Items in gray are dead.
In
addition, the Board thought it prudent to discuss some major issues likely
to appear on the Legislature’s agenda and to reach agreement on the sense of
the Board prior to session.
The
Statement of Policy on Possible 2008 Legislative Issues represents the
sense of the Board on a limited number of significant issues that the Board
discussed as a whole prior to session, and is intended to guide Board staff
and individual Board members in their communications.
| Bill Number: |
E2SHB 2549 | SSB 6282 |
| Short Title: |
Patient-centered care |
| Prime Sponsor: |
Seaquist | Keiser |
| Status: |
Amended second substitute for HB 2549 both houses. Concurrence and
funding required. |
| Digest: |
Original bill establishes a pilot project
to provide funding and technical assistance to primary care
providers willing and able to adopt and maintain medical home models. It
requires a report to the health care committees of legislature on the
progress and outcome of the pilot. E2SHB 2549 would fund a Department of
Health collaborative and also includes a reporting requirement. |
| Full Text: |
Full text of
E2SHB 2549 |
| Reason for Interest: |
Category 3 and 4: Support for promoting medical homes is called
out in the Board’s 2007 Strategic Plan and its 2008 policy statement. |
| Explanation: |
Medical homes advance two of the Board’s strategic goals—improving
access to preventive services and reducing health disparities. |
| Recommendation: |
Support concept. |
| Board Action: |
See letter on HB 2549 |
| Staff Assigned: |
Craig McLaughlin |
|
| Bill Number: |
2SHB 2722 |
| Short Title: |
Achievement gap |
| Prime Sponsor: |
Pettigrew |
| Status: |
Passed both houses. Concurrence and funding required. |
| Digest: |
View
digest on line. |
| Full Text: |
View Full text for
2SHB 2722
on line. |
| Reason for Interest: |
Category 3: The Board’s 2007 Strategic
Plan calls for the identification and support of efforts to
simultaneously reduce health disparities and the academic achievement
gap. |
| Explanation: |
This bill would establish an advisory
committee to create a plan to address the academic achievement gap for
African American students. The link between academic achievement and
health disparities is well established. Therefore, addressing the
academic achievement gap for African American students has the potential
to reduce health disparities over time. The Board recommends that the
committee include public health representation and the concept be
expanded in the future to address other groups that also experience
significant gaps in academic achievement. |
| Recommendation: |
Support
concept. Recommend amendment. |
| Board Action: |
Letter of support sent for
HB 2722. Letter of support sent for
2SHB 2722. |
| Staff Assigned: |
Christy Curwick Hoff |
|
Back to Top |
|
| Bill Number: |
ESSHB 2798 |
2SSB 6483 |
| Short Title: |
Local farms-healthy kids act |
| Prime Sponsor: |
Pettigrew | Hatfield |
| Status: |
2SSB
6483 passed both houses. Funding and concurrence required. ESSHB 2798 is
technically dead. |
| Digest: |
View
digests for
ESSHB 2798 and
2SSB 6483 on line. |
| Full Text: |
View Full text for
SHB 2798 and
2SSB 6483 on line. |
| Reason for Interest: |
Category 3 & 4: Is directly
related to Board priority to promote policies that address the link between
health disparities and academic achievement, and the nutrition and
physical activity section of the 2008 policy statement. |
| Explanation: |
Among other things, this bill would create a Washington-grown fresh
fruit and vegetable grant program for schools serving grades
K-8. Preference would be given to schools with 50% or more of their students
eligible for free or reduced lunches. In addition, the bill has measures
to make fresh fruits and vegetables more accessible for some low-income
adults and families. The Board believes that these measures have the
potential to increase children's opportunities to make healthy
nutritional choices in schools and to improvement healthy nutritional
opportunities in underserved communities. |
| Recommendation: |
Support concept |
| Board Action: |
Letters of support sent for HB 2798
and SB 6483. |
| Staff Assigned: |
Tara Wolff |
|
Back to Top |
|
