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SB6059 • 2026
Creating the Washington state board of governors for licensed social workers.
This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.
Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.
Social workers board
First reading, referred to Health & Long-Term Care.
Social workers board
AN ACT Relating to creating the Washington state board of 1
governors for licensed social workers; amending RCW 18.320.005, 2
18.225.010, 18.225.020, 18.225.030, 18.225.060, 18.225.070, 3
18.225.090, 18.225.130, 18.225.140, 18.225.145, 18.225.170, 5.60.060, 4
18.205.105, 19.410.010, 43.70.110, 43.70.442, 43.70.903, 48.43.087, 5
70.02.180, 71.05.765, 18.100.050, 25.05.510, 49.44.220, and 6
74.09.748; reenacting and amending RCW 18.130.040, 18.120.020, 7
71.24.025, and 13.40.162; adding new sections to chapter 18.320 RCW; 8
creating a new section; repealing RCW 18.225.005; providing an 9
effective date; and providing a contingent effective date.10
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:11
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature finds that:12
(a) The social work profession in Washington state maintains a 13
strong fiscal position with a surplus fund balance of $1,310,000 as 14
of fiscal year 2024, demonstrating the financial sustainability 15
necessary to support an independent regulatory board.16
(b) The establishment of a separate board for licensed social 17
workers will provide enhanced professional oversight, more focused 18
regulatory attention, and improved public protection specific to 19
social work practice. 20
S-3781.1
SENATE BILL 6059
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Senators Orwall and C. Wilson
Prefiled 01/09/26. Read first time 01/12/26. Referred to Committee
on Health & Long-Term Care.
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(c) The social work profession has distinct educational 1
requirements, practice standards, and ethical considerations that 2
warrant specialized governance separate from other behavioral health 3
professions. 4
(d) An independent board will strengthen the profession's ability 5
to respond to evolving practice standards, emerging ethical issues, 6
and public protection needs in a timely and effective manner.7
(e) The three-year transition period will ensure orderly 8
implementation, adequate board training, comprehensive rule making, 9
and seamless transfer of regulatory functions while maintaining 10
continuous public protection. 11
(f) The recommended board composition of seven members, including 12
four licensed independent clinical social workers, two licensed 13
advanced social workers, and one public member, provides appropriate 14
professional representation while ensuring public accountability.15
(2) The legislature intends to establish the board of governors 16
for licensed social workers to enhance public protection, strengthen 17
professional regulation, and support the continued development of 18
high quality social work practice in Washington state.19
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 18.320 20
RCW to read as follows: 21
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in 22
this section apply throughout this chapter. 23
(1) "Advanced social work" means the application of social work 24
theory and methods, including: 25
(a) Emotional and biopsychosocial assessment; 26
(b) Psychotherapy under the supervision of a licensed independent 27
clinical social worker, psychiatrist, psychologist, psychiatric 28
advanced registered nurse practitioner, psychiatric nurse, or other 29
mental health professionals as may be defined by rules adopted by the 30
secretary; 31
(c) Case management; 32
(d) Consultation; 33
(e) Advocacy; 34
(f) Counseling; or 35
(g) Community organization. 36
(2) "Associate" means a prelicensure candidate who has a graduate 37
degree in a mental health field under section 9 of this act and is 38
gaining the supervision and supervised experience necessary to become 39
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a licensed independent clinical social worker, a licensed advanced 1
social worker, a licensed mental health counselor, or a licensed 2
marriage and family therapist. 3
(3) "Board" means the board of governors for licensed social 4
workers. 5
(4) "Department" means the department of health.6
(5) "Disciplining authority" means the board. 7
(6) "Independent clinical social work" means the diagnosis and 8
treatment of emotional and mental disorders based on knowledge of 9
human development, the causation and treatment of psychopathology, 10
psychotherapeutic treatment practices, and social work practice as 11
defined in advanced social work. Treatment modalities include but are 12
not limited to diagnosis and treatment of individuals, couples, 13
families, groups, or organizations. 14
(7) "Licensed social worker" means a person licensed under this 15
chapter as a social worker, including licensed social workers, 16
licensed advanced social workers, licensed independent clinical 17
social workers, and social worker associates. 18
(8) "Secretary" means the secretary of health or the secretary's 19
designee. 20
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 18.320 21
RCW to read as follows: 22
(1) A board of governors for licensed social workers is 23
established, consisting of seven members appointed by the governor. 24
Four members shall be licensed independent clinical social workers, 25
two members shall be licensed advanced social workers or licensed 26
independent clinical social workers, and one member shall be a member 27
of the public. 28
(2) Members are appointed for five-year terms. No member may 29
serve more than two consecutive full terms. Members hold office until 30
their successors are appointed. The governor may initially appoint 31
the members to staggered terms to ensure an orderly rotation, so that 32
no more than two members' terms expire each year; subsequent 33
appointments are for full five-year terms. 34
(3) The public members of the board may not be and have never 35
been a licensed social worker or in training to be one; may not have 36
any household member who is a licensed social worker or in training 37
to be one; may not participate or have ever participated in a 38
commercial or professional field related to social work, nor have a 39
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household member who has so participated; and may not have had, 1
within two years before appointment, a substantial financial interest 2
in a person regulated by the board. 3
(4) Each licensed social worker member shall be licensed under 4
this chapter at the appropriate level and shall have actively 5
practiced social work in the state of Washington for at least three 6
years of the prior five years immediately preceding appointment.7
(5) The board shall elect officers each year. The board shall 8
meet at least twice each year and may hold additional meetings at the 9
chair's discretion. Meetings of the board are open to the public, 10
except that the board may hold executive sessions to the extent 11
permitted by chapter 42.30 RCW. The department shall provide 12
secretarial, clerical, and other assistance as required by the board.13
(6) Each member of the board shall be compensated in accordance 14
with RCW 43.03.240. Members shall be reimbursed for travel expenses 15
incurred in the actual performance of their duties, as provided in 16
RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060. 17
(7) A majority of the board members appointed and serving 18
constitutes a quorum for the transaction of board business. The 19
affirmative vote of a majority of a quorum of the board is required 20
to carry a motion or resolution, to adopt a rule, or to pass a 21
measure. 22
(8) The board may appoint members to panels of at least three 23
members. A quorum for the transaction of any business by a panel is a 24
minimum of three members. A majority vote of a quorum of the panel is 25
required to transact business delegated to it by the board.26
(9) The board may adopt such rules as are consistent with this 27
chapter as may be deemed necessary and proper to carry out the 28
purposes of this chapter. 29
(10) The governor may remove a member of the board for neglect of 30
duty, misconduct, or malfeasance or misfeasance in office. Whenever 31
the governor is satisfied that a member of the board has been guilty 32
