
to top |
|
| Bill
Number: |
SB
5313 |
| Short
Title: |
Health
care recovery act |
| Prime
Sponsor: |
Kastama |
| Status: |
Technically dead. |
| Digest: |
Finds
that: (1) Despite numerous efforts to improve health care in the
state, the crisis continues to worsen; (2) While this crisis is
caused, to a great degree, by rising costs associated with
changing demographics and the increasing availability of costly
drugs and treatments, it is equally due to the lack of effective
public policy governing the purpose of a health care system, its
governance and financing, and related individual and/or
organizational responsibilities; (3) Employer-based coverage has
been on the decline for some time because the cost of providing
adequate worker coverage can significantly affect the viability
of a business, while minimal employer contributions can place an
undue burden upon the worker; and (4) While consumer choice is
important, the growing demand on existing resources requires
that funding be focused on services identified to improve health
status in the most economical manner. Provides that, by January
1, 2005, a carrier offering any individual health benefit plan
shall offer to all individuals a health benefit plan providing
benefits identical to those included in the basic health plan
under chapter 70.47 RCW. Such a plan is not required to include
any benefits other than those in the basic health plan and is to
be known as the Washington standard plan. |
| Full
Text: |
Full
text of 5313 |
| Reason
for Interest: |
Category
1: Would create statutory requirement that Board define
scope of preventive care.
Category 3: Related to Board's work on menu of critical
health services. |
| Explanation: |
Schedule
of benefits for Basic Health would include "Preventive
services, with no additional enrollee costs, based on care
developed by the state board of health in consideration of
nationally recognized standards." |
| Recommendation: |
Support
goals of the bill with concerns about some specific provisions. |
| Board
Action: |
Letter
from Linda Lake |
| Staff
Assigned: |
Don Sloma
Back
to top |
|
| Bill
Number: |
SB
5421 | HB 1825 |
| Short
Title: |
Newborn
hearing screening |
| Prime
Sponsor: |
B.
Sheldon | Kagi |
| Status: |
Technically dead. |
| Digest: |
Directs
the department of health to require a hearing screening of all
newborn infants before they are discharged from the hospital.
However, no screening shall be provided to any newborn infant
whose parent or guardian objects upon the grounds that a hearing
screening conflicts with their religious tenets and practices.
Requires audiologists, clinicians, attending physicians, or
other persons performing the screening to report the results of
the screening to the department of health. |
| Full
Text: |
Full
text of 5421 |
| Reason
for Interest: |
Category
1: Impacts the Board's existing authority to require newborn
hearing screening by rule under chapter 70.83 RCW. |
| Explanation: |
Board
is considering recommendations from the Newborn Screening
Advisory Committee to mandate six new tests, including hearing
screening. Rule process on hold awaiting funding decisions by
governor and Legislature. Bill would mandate newborn hearing
screening by rule. |
| Recommendation: |
Support.
Submit letter. |
| Board
Action: |
Letter
from Linda Lake and Tom Locke. |
| Staff Assigned: |
Craig McLaughlin,
Doreen Garcia
Back
to top |
|
| Bill
Number: |
SB
5495 |
| Short
Title: |
Environmental
health tracking system |
| Prime
Sponsor: |
Keiser |
| Status: |
Technically dead. |
| Digest: |
Declares
that analysis of available data used to track and monitor
chronic diseases is critical to all of the following: (1)
Knowing where and how to put in place the most effective
strategies to prevent diseases; (2) Assessing the contribution
of diseases to disabilities and premature mortality; (3)
Measuring the effectiveness of prevention strategies; and (4)
Generating hypotheses that may lead to new scientific knowledge
about the causes of, and most effective ways to fight, chronic
diseases. Declares it is the intent of the legislature in
creating the environmental health tracking system to form a
partnership to do all of the following: (1) Provide a
continually updated data base, with linkages to the survey,
biomonitoring, and disease data collected under section 3 of
this act, in order to assess the impact of environmental
contaminants on the human body; (2) On an ongoing basis, track
and evaluate a variety of chronic diseases in relation to
environmental exposures, including state and local data on
actual incidences of chronic disease; (3) Make the data
available to the public in an accessible and useful format; and
(4) Ultimately provide the data to the relevant board, division,
or office within the department of health, the department of
ecology, the department of labor and industries, and the
University of Washington school of public health for the
development of appropriate preventive strategies. |
| Full
Text: |
Full
text of 5495 |
| Reason
for Interest: |
Category
3: Related to Environmental Health priority project. |
| Explanation: |
See
letter. |
| Recommendation: |
Support with concerns. Testify. |
| Board
Action: |
Letter
from Linda Lake. |
| Staff
Assigned: |
Marianne Seifert
Back
to top |
|
|
Bill Number: |
SSB
5521 | HB 1871 |
|
Short Title: |
Health
insurance |
|
Prime Sponsor: |
Deccio
| Pflug |
|
Status: |
Technically dead
but likely to be taken up in special session |
|
Digest: |
Revises
procedures relating to access to health insurance for employers
and their employees. |
|
Full Text: |
Full
text of SSB 5521 |
House
amendment |
|
Reason for Interest: |
Category
1: Removes statutory mandate for prenatal screening and
other mandated benefits.