| Bill Number: |
HB 2922 |
| Short Title: |
On-site sewage disposal sys |
| Prime Sponsor: |
Ericksen |
| Status: |
Technically dead |
| Digest: |
View
digest online |
| Full Text: |
Full
text of HB 2922 |
| Reason for Interest: |
Category 1:
Reduces the Board’s statutory authority for small on-site systems |
| Explanation: |
This bill would reduce the Board’s authority to adopt rules for
(“small”) on-site sewage systems with design flows equal to or less than
3500 gallons per day that would be enforceable statewide. On-site rules
adopted by the Board would be advisory only. The bill would require
local boards of health to adopt regulations for small on-site sewage
systems. Local health officers would have discretionary authority
whether to implement the provisions of chapter RCW 70.118A regarding
on-site sewage systems in marine recovery areas. Statewide minimum
requirements for small on-site systems were first adopted by the Board
in 1974 in response to concerns about the great variability of local
rules. |
| Recommendation: |
Oppose |
| Board Action: |
Craig McLaughlin testified in opposition |
| Staff Assigned: |
Ned Therien |
|
Back to Top |
|
|
| Bill Number: |
2SHB 3227 |
| Short Title: |
Hood Canal water quality |
| Prime Sponsor: |
Eickmeyer |
| Status: |
Technically dead |
| Digest: |
View
digest online |
| Full Text: |
Full
text of
2SHB 3227 |
| Reason for Interest: |
Category 1: Impacts the Boards statutory authority. The
Board’s on-site rules would need to be aligned with the new statutory
requirements. |
| Explanation: |
This bill would prohibit new or retrofitted
on-site sewage systems or other waste water systems in aquatic
rehabilitation zone one of Hood Canal, installed after July 1, 2009, to
discharge more than 20ppm nitrates. The Board has adopted rules that
regulate small on-site sewage systems to protect public health. These
rules are implemented by local health jurisdictions. Local health
jurisdictions would have challenges implementing these new provisions at
the same time they are implementing new provisions in Board rules. The
provisions of the bill might not provide intended improvement to aquatic
rehabilitation zone one for on-site systems distant from the marine
waters.
By December 1, 2008, the Departments of
Health and Ecology must jointly report to the legislature the impact of
removing phosphates from on-site sewage system discharges in aquatic
rehabilitation zone one. |
| Recommendation: |
Support concept, recommend
amendments |
| Board Action: |
Craig McLaughlin signed in
for support of proposed substitute. |
| Staff Assigned: |
Ned Therien |
|
Back to Top |
|
|
| Bill Number: |
SHB
3312 |
| Short Title: |
On-site sewage biological remediation technologies |
| Prime Sponsor: |
Chase |
| Status: |
Technically dead |
| Digest: |
View
digest on line |
| Full Text: |
View
text on line |
| Reason for Interest: |
Category 2: Contrary to policy direction established by Board in
rule governing small onsite systems. |
| Explanation: |
SHB 3312
prohibits local health agencies charging permit fees for biological
treatment device installation in on-site sewage systems. Local health
agencies rely on fees to fund activities to approve and monitor on-site
sewage systems.
SHB 3312
would exempt proprietary biological treatment units until July 2010 from
Board rules that such devices must be evaluated and approved by the
Department of Health. Local health jurisdictions could allow
installation of these devices on failing systems without DOH approval of
the devices. Manufacturers of the devices would be required to provide
documentation of product performance.
The bill
would allow installation of the devices in on-site systems with
non-failing drainfields without a permit from the local health agency.
Local may require the installations to be registered, without a fee. Use
of the devices in non-failing systems could be problematic in some
situations. Although the devices appear to have value for drainfields
failing because of excessive biomat, some biomat in drainfields is
needed to provide treatment of the sewage before it discharges to the
soil. Local health agency oversight of such installations might better
assure public health protection.