of neglect of duty, misconduct, or malfeasance or misfeasance in 33
office, the governor shall file with the secretary of state a 34
statement of the cause for and the order of removal from office, and 35
the secretary shall immediately send a certified copy of the order of 36
removal and statement of causes by certified mail to the last known 37
post office address of the member. If a vacancy occurs on the board, 38
the governor shall appoint a replacement to fill the remainder of the 39
unexpired term. 40
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NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 18.320 1
RCW to read as follows: 2
(1) In addition to any other authority provided by law, the board 3
shall: 4
(a) Adopt rules, in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW, necessary 5
to implement this chapter with respect to licensed social workers;6
(b) Determine the minimum education and experience requirements 7
for licensure as a licensed social worker at all levels, including 8
approval of educational programs and supervised experience consistent 9
with this chapter; 10
(c) Prepare and administer, or approve the preparation and 11
administration of, examinations for licensure, including acceptance 12
of national examinations consistent with this chapter;13
(d) Establish by rule the procedures for an appeal of examination 14
failure; 15
(e) Determine whether alternative methods of training are 16
equivalent to formal education, and establish forms, procedures, and 17
criteria for evaluation of an applicant's equivalent alternative 18
training to determine the applicant's eligibility to take the 19
examination; 20
(f) Adopt rules implementing a continuing competency program for 21
licensed social workers, including continuing education requirements;22
(g) Keep complete records of its proceedings, the names and 23
qualifications of all applicants, and the names and addresses of all 24
licensed social workers; 25
(h) By rule, adopt a code of ethics for licensed social workers 26
designed to protect the public interest; 27
(i) By rule, require that persons licensed as social workers 28
obtain and maintain professional liability insurance in amounts 29
determined by the board to be practicable and reasonably available.30
(2) In conducting investigations and complaint resolution, the 31
board may obtain the written consent of the complaining client or 32
patient or their legal representative, or of any person who may be 33
affected by the complaint, in order to obtain information which 34
otherwise might be confidential or privileged. 35
(3) The uniform disciplinary act, chapter 18.130 RCW, governs 36
unlicensed practice, the issuance and denial of licenses, and the 37
discipline of licensees under this chapter. For purposes of chapter 38
18.130 RCW, the board is the disciplining authority for licensed 39
social workers under this chapter. 40
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NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 18.320 1
RCW to read as follows: 2
In addition to any other authority provided by law, the secretary 3
has the authority to: 4
(1) Set all license, examination, and renewal fees in accordance 5
with RCW 43.70.250; 6
(2) Establish forms and procedures necessary to administer this 7
chapter; 8
(3) Issue a license to any applicant who has met the education, 9
training, and examination requirements for licensure as a licensed 10
social worker, and deny a license to applicants who do not meet the 11
minimum qualifications for licensure, except that denial of licenses 12
based on unprofessional conduct or impaired practice shall be 13
governed by the uniform disciplinary act, chapter 18.130 RCW;14
(4) Hire clerical, administrative, and investigative staff as 15
needed to implement and administer this chapter and to hire 16
individuals, including licensees under this chapter, to serve as 17
examiners or consultants as necessary to implement and administer 18
this chapter; 19
(5) Maintain the official department record of all applicants and 20
licensees; and 21
(6) Conduct a hearing on an appeal of a denial of a license based 22
on the applicant's failure to meet the minimum qualifications for 23
licensure. The hearing shall be conducted pursuant to chapter 34.05 24
RCW. 25
NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. A new section is added to chapter 18.320 26
RCW to read as follows: 27
The secretary, members of the board, or individuals acting on 28
their behalf, are immune from suit in any civil action based on any 29
act performed in the course of their duties. 30
NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. A new section is added to chapter 18.320 31
RCW to read as follows: 32
(1) The date and location of the examination shall be established 33
by the board. Applicants who have been found to meet the education 34
and experience requirements for licensure shall be scheduled for the 35
next examination following the filing of the application. The board 36
shall establish by rule the examination application deadline.37
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(2) The examination shall contain subjects appropriate to the 1
standards of competency and scope of practice for licensed social 2
workers at the applicable level. 3
(3) The board shall establish by rule the requirements for a 4
reexamination if the applicant has failed the examination.5
(4) The board may approve an examination prepared or 6
administered, or both, by a private testing agency or association of 7
licensing boards. 8
NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. A new section is added to chapter 18.320 9
RCW to read as follows: 10
The board shall establish by rule the standards for licensure by 11
endorsement or reciprocity for applicants licensed in another 12
jurisdiction as a licensed social worker or equivalent. The standards 13
for reciprocity of licensure shall not be less than required for 14
licensure in the state of Washington. 15
NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. A new section is added to chapter 18.320 16
RCW to read as follows: 17
(1) The secretary shall issue an associate license in the 18
following categories to any applicant who graduates from a master's 19
degree or doctoral degree educational program in social work 20
accredited by the council on social work education and approved by 21
the secretary based upon nationally recognized standards and submits 22
a declaration that the applicant is working toward full licensure in 23
that category: 24
(a) Licensed social worker associate; 25
(b) Advanced licensed social worker associate; or26
(c) Independent clinical licensed social work associate.27
(2) Associates may not provide independent social work for a fee, 28
monetary or otherwise. Associates must work under the supervision of 29
an approved supervisor. An applicant for an associate license under 30
this section may practice without a license under the direct 31
supervision of an approved supervisor for 120 days after the 32
department receives the applicant's completed application or the 33
applicant's license is issued or denied, whichever is sooner.34
(3) Associates shall provide each client or patient, during the 35
first professional contact, with a disclosure form according to 36
section 10 of this act, disclosing that he or she is an associate 37
under the supervision of an approved supervisor. 38
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(4) The board shall adopt by rule what constitutes adequate proof 1
of compliance with the requirements of this section.2
(5) Applicants are subject to the denial of a license or issuance 3
of a conditional license for the reasons set forth in chapter 18.130 4
RCW. 5
(6) An associate license may be renewed. The applicant for 6
renewal must have successfully completed, in the preceding year, 7
continuing education requirements established in rule by the board. 8
Beginning with the second renewal, the continuing education 9
requirements established in rule by the board must require the 10
applicant to complete a minimum number of continuing education hours 11
in the preceding two years in professional ethics.12
NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. A new section is added to chapter 18.320 13
RCW to read as follows: 14
A person licensed under this chapter must provide clients at the 15
commencement of any program of treatment with accurate disclosure 16
information concerning the practice, in accordance with rules adopted 17
