Washington State HB 1493–Signed Into Law April 22, 2011, Effective July 22, 2011
What is it?
It provides greater transparency into health professional’s disciplinary actions taken by state licensing boards, such as the Washington State Department of Health Dental Board.
HB - 1493
- ŸAllows a complainant in a disciplinary proceeding under the Uniform Disciplinary
- Act to supplement the contents of his or her complaint.
Requires a disciplining authority to promptly respond to inquiries regarding the status of a complaint. - Requires a disciplining authority to provide a complainant with the file relating to the complaint.
- Requires a disciplining authority to allow a complainant to submit an oral or written victim impact statement.
- Requires a disciplining authority to inform the complainant with a report on the complaint's final disposition.
- Allows the complainant to make a request for reconsideration of the disciplining authority's decision.
The Original Bill – 1.5 Simple Straightforward pages of meaningful legislation
The Final Bill – Instead of watering down it seems to have been strengthened
The Bill had NO impact on the state budget. None. Nada.
There was a substitute bill presented by the Senate. Compared to the Original Bill:
- Allowed the license holder to respond to any supplemental information submitted by the complainant.
- Required the disciplining authority to promptly respond to status inquiries by the license holder (in addition to the complainant).
- Required the disciplining authority to provide a copy of the file to the license holder (in addition to the complainant).
- Changed "victim impact statement" to "impact statement."
- Limited the circumstances in which the complainant may request reconsideration to situations in which (a) there has been no statement of charges or allegations and (b) there is new information relating to the original complaint or report.
- Required the disciplining authority to notify the license holder of any request for reconsideration and allows the license holder to respond.
On March 1, 2011 the Third reading of the bill took place in the House and a vote was called. Twenty-nine (29) representatives voted no, all Republican.
They are:
| Gary Alexander - R Jan Angel - R Mike Armstrong - R Katrina Asay - R Barbara Bailey - R Vincent Buys -R Cary Condotta - R Larry Crouse - R Bruce Dammeier - R Richard DeBolt - R Susan Fagan - R Larry Haler - R Mark Hargrove -R Paul Harris - R Norm Johnson - R | Brad Klippert - R Joel Kretz - R Dan Kristiansen - R Jim McCune - R Jason Overstreet - R Kevin Parker - R Kirk Pearson - R Charles Ross - R Matt Shea - R Joe Schmick - R Shelly Short - R Norma Smith - R David Taylor - R Hans Zeiger - R Bill Hinkle - R was “excused” |
By April 7, it was voted on by the Senate. One “Lone Ranger” Senator voted no. Who you ask? That would be Senator Doug Ericksen (R) of Washington state.
