|
|
2011
Bill Watch
Above items in gray are dead.
It is the policy of the Washington State Board of Health (
Policy 01-001 [32 KB]) to monitor and comment on issues before the Legislature that
fall into at least one of the following four categories.
- Category 1: Impacts the Board's 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
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 2011 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: |
HB 1015 | ESB 5005 |
| Short Title: |
Concerning exemption from immunization |
| Prime Sponsor: |
Bailey | Keiser |
| Status: |
ESB 5005 signed by the
Governor on May 10. HB 1015 is technically dead. |
| Digest: |
Expands requirements for
exempting a child from certain immunization requirements. |
| Full Text: |
View text on-line for
ESB
5005 |
| Reason for Interest: |
Category 1: The Board policy statement endorses well-considered
efforts to discourage overuse of exemptions. |
| Explanation: |
The Board supports the concept of providing parents with vaccine
information that is scientifically based. This bill requires parents or
guardians seeking philosophical or religious exemptions to obtain a
signature from a health care practitioner indicating that the provider
discussed with them the benefits and risks of vaccines. ESB 5005
amendments grant liability protection to providers signing the form,
allow the signature to be obtained any time before enrollment in
school/childcare center, accept photocopies of the signed document, and
excuse parents/guardians from obtaining a signature if they select the
religious exemption and demonstrate membership in a religious body or
church whose teachings preclude medical treatment. |
| Recommendation: |
Support |
| Board Action: |
Staff signed in support for both bills in both houses. |
| Staff Assigned: |
Tara Wolff |
|
Back to Top |
| Bill Number: |
ESHB 1071 |
| Short Title: |
Complete streets grant program |
| Prime Sponsor: |
Moeller |
| Status: |
Signed by the Governor May 5. |
| Digest: |
Requires the department of
transportation to establish a complete streets grant program within the
department's highways and local programs division to encourage local
governments to adopt urban arterial retrofit street ordinances designed
to provide safe access to all users, including bicyclists, pedestrians,
motorists, and public transportation users. Creates the complete streets
grant program account. |
| Full Text: |
View text
on-line for ESHB
1071 |
| Reason for Interest: |
Category 4: The Board’s policy statement for the 2011 legislative
session includes support for community strategies to prevent obesity and
related health problems. |
| Explanation: |
This law encourages local governments to adopt ordinances for street
improvement projects that promote multiple modes of transportation. It
directs the Department of Transportation to consider designs to meet the
needs of all users. Such projects could enhance opportunities for people
to walk, bike, and use public transportation. Such designs would have
the potential for increasing the public’s physical activity, helping to
reduce the rise of obesity and related chronic conditions. Such designs
are also likely to improve safety for users of mixed transportation
modes and to improve air quality for all in the community. Higher levels
of activity, reduced pollution, and increased safety are all likely to
improve the public’s health. |
| Recommendation: |
Support concept. |
| Board Action: |
Craig sent an e-mail message to Senator Haugen on March 8. |
| Staff Assigned: |
Ned Therien |
|
Back to Top |
| Bill Number: |
HB 1246 |
SB 5380 |
| Short Title: |
Regulating tobacco products |
| Prime Sponsor: |
Cody | White |
| Status: |
Technically dead. |
| Digest: |
Restricts the sale of flavored
tobacco products and dissolvable tobacco products.
Requires tobacco products be stored in a location that is inaccessible
to youth.
Authorizes the liquor control board to suspend or revoke a retailer's
license or impose a monetary penalty if the board finds that the
licensee has violated the aforementioned restrictions. |
| Full Text: |
View text on-line for
SHB 1246 and
SB 5380 |
| 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. |
| Explanation: |
The Board supports the Department of Health’s tobacco prevention and
control efforts. It is particularly concerned about protecting children.
Many products that would be restricted by the bill appear to be designed
to appeal to teens. |
| Recommendation: |
Support. |
| Board Action: |
Craig McLaughlin signed in support on HB 1246. |
| Staff Assigned: |
Craig McLaughlin |
|
Back to Top |
| Bill Number: |
HB 1319
| SSB 5231 |
| Short Title: |
Children’s safe products |
| Prime Sponsor: |
Dickerson | Nelson |
| Status: |
Technically dead. |
| Digest: |
Modifies provisions relating
to the safety of certain children's products. |
| Full Text: |
View text on-line for
HB 1319 and
SSB 5231 |
| Reason for Interest: |
Category 4: The Board’s policy statement for the 2011 legislative
session includes support for measures to protect children from
environmental health hazards. |
| Explanation: |
Requested by Department of Ecology to update act passed in 2008. Ecology
would evaluate additional chemicals for alternative assessments.