by the board, including the right of clients to refuse treatment, the 18
responsibility of clients to choose the provider and treatment 19
modality which best suits their needs, and the extent of 20
confidentiality provided by this chapter. The disclosure information 21
must also include the license holder's professional education and 22
training, the therapeutic orientation of the practice, the proposed 23
course of treatment where known, financial requirements, and such 24
other information as required by rule. The disclosure must be 25
acknowledged in writing by the client and license holder.26
NEW SECTION. Sec. 11. A new section is added to chapter 18.320 27
RCW to read as follows: 28
A person licensed under this chapter shall not disclose the 29
written acknowledgment of the disclosure statement pursuant to 30
section 10 of this act, nor any information acquired from persons 31
consulting the individual in a professional capacity when the 32
information was necessary to enable the individual to render 33
professional services to those persons except: 34
(1) With the written authorization of that person or, in the case 35
of death or disability, the person's personal representative;36
(2) If the person waives the privilege by bringing charges 37
against the person licensed under this chapter; 38
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(3) In response to a subpoena from the secretary. The secretary 1
may subpoena only records related to a complaint or report under RCW 2
18.130.050; 3
(4) As required under chapter 26.44 or 74.34 RCW or RCW 71.05.217 4
(6) and (7); 5
(5) When disclosure of health care information is permitted under 6
chapter 70.02 RCW; or 7
(6) To any individual if the person licensed under this chapter 8
reasonably believes that disclosure will avoid or minimize an 9
imminent danger to the health or safety of the individual or any 10
other individual; however, there is no obligation on the part of the 11
provider to so disclose. 12
NEW SECTION. Sec. 12. A new section is added to chapter 18.320 13
RCW to read as follows: 14
A person must not represent himself or herself as a licensed 15
advanced social worker, a licensed independent clinical social 16
worker, a licensed social work associate, a licensed social work 17
associate— advanced, or a licensed social work associate — independent 18
clinical without being licensed by the department.19
NEW SECTION. Sec. 13. A new section is added to chapter 18.320 20
RCW to read as follows: 21
The provisions of this act are intended to be construed 22
consistently with chapter 18.320 RCW. To the extent of any conflict 23
between a rule of the board and a rule of the department relating to 24
licensed social workers, the rule of the board controls.25
NEW SECTION. Sec. 14. A new section is added to chapter 18.320 26
RCW to read as follows: 27
(1) Until such time as the board is fully constituted, has 28
completed its initial rule making, adopted rules, and has assumed 29
full regulatory authority, the secretary shall continue to exercise 30
regulatory authority over licensed social workers under existing 31
administrative rules and chapter 18.225 RCW. This temporary authority 32
shall expire no later than three years from the effective date of 33
this section, or upon the board's assumption of full regulatory 34
authority, whichever occurs first. 35
(2) Until such time as the board is fully constituted, has 36
completed its initial rule making, adopted rules, and has assumed 37
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full regulatory authority, nothing in this chapter shall be construed 1
to conflict with chapter 18.225 RCW. 2
NEW SECTION. Sec. 15. A new section is added to chapter 18.320 3
RCW to read as follows: 4
The department shall provide an annual fiscal report to the 5
legislature on the financial status of the social work licensing 6
program and board operations. 7
NEW SECTION. Sec. 16. A new section is added to chapter 18.320 8
RCW to read as follows: 9
(1) Within six months of July 1, 2026, the governor shall appoint 10
initial board members as provided in section 3 of this act.11
(2) Within nine months of July 1, 2026, the board shall hold its 12
first meeting and elect officers. 13
(3) Within 18 months of July 1, 2026, the board shall complete 14
initial rule making necessary to assume regulatory authority.15
(4) Within 36 months of July 1, 2026, the board shall adopt rules 16
to assume full regulatory authority over licensed social workers, 17
including all disciplinary functions. 18
NEW SECTION. Sec. 17. A new section is added to chapter 18.320 19
RCW to read as follows: 20
The board shall promulgate rules relating to issuance of a 21
retired active license under RCW 18.130.250 for advanced social 22
workers and independent clinical social workers. 23
NEW SECTION. Sec. 18. A new section is added to chapter 18.320 24
RCW to read as follows: 25
If any provision of this chapter or its application to any person 26
or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the chapter or the 27
application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not 28
affected. 29
Sec. 19. RCW 18.320.005 and 2011 c 89 s 1 are each amended to 30
read as follows: 31
(1) The legislature finds that: 32
(a) The practice of social work by persons in the public and 33
private sectors improves the lives of many people throughout the 34
state through the application of a broad spectrum of social sciences 35
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to enhance the quality of life and develop the full potential of each 1
client; 2
(b) The practice of social work is a complex discipline that, 3
appropriately undertaken, can address client problems, needs, and 4
concerns, with the goal that clients achieve the maximum possible 5
enhancement of their quality of life and develop to their full 6
potential. However, improper assessment of client problems and needs 7
by unqualified persons can lead to client harm; 8
(c) It is in the state's interest to take steps to safeguard 9
state residents from misrepresentations about qualifications for 10
practicing social work. Because such misrepresentations could lead to 11
the improper practice of social work by unqualified persons, those 12
who represent themselves as social workers should have a qualifying 13
degree from an accredited and approved social work program.14
(2) The legislature declares that chapter 89, Laws of 2011 to 15
regulate social workers constitutes an exercise of the state's police 16
power to protect and promote the health, safety, and welfare of the 17
residents of the state in general. Accordingly, while chapter 89, 18
Laws of 2011 is intended to protect the public generally, it does not 19
create a duty owed by the state or its instrumentalities to any 20
individual or entity. 21
(3) The legislature further finds that licensed advanced social 22
workers and licensed independent clinical social workers represent 23
different specializations within the social work profession, with 24
each license signifying the highest degree of licensure as it 25
pertains to each specialty. The legislature further finds that 26
practitioners in each specialty exercise independent judgment and 27
operate independently within their area of practice.28
(4) Therefore, for purposes of job classification, licensed 29
advanced social workers and licensed independent clinical social 30
workers licensed under this chapter shall both be considered the top 31
tier of licensure for the profession.32
Sec. 20. RCW 18.130.040 and 2025 c 360 s 4, 2025 c 66 s 1, and 33
2025 c 5 s 19 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:34
(1) This chapter applies only to the secretary and the boards and 35
commissions having jurisdiction in relation to the professions 36
licensed under the chapters specified in this section. This chapter 37
does not apply to any business or profession not licensed under the 38
chapters specified in this section. 39
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(2)(a) The secretary has authority under this chapter in relation 1
to the following professions: 2
(i) Dispensing opticians licensed and designated apprentices 3
under chapter 18.34 RCW; 4
(ii) Midwives licensed under chapter 18.50 RCW;5
(iii) Ocularists licensed under chapter 18.55 RCW;6
(iv) Massage therapists and businesses licensed under chapter 7
18.108 RCW; 8
(v) Dental hygienists licensed under chapter 18.29 RCW;9