Category 3: Directly related to priority work area Access
to Critical Health Services. |
|
Explanation: |
See
letter. |
|
Recommendation: |
Express
concerns in letter. |
|
Board Action: |
Letter from Linda Lake (Senate version)
(House version). |
|
Staff Assigned: |
Don Sloma
Back
to top |
|
| Bill
Number: |
ESSB
5807 |
| Short
Title: |
Basic Health
Plan revisions |
| Prime
Sponsor: |
Parlette |
| Status: |
Technically dead but
likely to be taken up in special session |
| Digest: |
Limits
eligibility for BHP to those with verifiable incomes of 150% federal
poverty or less; establishes asset minimums; places a five year
lifetime maximum on receipt of BHP subsidies; eliminates mandates for
coverage of chem. dep., mental health and organ transplants and
consideration of other "mandated benefits"; requires proven
preventive care and catastrophic care; directs HCA to use
evidence-based medicine principals to establish BHP benefits package
and makes other changes to BHP to reduce benefit package costs by 25%. |
| Full
Text: |
Full
text of ESSB 5807 |
| Reason
for Interest: |
Category
3: Related to priority topic Access to Critical Health Services.
Category 4: Access issues addressed in the
Sense
of the Board on Legislative Policy Issues.
|
| Explanation: |
Would
reduce BHP benefits while requiring preventive care and evidence
based services to avoid most reduction in number of enrollees due to
budget constraints; might undermine success of BHP by adding to lack
of affordability of coverage even for those enrolled in BHP; would
limit coverage for those with chronic conditions or otherwise unable
to find alternatives after five years. |
| Recommendation: |
Support
goals of the bill with concerns about some specific provisions. |
| Board
Action: |
Letter
from Linda Lake [Senate
version] [House version] |
| Staff
Assigned: |
Don Sloma
Back
to top |
|
| Bill
Number: |
SB
5920 | HB 2070 |
| Short
Title: |
Local public
health services |
| Prime
Sponsor: |
West | Romero |
| Status: |
Technically dead. |
| Digest: |
Provides
that, in addition to the levy provided for in RCW 84.52.065, in each
year the state shall levy for collection in the following year a state
tax of twenty-five cents per thousand dollars of assessed value upon
the assessed valuation of all taxable property within the state
adjusted to the state equalized value in accordance with the indicated
ratio fixed by the state department of revenue. Directs the secretary
of state to submit this act to the people for their adoption and
ratification, or rejection, at the next general election to be held in
this state, in accordance with Article II, section 1 of the state
Constitution and the laws adopted to facilitate its operation.
Provides that, if this act is not approved by a majority of the voters
voting at the next general election it is null and void in its
entirety. |
| Full
Text: |
Full
text of 5920 |
| Reason
for Interest: |
Category 4:
Public health funding issues addressed in the
Sense
of the Board on Legislative Policy Issues. |
| Explanation: |
Tri-Association
proposal for secure and stable public health funding. |
| Recommendation: |
Support
concept of secure and stable funding for public health in letter. |
| Board
Action: |
Letter
from Linda Lake |
| Staff
Assigned: |
Don Sloma
Back
to top |
|
| Bill
Number: |
SB
5929 |
| Short
Title: |
Requiring
informed consent before an employer or insurer uses a person's genetic
information. |
| Prime
Sponsor: |
Franklin |
| Status: |
Technically dead. |
| Digest: |
Requires
informed consent before an employer or insurer uses a person's genetic
information. |
| Full
Text: |
Full
text of 5929 |
| Reason
for Interest: |
Category
3:
Would implement recommendation of Genetics Task Force. |
| Explanation: |
See
letter. |
| Recommendation: |
Support.
Send letter. |
| Board
Action: |
Letter
from Linda Lake. |
| Staff
Assigned: |
Don Sloma
Back
to top |
|
|