The Board
initiated rule making in 2006 to develop standards for approving
drainfield remediation technologies. Lack of staff expert in on-site
systems has delayed rule making. This bill would set a time limit of
July 2010 for completing a Board rule.
Devices used on failing or non-failing systems after the Board adopts
rules must be on a list of devices approved by the Department of Health.
|
| Recommendation: |
Concerns, recommend amendments |
| Board Action: |
Craig
McLaughlin testified about concerns |
| Staff Assigned: |
Ned Therien |
|
Back to Top |
|
|
| Bill Number: |
HB 3345 |
| Short Title: |
Sewage system inspections |
| Prime Sponsor: |
Linville |
| Status: |
Technically dead |
| Digest: |
View
digest online |
| Full Text: |
Full
text of HB 3345 |
| Reason for Interest: |
Categories 1 & 2:
Impacts the Board’s statutory authority. Runs counter to a policy
direction established in Board rule for small on-site systems |
| Explanation: |
This bill would
establish inspection frequencies for on-site sewage systems in law. The
frequencies would be lengthened beyond the minimum in the Board’s
current rules, which could lead to more failures caused by problems left
unidentified for too long. The required inspection frequencies could
become quite varied between systems, which could make tracking difficult
for local health agencies and homeowners. The Department of Health,
rather than the Board, would be required to revise a Board rule to
implement these provisions. |
| Recommendation: |
Oppose |
| Board Action: |
Craig McLaughlin testified in opposition |
| Staff Assigned: |
Ned Therien |
|
Back to Top |
|
| Bill Number: |
SSB 6042 |
| Short Title: |
Recess in elementary schools |
| Prime Sponsor: |
Franklin |
| Status: |
Technically dead. |
| Digest: |
View
digest online. |
| Full Text: |
Full text of
SB 6042 and
SSB 6042 |
| Reason for Interest: |
Category 4: Is directly related to a policy issue
addressed in a policy statement adopted by the Board prior to each
session. This bill relates to the "School Health - Physical Activity and
Nutrition" section of the Statement of Policy on Possible 2008
Legislative Issues which indicates that the Board supports
using public health best practice models to improve the physical
activity and nutrition practices in schools. |
| Explanation: |
The
Board believes public policy should encourage physical activity. The
board is particularly concerned about childhood obesity rates and its
potential link to physical inactivity. |
| Recommendation: |
Support |
| Board Action: |
Letter of support sent for SB 6042 |
| Staff Assigned: |
Tara Wolff |
|
Back to Top |
|
| Bill Number: |
|
| Short Title: |
|
| Prime Sponsor: |
|
| Status: |
Technically dead |
| Digest: |
|
| Full Text: |
|
| Reason for Interest: |
Category 1: The
board has statutory authority to adopt rules for scoliosis screening .
This bill would rescind that authority.
|
| Explanation: |
The
Board does not believe screening asymptomatic adolescents for
scoliosis results in
earlier
detection.