(vi) Acupuncturists or acupuncture and Eastern medicine 10
practitioners licensed under chapter 18.06 RCW; 11
(vii) Radiologic technologists certified and X-ray technicians 12
registered under chapter 18.84 RCW; 13
(viii) Respiratory care practitioners licensed under chapter 14
18.89 RCW; 15
(ix) Hypnotherapists registered, agency affiliated counselors 16
registered, certified, or licensed, and advisors and counselors 17
certified under chapter 18.19 RCW; 18
(x) Persons licensed as mental health counselors, mental health 19
counselor associates, marriage and family therapists, and marriage 20
and family therapist associates ((, social workers, social work 21
associates— advanced, and social work associates — independent 22
clinical)) under chapter 18.225 RCW; 23
(xi) Persons registered as nursing pool operators under chapter 24
18.52C RCW; 25
(xii) Dietitians and nutritionists certified under chapter 18.138 26
RCW; 27
(xiii) Substance use disorder professionals, substance use 28
disorder professional trainees, or co-occurring disorder specialists 29
certified under chapter 18.205 RCW; 30
(xiv) Sex offender treatment providers and certified affiliate 31
sex offender treatment providers certified under chapter 18.155 RCW;32
(xv) Persons licensed and certified under chapter 18.73 RCW or 33
RCW 18.71.205; 34
(xvi) Orthotists and prosthetists licensed under chapter 18.200 35
RCW; 36
(xvii) Surgical technologists registered under chapter 18.215 37
RCW; 38
(xviii) Recreational therapists under chapter 18.230 RCW;39
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(xix) Animal massage therapists certified under chapter 18.240 1
RCW; 2
(xx) Athletic trainers licensed under chapter 18.250 RCW;3
(xxi) Home care aides certified under chapter 18.88B RCW;4
(xxii) Genetic counselors licensed under chapter 18.290 RCW;5
(xxiii) Reflexologists certified under chapter 18.108 RCW;6
(xxiv) Medical assistants-certified, medical assistants-7
hemodialysis technician, medical assistants-phlebotomist, forensic 8
phlebotomist, medical assistant-EMT, and medical assistants-9
registered certified and registered under chapter 18.360 RCW;10
(xxv) Behavior analysts, assistant behavior analysts, and 11
behavior technicians under chapter 18.380 RCW; 12
(xxvi) Birth doulas certified under chapter 18.47 RCW;13
(xxvii) Music therapists licensed under chapter 18.233 RCW;14
(xxviii) Behavioral health support specialists certified under 15
chapter 18.227 RCW; ((and))16
(xxix) Certified peer support specialists and certified peer 17
support specialist trainees under chapter 18.420 RCW; and18
(xxx) Persons licensed as social workers, social work associates— 19
advanced, and social work associates — independent clinical under 20
chapter 18.320 RCW. 21
(b) The boards and commissions having authority under this 22
chapter are as follows: 23
(i) The podiatric medical board as established in chapter 18.22 24
RCW; 25
(ii) The chiropractic quality assurance commission as established 26
in chapter 18.25 RCW; 27
(iii) The dental quality assurance commission as established in 28
chapter 18.32 RCW governing licenses issued under chapter 18.32 RCW, 29
licenses and registrations issued under chapter 18.260 RCW, licenses 30
issued under chapter 18.265 RCW, and certifications issued under 31
chapter 18.350 RCW; 32
(iv) The board of hearing and speech as established in chapter 33
18.35 RCW; 34
(v) The board of examiners for nursing home administrators as 35
established in chapter 18.52 RCW; 36
(vi) The optometry board as established in chapter 18.54 RCW 37
governing licenses issued under chapter 18.53 RCW;38
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(vii) The board of osteopathic medicine and surgery as 1
established in chapter 18.57 RCW governing licenses issued under 2
chapter 18.57 RCW; 3
(viii) The pharmacy quality assurance commission as established 4
in chapter 18.64 RCW governing licenses issued under chapters 18.64 5
and 18.64A RCW; 6
(ix) The Washington medical commission as established in chapter 7
18.71 RCW governing licenses and registrations issued under chapters 8
18.71, 18.71A, 18.71B, 18.71C, and 18.71D RCW; 9
(x) The board of physical therapy as established in chapter 18.74 10
RCW; 11
(xi) The board of occupational therapy practice as established in 12
chapter 18.59 RCW; 13
(xii) The board of nursing as established in chapter 18.79 RCW 14
governing licenses and registrations issued under that chapter and 15
under chapter 18.80 RCW, and nursing assistants registered or 16
certified or medication assistants endorsed under chapter 18.88A RCW;17
(xiii) The examining board of psychology and its disciplinary 18
committee as established in chapter 18.83 RCW; 19
(xiv) The veterinary board of governors as established in chapter 20
18.92 RCW; 21
(xv) The board of naturopathy established in chapter 18.36A RCW, 22
governing licenses and certifications issued under that chapter; 23
((and))24
(xvi) The board of denturists established in chapter 18.30 RCW; 25
and26
(xvii) The board of governors for licensed social workers 27
established in chapter 18.320 RCW. 28
(3) In addition to the authority to discipline license holders, 29
the disciplining authority has the authority to grant or deny 30
licenses. The disciplining authority may also grant a license subject 31
to conditions, which must be in compliance with chapter 18.415 RCW.32
(4) All disciplining authorities shall adopt procedures to ensure 33
substantially consistent application of this chapter, the uniform 34
disciplinary act, among the disciplining authorities listed in 35
subsection (2) of this section. 36
NEW SECTION. Sec. 21. RCW 18.225.005 (Findings) and 2013 c 73 s 37
1 are each repealed.38
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Sec. 22. RCW 18.225.010 and 2025 c 58 s 5082 are each amended to 1
read as follows: 2
The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter 3
unless the context clearly requires otherwise. 4
(1) (("Advanced social work" means the application of social work 5
theory and methods, including:6
(a) Emotional and biopsychosocial assessment;7
(b) Psychotherapy under the supervision of a licensed independent 8
clinical social worker, psychiatrist, psychologist, psychiatric 9
advanced practice registered nurse, psychiatric nurse, or other 10
mental health professionals as may be defined by rules adopted by the 11
secretary;12
(c) Case management;13
(d) Consultation;14
(e) Advocacy;15
(f) Counseling; or16
(g) Community organization.17
(2))) "Applicant" means a person who completes the required 18
application, pays the required fee, is at least ((eighteen)) 18 years 19
of age, and meets any background check requirements and uniform 20
disciplinary act requirements. 21
(((3))) (2) "Associate" means a prelicensure candidate who has a 22
graduate degree in a mental health field under RCW 18.225.090 and is 23
gaining the supervision and supervised experience necessary to become 24
((a licensed independent clinical social worker, a licensed advanced 25
social worker, )) a licensed mental health counselor ((,)) or a 26
licensed marriage and family therapist. 27
(((4))) (3) "Committee" means the Washington state mental health 28
counselors((,)) and marriage and family therapists ((, and social 29
workers)) advisory committee. 30
(((5))) (4) "Department" means the department of health.31
(((6))) (5) "Disciplining authority" means the department.32
(((7) "Independent clinical social work" means the diagnosis and 33
treatment of emotional and mental disorders based on knowledge of 34
human development, the causation and treatment of psychopathology, 35
psychotherapeutic treatment practices, and social work practice as 36
defined in advanced social work. Treatment modalities include but are 37
not limited to diagnosis and treatment of individuals, couples, 38
families, groups, or organizations.39
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(8))) (6) "Marriage and family therapy" means the diagnosis and 1
treatment of mental and emotional disorders, whether cognitive, 2
affective, or behavioral, within the context of relationships, 3
including marriage and family systems. Marriage and family therapy 4
involves the professional application of psychotherapeutic and family 5
systems theories and techniques in the delivery of services to 6
individuals, couples, and families for the purpose of treating such 7
diagnosed nervous and mental disorders. The practice of marriage and 8