Department of Health would prioritize Ecology’s draft list. Ecology may
issue orders to require manufacturers to conduct alternatives
assessments. Modifies original act to clarify, create exemptions, and
change other provisions. The Board supports Ecology’s efforts to
minimize children’s exposure to toxic chemicals, especially those that
may have a long-lasting impact. SSB 5231 would limit scope to that
of original act and add exemptions. |
| Recommendation: |
Support. Sign in |
| Board Action: |
Signed in supporting each bill at hearings on January 25 and 27. |
| Staff Assigned: |
Ned Therien |
|
Back to Top |
| Bill Number: |
HB 1370 |
SSB
5234 |
| Short Title: |
Medicine stewardship |
| Prime Sponsor: |
Van De Wege | Kline |
| Status: |
Technically dead. |
| Digest: |
Creates the medicine return
association to finance and operate a product stewardship program for the
collection, transportation, and disposal of unwanted covered drugs.
Creates the pharmaceutical product stewardship program account. |
| Full Text: |
View text on line for
HB 1370 and
SSB 5234 |
| Reason for Interest: |
Category 4: The Board’s policy statement supports pharmaceutical
take back programs |
| Explanation: |
The SBOH would like to see development of sustainable programs to take
back unused pharmaceuticals to prevent inappropriate or accidental use.
The Board is particularly concerned about opioid misuse. |
| Recommendation: |
Support. Sign in. |
| Board Action: |
Signed in support for SB 5234 |
| Staff Assigned: |
Craig McLaughlin |
|
Back to Top |
| Bill Number: |
SHB 1453 |
SSB
5369 |
| Short Title: |
Shellfish enforcement |
| Prime Sponsor: |
Rolfes | Regala |
| Status: |
SHB 1453 signed by the
Governor on April 29. SSB 5369 is technically dead. |
| Digest: |
Modifies commercial shellfish
provisions relating to:
(1) Approved shellfish tags
and labels;
(2) Disposition of seized
shellfish;
(3) Harvesting shellfish in a
commercial quantity; and
(4) Denial, suspension, or
revocation of licenses and
certificates of approval. |
| Full Text: |
View text on-line for
SHB
1453 and
SSB 5369. |
| Reason for Interest: |
Category 1: The bill would modify the Board’s statutory authority
under chapter 69.30 RCW.
Category 4: The Board’s policy statement for the 2011 legislative
session
includes support for strengthened shellfish regulation enforcement. |
| Explanation: |
Requested by Department of Health to modernize an old statute and
enhance enforcement of commercial molluscan shellfish requirements. The
Board has adopted rules, as required by Chapter 69.30 RCW, to control
the commercial harvesting and distribution of molluscan shellfish. These
rules are implemented by the Department of Health and enforced in
partnership with the Department of Fish and Wildlife. This law prohibits
a person who has had a license suspended from participating in other
commercial shellfish operations during the period of suspension. It
becomes a class C felony to engage in shellfish activities while a
license is suspended. Approved shellfish tags are specifically required.
A commercial license could be suspended or revoked for harassing or
threatening a regulatory official. The law also clarifies that the Board
has authority for adopting rules, not implementing the provisions. A
requirement is added for the Board to consider the National Shellfish
Sanitation Program Model Ordinance when adopting rules. |
| Recommendation: |
Support. Signed in. |
| Board Action: |
Signed in supporting each bill at hearings in each house. |
| Staff Assigned: |
Ned Therien |
|
Back to Top |
| Bill Number: |
HB 1454 |
| Short Title: |
Regarding testing for bloodborne pathogens |
| Prime Sponsor: |
Van De Wege |
| Status: |
Passed to the Legislature
April 8. |
| Digest: |
Modifies provisions relating
to authorization to order testing for bloodborne pathogens and
disclosure of the test results. |
| Full Text: |
View text
on-line. |
| Reason for Interest: |
Category 1: Impacts the Board's statutory authority. |
| Explanation: |
People who have had substantial occupational exposure to HIV could
request mandatory testing for other bloodborne pathogens, such as
hepatitis B and C, in addition to HIV. This amends the 1988 AIDS Omnibus
Act. The Board has extensive rule making responsibilities under the act
and Board rules define substantial exposure to HIV. |
| Recommendation: |
Support. |
| Board Action: |
Craig McLaughlin signed in at hearings in each house. |
| Staff Assigned: |
Craig McLaughlin |
|
Back to Top |
| Bill Number: |
HB 1488 |
| Short Title: |
State Board of Health |
| Prime Sponsor: |
Jinkins |
| Status: |
Passed the Legislature.
