Confinement health coord.

AN ACT Relating to statewide health care coordination and 1
communication regarding individuals housed in facilities of 2
confinement; and adding a new chapter to Title 70 RCW.3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that the growing 5
number of projects and programs between and within government 6
agencies related to the health of individuals housed in confinement 7
settings create challenges in coordination and communication. These 8
health issues include mental health, traumatic brain injury, 9
substance use, communicable disease and infection prevention, health 10
preventive services, and excess mortality.11
The legislature further finds that health in correctional 12
institutions and other confinement settings is vital to public health 13
and reentry because many individuals in these settings interact with 14
and return to their communities. Statewide coordination and 15
communication efforts for treating individuals in correctional and 16
other confinement facilities will positively influence the community 17
and reentry of such individuals. 18
The legislature intends to address the lack of coordination and 19
communication caused by the numerous projects and programs relating 20
to individuals housed in confinement settings by creating a new 21
S-0089.2
SENATE BILL 5031
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Senators C. Wilson, Hasegawa, Krishnadasan, Nobles, Saldaña,
Trudeau, and Wellman
Prefiled 12/10/24. Read first time 01/13/25. Referred to Committee
on Human Services.
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council within the department of health that will be supported by 1
representation from state agencies, local governments, federally 2
recognized tribes, and other relevant parties. 3
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The definitions in this section apply 4
throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires 5
otherwise.6
(1) "Confined" or "confinement" means incarcerated in a 7
correctional institution or admitted to an institute for mental 8
disease, as defined in 42 C.F.R. part 435, Sec. 1010.9
(2) "Correctional institution" has the meaning provided in RCW 10
9.94.049. 11
(3) "Council" means the council of health care coordination for 12
youth and adults in facilities of confinement. 13
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. (1) The council of health care 14
coordination for youth and adults in facilities of confinement is 15
hereby created and located in the department of health for the 16
purpose of addressing coordination and communication between 17
federally recognized tribes and state and local agencies that house 18
individuals in confinement settings.19
(2)(a) The council shall be composed of the following voting 20
members: 21
(i) A chair appointed by the secretary of the department of 22
health; 23
(ii) The secretary of the department of social and health 24
services, or the secretary's designee; 25
(iii) The director of the health care authority, or the 26
director's designee; 27
(iv) The secretary of the department of corrections, or the 28
secretary's designee; 29
(v) The secretary of the department of children, youth, and 30
families, or the secretary's designee; 31
(vi) One member representing the Washington association of 32
sheriffs and police chiefs; 33
(vii) One member representing a federally recognized tribe in 34
Washington state, appointed by the governor's office of Indian 35
affairs; 36
(viii) The governor or the governor's designee;37
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(ix) One member representing county juvenile court 1
administrators; 2
(x) One member with lived experience of using the health care 3
system in an institution of total confinement; and 4
(xi) Two members representing behavioral health administrative 5
services organizations. 6
(b) The council may also include as nonvoting members other 7
attendees as councilmembers deem appropriate including, but not 8
limited to, additional persons with lived experience of using the 9
health care system in an institution of total confinement or members 10
of the public with knowledge of carceral health care.11
(c) Members of the council shall serve without additional 12
compensation but shall be reimbursed for travel expenses in 13
accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060 while attending meetings 14
of the council or on official business authorized by the council. The 15
department of health must provide stipends for councilmembers in 16
accordance with RCW 43.03.220. 17
(3) The secretary of the department of health shall appoint a 18
physician, an epidemiologist, and an administrative assistant to 19
support the work of the council. The secretary of the department of 20
health shall designate either the physician or the epidemiologist to 21
be the chair of the council, a full-time position. The council may 22
select other officers as the voting members deem necessary.23
(4) The council shall meet at least quarterly. Additional 24
meetings may be called by the chair and shall be called by the chair 25
upon the written request of eight members. Meetings must be held in 26
accordance with the open public meetings act, chapter 42.30 RCW.27
(5) Councilmembers are responsible for tracking activities within 28
their respective agencies or jurisdictions that relate to the health 29
of individuals housed in facilities of confinement.30
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. (1) The council shall review current laws 31
and policies relating to health care information sharing among 32
agencies that house individuals in jails, the department of 33
corrections, juvenile rehabilitation facilities, juvenile detention 34
facilities, western and eastern state hospitals, the special 35
commitment center, and other entities as the council finds 36
appropriate. The council shall make recommendations to:37
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(a) Improve and ensure information and data sharing among and 1
within state agencies regarding the health of adults and juveniles in 2
such facilities; 3
(b) Improve coordination among and within state and local 4
agencies and avoid duplication; 5
(c) Provide an easy, fast, and effective forum for communication 6
and information sharing among the department of health, the health 7
care authority, the department of social and health services, the 8
department of corrections, the department of children, youth, and 9
families, the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs, 10
court administrators, and federal, local, and community 11
organizations; and 12
(d) Improve communication and information sharing between the 13
state and its federal partners to proactively address public health 14
issues. 15
(2) The council may appoint such advisory committees as may be 16
necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter. The council 17
shall review each advisory committee on a biennial basis to determine 18
whether to continue the advisory committee. 19
(3) A council member must participate in or coordinate with any 20
additional councils or statewide activities created in the future 21
involving the health of adults and youth who are incarcerated or 22
otherwise housed in confinement settings. 23
(4) By November 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, the council 24
must submit a report on the council's activities accomplished in the 25
prior year to the governor and the appropriate committees of the 26
legislature. The report shall include whether the allocation of 27
personnel, composition of the council, and charge of the council are 28
adequate to meet its purpose. The report must comply with the 29
requirements of RCW 43.01.036. 30
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. Sections 1 through 4 of this act 31
constitute a new chapter in Title 70 RCW.32
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