family therapy means the rendering of professional marriage and 9
family therapy services to individuals, couples, and families, singly 10
or in groups, whether such services are offered directly to the 11
general public or through organizations, either public or private, 12
for a fee, monetary or otherwise. 13
(((9))) (7) "Mental health counseling" means the application of 14
principles of human development, learning theory, psychotherapy, 15
group dynamics, and etiology of mental illness and dysfunctional 16
behavior to individuals, couples, families, groups, and 17
organizations, for the purpose of treatment of mental disorders and 18
promoting optimal mental health and functionality. Mental health 19
counseling also includes, but is not limited to, the assessment, 20
diagnosis, and treatment of mental and emotional disorders, as well 21
as the application of a wellness model of mental health.22
(((10))) (8) "Secretary" means the secretary of health or the 23
secretary's designee. 24
Sec. 23. RCW 18.225.020 and 2008 c 135 s 12 are each amended to 25
read as follows: 26
A person must not represent himself or herself as ((a licensed 27
advanced social worker, a licensed independent clinical social 28
worker,)) a licensed mental health counselor, a licensed marriage and 29
family therapist, ((a licensed social work associate — advanced, a 30
licensed social work associate — independent clinical, )) a licensed 31
mental health counselor associate, or a licensed marriage and family 32
therapist associate, without being licensed by the department.33
Sec. 24. RCW 18.225.030 and 2001 c 251 s 3 are each amended to 34
read as follows: 35
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit or 36
restrict: 37
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(1) The practice of marriage and family therapy ((,)) or mental 1
health counseling ((, or social work )) by an individual otherwise 2
regulated under this title and performing services within the 3
authorized scope of practice; 4
(2) The practice of marriage and family therapy ((,)) or mental 5
health counseling ((, or social work )) by an individual employed by 6
the government of the United States or state of Washington while 7
engaged in the performance of duties prescribed by the laws of the 8
United States or state of Washington; 9
(3) The practice of marriage and family therapy ((,)) or mental 10
health counseling ((, or social work )) by a person who is a regular 11
student in an educational program based on recognized national 12
standards and approved by the secretary, and whose performance of 13
services is pursuant to a regular course of instruction or 14
assignments from an instructor and under the general supervision of 15
the instructor; 16
(4) The practice of marriage and family therapy ((,)) or mental 17
health counseling ((, or social work )) under the auspices of a 18
religious denomination, church, or religious organization.19
Sec. 25. RCW 18.225.060 and 2025 c 20 s 1 are each amended to 20
read as follows: 21
The Washington state mental health counselors ((,)) and marriage 22
and family therapists ((, and social workers )) advisory committee is 23
established. 24
(1) The committee shall be comprised of ((nine)) seven members as 25
follows: 26
(a) ((Two)) Three members must be licensed mental health 27
counselors; 28
(b) ((Two)) Three members must be licensed marriage and family 29
therapists; and30
(c) ((One member must be a licensed independent clinical social 31
worker;32
(d) One member must be either a licensed advanced social worker 33
or a licensed independent clinical social worker; and34
(e) Three members must be consumers )) One member must be a 35
consumer and represent the public at large and may not be a licensed 36
mental health care ((providers)) provider. 37
(2) Three members shall be appointed for a term of one year, 38
three members shall be appointed for a term of two years, and three 39
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members shall be appointed for a term of three years. Subsequent 1
members shall be appointed for terms of three years. A person must 2
not serve as a member for more than two consecutive terms.3
(3)(a) Each member must be a resident of the state of Washington.4
(b) Each member must not hold a governing office or board 5
position in a professional association for mental health ((, social 6
work,)) or marriage and family therapy and must not be employed by 7
the state of Washington. 8
(c) Each professional member must have been actively engaged as a 9
mental health counselor ((,)) or marriage and family therapist ((, or 10
social worker)) for five years immediately preceding appointment.11
(d) The consumer members must represent the general public and be 12
unaffiliated directly or indirectly with the professions licensed 13
under this chapter. 14
(4) The secretary shall appoint the committee members.15
(5) Committee members are immune from suit in an action, civil or 16
criminal, based on the department's disciplinary proceedings or other 17
official acts performed in good faith. 18
(6) Committee members shall be compensated in accordance with RCW 19
43.03.240, including travel expenses in carrying out his or her 20
authorized duties in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.21
(7) The committee shall elect a chair and vice chair.22
Sec. 26. RCW 18.225.070 and 2001 c 251 s 7 are each amended to 23
read as follows: 24
The department of health may seek the advice and assistance of 25
the advisory committee in administering this chapter, including, but 26
not limited to: 27
(1) Advice and recommendations regarding the establishment or 28
implementation of rules related to the administration of this 29
chapter; 30
(2) Advice, recommendations, and consultation regarding case 31
disposition guidelines and priorities related to unprofessional 32
conduct cases regarding licensed mental health counselors ((, licensed 33
clinical social workers, licensed advanced social workers, )) and 34
licensed marriage and family therapists; 35
(3) Assistance and consultation of individual committee members 36
as needed in the review, analysis, and disposition of reports of 37
unprofessional conduct and consumer complaints; 38
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(4) Assistance and recommendations to enhance consumer education; 1
and 2
(5) Assistance and recommendations regarding any continuing 3
education and continuing competency programs administered under the 4
provisions of ((the [this])) this chapter. 5
Sec. 27. RCW 18.225.090 and 2025 c 58 s 1003 are each amended to 6
read as follows: 7
(1) The secretary shall issue a license to any applicant who 8
demonstrates to the satisfaction of the secretary that the applicant 9
meets the following education and experience requirements for the 10
applicant's practice area. 11
(a) ((Licensed social work classifications:12
(i) Licensed advanced social worker:13
(A) Graduation from a master's social work educational program 14
accredited by the council on social work education or a social work 15
doctorate program at a university accredited by a recognized 16
accrediting organization, and approved by the secretary based upon 17
nationally recognized standards;18
(B) Successful completion of an approved examination;19
(C) Successful completion of a supervised experience requirement. 20
The supervised experience requirement consists of a minimum of 3,000 21
hours with supervision by an approved supervisor who has been 22
licensed for at least two years. Of those supervised hours:23
(I) At least 90 hours must include direct supervision as 24
specified in this subsection by a licensed independent clinical 25
social worker, a licensed advanced social worker, or an equally 26
qualified licensed mental health professional. Of those hours of 27
directly supervised experience at least 40 hours must be in one-to-28
one supervision and 50 hours may be in one-to-one supervision or 29
group supervision; and30
(II) 800 hours must be in direct client contact; and31
(D) Successful completion of continuing education requirements 32
established in rule by the secretary in consultation with the 33
committee, including a minimum number of hours in professional 34
ethics.35
(ii) Licensed independent clinical social worker:36
(A) Graduation from a master's level social work educational 37
program accredited by the council on social work education or a 38
social work doctorate program at a university accredited by a 39
p. 19 SB 6059