It passed a motion at its January 2008 meeting supporting the concept
of rescinding mandatory school-based scoliosis screening in Washington
State. |
| Recommendation: |
|
| Board Action: |
Craig
McLaughlin signed in to support HB 2516. Tara Wolff signed in to
support SB 6135
|
| Staff Assigned: |
Tara Wolff |
|
Back to Top |
|
| Bill
Number: |
SB 6300 |
| Short Title: |
Mercury-containing vaccines |
| Prime Sponsor: |
Oemig |
| Status: |
Technically dead |
| Digest: |
View
digest online. |
| Full Text: |
Full
text of SB 6300 |
| Reason for Interest: |
Category 4: The bill
relates to the "Immunizations" section of the Statement of Policy on
Possible 2008 Legislative Issues, which state that the Board
supports the practice of purchasing vaccines recommended by the Advisory
Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for all children. The board
also supports efforts to increase full immunization of children and
adults. |
| Explanation: |
This bill significantly limits the amount of mercury in influenza
vaccines. This limitation in not in synch with recommendations from the
Institute of Medicine report Immunization Safety Review: Vaccines
and Thimerosal, CDC recommendations, or the latest studies on
autism and thimerosal. The mercury limits in the bill have the potential
to make it difficult or impossible for the state to purchase influenza
vaccines in sufficient quantity thereby resulting in shortages. This
bill also includes additional disclosure requirements regarding mercury
levels in vaccines and associated health risks. However information on
thimerosal and how to report adverse reactions is already contained in
the Vaccine Information Statements which health care providers are
required to give to every patient. Also supplying every patient with the
Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) form, may create fear of
vaccine which could cause a decrease in the number of people vaccinated
against influenza and increased hospitalizations. |
| Recommendation: |
Oppose |
| Board Action: |
Testified in opposition. |
| Staff Assigned: |
Tara Wolff |
|
Back to Top |
|
| Bill
Number: |
ESSB 6620 | HB
3014 |
| Short Title: |
Biological
remediation technologies |
| Prime Sponsor: |
Pridemore | Chase |
| Status: |
Technically dead |
| Digest: |
View digest on line of
SSB 6620 |
HB 3014 |
| Full Text: |
View text on line of
SSB 6620
HB 3014 |
| Reason for Interest: |
Category 2: Contrary to policy
direction established by Board in rule governing small onsite systems. |
| Explanation: |
SSB 6620 would exempt proprietary biological
treatment units that meet certain criteria
from Board rules that such devices must be evaluated and approved by the
Department of Health. Local health jurisdictions could permit
installation of these devices on failing
systems without DOH approval until the Board adopts required
rules and DOH develops a list of approved devices.
The devices could be installed in on-site
systems with non-failing drainfields without the approval of either
local health or state health agencies. After the Board adopts
rules and DOH develops a list of approved devices, only approved devices
could be installed. No permit for installation of these devices on
non-failing systems could be required.
The Board initiated rule making in 2006 to
develop standards for approving drainfield remediation technologies.
SSB 6620 would set a time limit for
completing Board rule making by July 2010. |
| Recommendation: |
Concerns |
| Board Action: |
Craig McLaughlin testified with concerns about SB 6620 |
| Staff Assigned: |
Ned Therien |
|
Back to Top |
|
| Bill
Number: |
SB
6659 | SHB 3160 |
| Short Title: |
Nutrition information |
| Prime Sponsor: |
Prentice | Springer |
| Status: |
Technically dead |
| Digest: |
View digests for
SB 6659 and
SHB 3160 online. |
| Full Text: |
View full texts of
SB 6659 and
ESHB 3160 online. |
| Reason for Interest: |
Category 4: The Statement of
Policy on Possible 2008 Legislative Issues states that the
Board opposes state preemption of local authority to develop
and implement promising policies intended to reduce the disturbing
prevalence of overweight and obesity. |
| Explanation: |
The original
bills required
a covered food facility to make specific nutrition information available
to consumers for each standard food item. The bills
would have also
preempted local
boards of health or health districts from adopting an ordinance, rule,
policy, regulation, or permit requirement regarding mandatory menu
labeling or nutritional information disclosure at restaurants affected
by the bills. They
also stated
that any ordinance, rule, policy, regulation, or permit requirement
regarding mandatory menu labeling or nutritional information disclosure
at covered restaurants adopted prior to the effective date of the bills
is null and void and is superseded by the requirements by the bills.
SHB 3160 stripped out everything but
the title and the intent section. The engrossed version created a task
force to study the issue and established a moratorium. The moratorium
was then amended out. |
| Recommendation: |
Oppose original. Neutral on
engrossed version. |
| Board Action: |
Craig McLaughlin
signed in opposed to SB 6659.
He also testified at the request of the House Commerce & Labor Committee
and stated the Board's opposition to pre-emption in HB 3160. |
| Staff Assigned: |
Tara Wolff |
|
Back to Top |
|