Signed by Governor April 11. |
| Digest: |
Modifies duties of the state
board of health relating to:
(1) State public health reports;
(2) The federal act on maternal and infancy hygiene;
(3) Services to crippled children;
(4) Grant-in-aid payments for local health departments;
(5) The state's participation in federal funds; and
(6) Approval of contracts for the sale or purchase of health services. |
| Full Text: |
View text on-line for
HB 1488 |
| Reason for Interest: |
Category 1: Impacts the Board's statutory authority. |
| Explanation: |
This is legislation requested by the Board to complete the process of
consolidating two reports and to clean up antiquated, redundant and
unused authorities. |
| Recommendation: |
Support. |
| Board Action: |
Craig McLaughlin testified in support in each house |
| Staff Assigned: |
Craig McLaughlin |
|
Back to Top |
| Bill Number: |
SB 5016 |
| Short Title: |
Prohibiting smoking in vehicles containing children |
| Prime Sponsor: |
White |
| Status: |
Technically dead. |
| Digest: |
Prohibits a person from
smoking a lighted pipe, cigar, or cigarette in a moving or parked motor
vehicle containing passenger(s) younger than 18 years. |
| Full Text: |
View text on-line for
SB 5016 |
| 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. |
| Explanation: |
The Board supports the concept of protecting children from exposure to
environmental health hazards, especially those that could have proven
long-lasting health impacts. Children in environments with second hand
smoke have increased risk of acute lower respiratory tract infections
(bronchitis and pneumonia), asthma induction and exacerbation, chronic
respiratory symptoms, middle ear infections and high blood pressure.
Infants in such environments are at higher risk of Sudden Infant Death
Syndrome. |
| Recommendation: |
Support. |
| Board Action: |
Craig McLaughlin signed in support. |
| Staff Assigned: |
Tara Wolff |
|
Back to Top |
| Bill Number: |
ESSB 5748 |
| Short Title: |
Cottage food operations |
| Prime Sponsor: |
Rockefeller |
| Status: |
Signed by the Governor on May
5. |
| Digest: |
Authorizes the director of the
Department of Agriculture
to adopt, by rule, requirements for cottage food operations. |
| Full Text: |
View text on-line for
ESSB
5748. |
| Reason for Interest: |
Category 2: The bill runs counter to a policy direction the Board established in chapter 246-215 WAC prohibiting the preparation of food
in home kitchens for retail sale to the public. |
| Explanation: |
This law allows people to be licensed by the Washington State Department
of Agriculture (WSDA) to prepare foods in home kitchens for sale
directly to consumers. A cottage food operation is allowed a maximum of
$15,000 annual sales. Persons licensed as cottage food operations by
WSDA are exempt from the Board’s rules prohibiting food preparation in
residential kitchens for retail sales. The law provides rule making and
inspection authority for WSDA. It allows WSDA to charge fees for
inspections and to contract with local health agencies for inspections. |
| Recommendation: |
Oppose original bill. Testifed. |
| Board Action: |
Craig McLaughlin testified in opposition to the original bill February
14. SBOH, DOH, and WSDA staff provided input to legislative staff
reflected in the Senate floor striker amendment and in the House Health
& Human Services Appropriations & Oversight striker amendment. |
| Staff Assigned: |
Ned Therien |
|
Back to Top |
See also:
Bill Watch 2010 |
Bill Watch 2009 |
Bill Watch 2008
Bill Watch 2007 |
Bill Watch 2006 |
Bill Watch 2005
Bill Watch 2004 |
Bill Watch 2003 |
Bill Watch 2002
Washington State Legislature
|