recognized accrediting organization, and approved by the secretary 1
based upon nationally recognized standards; 2
(B) Successful completion of an approved examination;3
(C) Successful completion of a supervised experience requirement. 4
The supervised experience requirement consists of a minimum of 3,000 5
hours of experience, over a period of not less than two years, with 6
supervision by an approved supervisor who has been licensed for at 7
least two years and, as specified in this subsection, may be either a 8
licensed independent clinical social worker who has had at least one 9
year of experience in supervising the clinical social work of others 10
or an equally qualified licensed mental health practitioner. Of those 11
supervised hours:12
(I) At least 1,000 hours must be direct client contact; and13
(II) Hours of direct supervision must include:14
(1) At least 100 hours by a licensed mental health practitioner;15
(2) At least 70 hours of supervision with a licensed independent 16
clinical social worker meeting the qualifications under this 17
subsection (1)(a)(ii)(C); the remaining hours may be supervised by an 18
equally qualified licensed mental health practitioner; and19
(3) At least 60 hours must be in one-to-one supervision and the 20
remaining hours may be in one-to-one supervision or group 21
supervision; and22
(D) Successful completion of continuing education requirements 23
established in rule by the secretary in consultation with the 24
committee, including a minimum number of hours in professional 25
ethics.26
(b))) Licensed mental health counselor: 27
(i)(A) Graduation from a master's or doctoral level educational 28
program in counseling that consists of at least 60 semester hours or 29
90 quarter hours, or includes at least 60 semester hours or 90 30
quarter hours of graduate coursework that includes the following 31
topic areas: 32
(I) Mental health counseling orientation and ethical practice;33
(II) Social and cultural diversity; 34
(III) Human growth and development; 35
(IV) Career development; 36
(V) Counseling and helping relationships; 37
(VI) Group counseling and group work; 38
(VII) Diagnosis and treatment; 39
(VIII) Assessment and testing; and 40
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(IX) Research and program evaluation; or 1
(B) Graduation from a master's or doctoral level educational 2
program in a related discipline from a college or university approved 3
by the secretary based upon nationally recognized standards. An 4
applicant who satisfies the educational requirements for licensure 5
under this subsection (1)(((b))) (a)(i)(B) is not qualified to 6
exercise the privilege to practice under the counseling compact 7
established in chapter 18.17 RCW unless the master's or doctoral 8
level educational program in a related discipline consists of at 9
least 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours, or includes at least 60 10
semester hours or 90 quarter hours of graduate coursework that 11
includes the topic areas specified in (((b))) (a)(i)(A)(I) through 12
(IX) of this subsection; 13
(ii) Successful completion of an approved examination;14
(iii) Successful completion of a supervised experience 15
requirement. The experience requirement consists of a minimum of 36 16
months full-time counseling or 3,000 hours of postgraduate mental 17
health counseling under the supervision of a qualified licensed 18
mental health counselor or equally qualified licensed mental health 19
practitioner, in an approved setting. The 3,000 hours of required 20
experience includes a minimum of 100 hours spent in immediate 21
supervision with the qualified licensed mental health counselor, and 22
includes a minimum of 1,200 hours of direct counseling with 23
individuals, couples, families, or groups; and 24
(iv) Successful completion of continuing education requirements 25
established in rule by the secretary in consultation with the 26
committee, including a minimum number of hours in professional 27
ethics. 28
(((c))) (b) Licensed marriage and family therapist:29
(i) Graduation from a master's degree or doctoral degree 30
educational program in marriage and family therapy or graduation from 31
an educational program in an allied field equivalent to a master's 32
degree or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy approved by 33
the secretary based upon nationally recognized standards;34
(ii) Successful passage of an approved examination;35
(iii) Successful completion of a supervised experience 36
requirement. The experience requirement consists of a minimum of 37
3,000 hours of marriage and family therapy. Of the total supervision, 38
100 hours must be with a licensed marriage and family therapist with 39
at least two years' clinical experience; the other 100 hours may be 40
p. 21 SB 6059
with an equally qualified licensed mental health practitioner. Total 1
experience requirements include: 2
(A) 1,000 hours of direct client contact; at least 500 hours must 3
be gained in diagnosing and treating couples and families; plus4
(B) At least 200 hours of qualified supervision with a 5
supervisor. At least 100 of the 200 hours must be one-on-one 6
supervision, and the remaining hours may be in one-on-one or group 7
supervision. 8
Applicants who have completed a master's program accredited by 9
the commission on accreditation for marriage and family therapy 10
education of the American association for marriage and family therapy 11
may be credited with 500 hours of direct client contact and 100 hours 12
of formal meetings with an approved supervisor; and13
(iv) Successful completion of continuing education requirements 14
established in rule by the secretary in consultation with the 15
committee, including a minimum number of hours in professional 16
ethics. 17
(2) The department shall establish by rule what constitutes 18
adequate proof of meeting the criteria. Only rules in effect on the 19
date of submission of a completed application of an associate for her 20
or his license shall apply. If the rules change after a completed 21
application is submitted but before a license is issued, the new 22
rules shall not be reason to deny the application.23
(3) In addition, applicants shall be subject to the grounds for 24
denial of a license or issuance of a conditional license under 25
chapter 18.130 RCW. 26
Sec. 28. RCW 18.225.130 and 2001 c 251 s 13 are each amended to 27
read as follows: 28
Any person certified under chapter 18.19 RCW who has met the 29
applicable experience and education requirements under chapter 18.19 30
RCW prior to July 22, 2001, is eligible for a license as ((an 31
advanced social worker, an independent clinical social worker, )) a 32
marriage and family therapist ((,)) or a mental health counselor under 33
this chapter without taking the examination. 34
Sec. 29. RCW 18.225.140 and 2023 c 425 s 4 are each amended to 35
read as follows: 36
(1) An applicant holding a credential in another state may be 37
licensed to practice in this state without examination if the 38
p. 22 SB 6059
secretary determines that the other state's credentialing standards 1
are substantially equivalent to the licensing standards in this 2
state. 3
(2)(a)(i) The department shall establish a reciprocity program 4
for applicants for licensure as ((an advanced social worker, an 5
independent clinical social worker, )) a mental health counselor ((,)) 6
or a marriage and family therapist in Washington. 7
(ii) The reciprocity program applies to applicants for a license 8
as ((an advanced social worker, an independent clinical social 9
worker,)) a mental health counselor ((,)) or a marriage and family 10
therapist who: 11
(A) Hold or have held within the past 12 months a credential in 12
good standing from another state or territory of the United States 13
which has a scope of practice that is substantially equivalent to or 14
greater than the scope of practice for the corresponding license as 15
established under this chapter; and 16
(B) Have no disciplinary record or disqualifying criminal 17
history. 18
(b) The department shall issue a probationary license to an 19
applicant who meets the requirements of (a)(ii) of this subsection. 20
The department must determine what deficiencies, if any, exist 21
between the education and experience requirements of the other 22
state's credential and, after consideration of the experience and 23
capabilities of the applicant, determine whether it is appropriate to 24
require the applicant to complete additional education or experience 25
requirements to maintain the probationary license and, within a 26
reasonable time period, transition to a full license. The department 27
may place a reasonable time limit on a probationary license and may, 28
if appropriate, require the applicant to pass a jurisprudential 29
examination. 30
(c) The department must maintain and publish a list of 31
credentials in other states and territories that the department has 32
determined to have a scope of practice that is substantially 33
equivalent to or greater than the scope of practice for licensed 34
advanced social workers, independent clinical social workers, mental 35
health counselors, or marriage and family therapists as established 36
under this chapter. The department shall prioritize identifying and 37
publishing the department's determination for the five states or 38
territories that have historically had the most applicants for 39
reciprocity under subsection (1) of this section with a scope of 40
p. 23 SB 6059
practice that is substantially equivalent to or greater than the 1
scope of practice for ((licensed advanced social workers, independent 2
clinical social workers,)) mental health counselors((,)) and marriage 3
and family therapists under this chapter. 4
Sec. 30. RCW 18.225.145 and 2024 c 371 s 15 are each amended to 5
read as follows: 6
(1) The secretary shall issue an associate license to any 7
applicant who demonstrates to the satisfaction of the secretary that 8
the applicant meets the following requirements for the applicant's 9
practice area and submits a declaration that the applicant is working 10
toward full licensure in that category: 11
(a) ((Licensed social worker associate — advanced or licensed 12
social worker associate — independent clinical: Graduation from a 13
master's degree or doctoral degree educational program in social work 14
accredited by the council on social work education and approved by 15
the secretary based upon nationally recognized standards.16
(b))) Licensed mental health counselor associate: Graduation from 17
a master's degree or doctoral degree educational program in mental 18
health counseling or a related discipline from a college or 19
university approved by the secretary based upon nationally recognized 20
standards. 21
(((c))) (b) Licensed marriage and family therapist associate: 22
Graduation from a master's degree or doctoral degree educational 23
program in marriage and family therapy or graduation from an 24
educational program in an allied field equivalent to a master's 25
degree or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy approved by 26
the secretary based upon nationally recognized standards.27
(2) Associates may not provide independent ((social work, )) 28
mental health counseling ((,)) or marriage and family therapy for a 29
fee, monetary or otherwise. Associates must work under the 30
supervision of an approved supervisor. Beginning October 1, 2025, an 31
applicant for an associate license under this section may practice 32
without a license under the direct supervision of an approved 33
supervisor for 120 days after the department receives the applicant's 34
completed application or the applicant's license is issued or denied, 35
whichever is sooner. 36
(3) Associates shall provide each client or patient, during the 37
first professional contact, with a disclosure form according to RCW 38
p. 24 SB 6059
18.225.100, disclosing that he or she is an associate under the 1
supervision of an approved supervisor. 2
(4) The department shall adopt by rule what constitutes adequate 3
proof of compliance with the requirements of this section.4
(5) Applicants are subject to the denial of a license or issuance 5
of a conditional license for the reasons set forth in chapter 18.130 6
RCW. 7
(6)(a) An associate license may be renewed. Until October 1, 8
2025, the applicant for renewal must have successfully completed 9
((eighteen)) 18 hours of continuing education in the preceding year. 10
After October 1, 2025, the applicant for renewal must have 11
successfully completed, in the preceding year, continuing education 12
requirements established in rule by the secretary in consultation 13
with the committee. Beginning with the second renewal, the continuing 14
education requirements established in rule by the secretary in 15
consultation with the committee must require the applicant to 16
complete a minimum number of continuing education hours in the 17
preceding two years in professional ethics. 18
(b) A person whose associate license was not renewed due to the 19
person exceeding the six-renewal limit in place prior to June 6, 20
2024, shall be treated as if the person's license expired. The 21
secretary shall allow such a person to return the person's associate 22
license to active status pursuant to standard rules and procedures in 23
place for returning an expired credential to active status.24
Sec. 31. RCW 18.225.170 and 2012 c 58 s 1 are each amended to 25
read as follows: 26
The secretary of the department of health shall promulgate rules 27
relating to issuance of a retired active license under RCW 18.130.250 28
for mental health counselors ((,)) and marriage and family 29
therapists((, advanced social workers, and independent clinical 30
social workers)). 31
Sec. 32. RCW 5.60.060 and 2025 c 346 s 3 are each amended to 32
read as follows: 33
(1) A spouse or domestic partner shall not be examined for or 34
against his or her spouse or domestic partner, without the consent of 35
the spouse or domestic partner; nor can either during marriage or 36
during the domestic partnership or afterward, be without the consent 37
of the other, examined as to any communication made by one to the 38
p. 25 SB 6059
other during the marriage or the domestic partnership. But this 1
exception shall not apply to a civil action or proceeding by one 2
against the other, nor to a criminal action or proceeding for a crime 3
committed by one against the other, nor to a criminal action or 4
proceeding against a spouse or domestic partner if the marriage or 5
the domestic partnership occurred subsequent to the filing of formal 6
charges against the defendant, nor to a criminal action or proceeding 7
for a crime committed by said spouse or domestic partner against any 8
child of whom said spouse or domestic partner is the parent or 9
guardian, nor to a proceeding under chapter 71.05 or 71.09 RCW: 10
PROVIDED, That the spouse or the domestic partner of a person sought 11
to be detained under chapter 71.05 or 71.09 RCW may not be compelled 12
to testify and shall be so informed by the court prior to being 13
called as a witness. 14
(2)(a) An attorney or counselor shall not, without the consent of 15
his or her client, be examined as to any communication made by the 16
client to him or her, or his or her advice given thereon in the 17
course of professional employment. 18
(b) A parent or guardian of a minor child arrested on a criminal 19
charge may not be examined as to a communication between the child 20
and his or her attorney if the communication was made in the presence 21
of the parent or guardian. This privilege does not extend to 22
communications made prior to the arrest. 23
(3) A member of the clergy, a Christian Science practitioner 24
listed in the Christian Science Journal, or a priest shall not, 25
without the consent of a person making the confession or sacred 26
confidence, be examined as to any confession or sacred confidence 27
made to him or her in his or her professional character, in the 28
course of discipline enjoined by the church to which he or she 29
belongs. 30
(4) Subject to the limitations under RCW 71.05.217 (6) and (7), a 31
physician or surgeon or osteopathic physician or surgeon or podiatric 32
physician or surgeon shall not, without the consent of his or her 33
patient, be examined in a civil action as to any information acquired 34
in attending such patient, which was necessary to enable him or her 35
to prescribe or act for the patient, except as follows:36
(a) In any judicial proceedings regarding a child's injury, 37
neglect, or sexual abuse or the cause thereof; and38
(b) Ninety days after filing an action for personal injuries or 39
wrongful death, the claimant shall be deemed to waive the physician-40
p. 26 SB 6059
patient privilege. Waiver of the physician-patient privilege for any 1
one physician or condition constitutes a waiver of the privilege as 2
to all physicians or conditions, subject to such limitations as a 3
court may impose pursuant to court rules. 4
(5) A public officer shall not be examined as a witness as to 5
communications made to him or her in official confidence, when the 6
public interest would suffer by the disclosure. 7
(6)(a) A peer supporter shall not, without consent of the peer 8
support services recipient making the communication, be compelled to 9
testify about any communication made to the peer supporter by the 10
peer support services recipient while receiving individual or group 11
services. The peer supporter must be designated as such by their 12
employing agency prior to providing peer support services. The 13
privilege only applies when the communication was made to the peer 14
supporter while acting in his or her capacity as a peer supporter. 15
The privilege applies regardless of whether the peer support services 16
recipient is an employee of the same agency as the peer supporter. 17
Peer support services may be coordinated or designated among first 18
responder agencies pursuant to chapter 10.93 RCW, interlocal 19
agreement, or other similar provision, provided however that a 20
written agreement is not required for the privilege to apply. The 21
privilege does not apply if the peer supporter was an initial 22
responding first responder, department of corrections staff person, 23
or jail staff person; a witness; or a party to the incident which 24
prompted the delivery of peer support services to the peer support 25
services recipient. 26
(b) For purposes of this section: 27
(i) "First responder" means: 28
(A) A law enforcement officer; 29
(B) A limited authority law enforcement officer;30
(C) A firefighter; 31
(D) An emergency services dispatcher or recordkeeper;32
(E) Emergency medical personnel, as licensed or certified by this 33
state; 34
(F) A member or former member of the Washington national guard 35
acting in an emergency response capacity pursuant to chapter 38.52 36
RCW; 37
(G) A coroner or medical examiner, or a coroner's or medical 38
examiner's agent or employee; or 39
p. 27 SB 6059
(H) An individual engaged in co-response services, as defined in 1
RCW 71.24.025. 2
(ii) "Law enforcement officer" means a general authority 3
Washington peace officer as defined in RCW 10.93.020.4
(iii) "Limited authority law enforcement officer" means a limited 5
authority Washington peace officer as defined in RCW 10.93.020 who is 6
employed by the department of corrections, state parks and recreation 7
commission, department of natural resources, liquor and cannabis 8
board, or Washington state gambling commission. 9
(iv) "Peer support services recipient" means: 10
(A) A first responder; 11
(B) A department of corrections staff person; or12
(C) A jail staff person. 13
(v) "Peer supporter" means: 14
(A) A first responder, retired first responder, department of 15
corrections staff person, or jail staff person or a civilian employee 16
of a first responder entity or agency, local jail, or state agency 17
who has received training to provide emotional and moral support and 18
services to a peer support services recipient who needs those 19
services as a result of an incident or incidents in which the peer 20
support services recipient was involved while acting in his or her 21
official capacity or to deal with other stress that is impacting the 22
peer support services recipient's performance of official duties; or23
(B) A nonemployee who has been designated by the first responder 24
entity or agency, local jail, statewide organization focused on co-25
response outreach, or state agency to provide emotional and moral 26
support and counseling to a peer support services recipient who needs 27
those services as a result of an incident or incidents in which the 28
peer support services recipient was involved while acting in his or 29
her official capacity. 30
(7) A sexual assault advocate may not, without the consent of the 31
victim, be examined as to any communication made between the victim 32
and the sexual assault advocate. 33
(a) For purposes of this section, "sexual assault advocate" means 34
the employee or volunteer from a community sexual assault program or 35
underserved populations provider, victim assistance unit, program, or 36
association, that provides information, medical or legal advocacy, 37
counseling, or support to victims of sexual assault, who is 38
designated by the victim to accompany the victim to the hospital or 39
other health care facility and to proceedings concerning the alleged 40
p. 28 SB 6059
assault, including police and prosecution interviews and court 1
proceedings. 2
(b) A sexual assault advocate may disclose a confidential 3
communication without the consent of the victim if failure to 4
disclose is likely to result in a clear, imminent risk of serious 5
physical injury or death of the victim or another person. Any sexual 6
assault advocate participating in good faith in the disclosing of 7
records and communications under this section shall have immunity 8
from any liability, civil, criminal, or otherwise, that might result 9
from the action. In any proceeding, civil or criminal, arising out of 10
a disclosure under this section, the good faith of the sexual assault 11
advocate who disclosed the confidential communication shall be 12
presumed. 13
(8) A domestic violence advocate may not, without the consent of 14
the victim, be examined as to any communication between the victim 15
and the domestic violence advocate. 16
(a) For purposes of this section, "domestic violence advocate" 17
means an employee or supervised volunteer from a community -based 18
domestic violence program or human services program that provides 19
information, advocacy, counseling, crisis intervention, emergency 20
shelter, or support to victims of domestic violence and who is not 21
employed by, or under the direct supervision of, a law enforcement 22
agency, a prosecutor's office, or the child protective services 23
section of the department of children, youth, and families as defined 24
in RCW 26.44.020. 25
(b) A domestic violence advocate may disclose a confidential 26
communication without the consent of the victim if failure to 27
disclose is likely to result in a clear, imminent risk of serious 28
physical injury or death of the victim or another person. This 29
section does not relieve a domestic violence advocate from the 30
requirement to report or cause to be reported an incident under RCW 31
26.44.030(1) or to disclose relevant records relating to a child as 32
required by RCW 26.44.030(15). Any domestic violence advocate 33
participating in good faith in the disclosing of communications under 34
this subsection is immune from liability, civil, criminal, or 35
otherwise, that might result from the action. In any proceeding, 36
civil or criminal, arising out of a disclosure under this subsection, 37
the good faith of the domestic violence advocate who disclosed the 38
confidential communication shall be presumed. 39
p. 29 SB 6059
(9) A mental health counselor ((, independent clinical social 1
worker,)) or marriage and family therapist licensed under chapter 2
18.225 RCW or an independent clinical social worker licensed under 3
chapter 18.320 RCW may not disclose, or be compelled to testify 4
about, any information acquired from persons consulting the 5
individual in a professional capacity when the information was 6
necessary to enable the individual to render professional services to 7
those persons except: 8
(a) With the written authorization of that person or, in the case 9
of death or disability, the person's personal representative;10
(b) If the person waives the privilege by bringing charges 11
against the mental health counselor licensed under chapter 18.225 12
RCW; 13
(c) In response to a subpoena from the secretary of health. The 14
secretary may subpoena only records related to a complaint or report 15
under RCW 18.130.050; 16
(d) As required under chapter 26.44 or 74.34 RCW or RCW 71.05.217 17
(6) or (7); or 18
(e) To any individual if the mental health counselor ((, 19
independent clinical social worker, )) or marriage and family 20
therapist licensed under chapter 18.225 RCW reasonably believes that 21
disclosure will avoid or minimize an imminent danger to the health or 22
safety of the individual or any other individual; however, there is 23
no obligation on the part of the provider to so disclose.24
(10) An individual who acts as a sponsor providing guidance, 25
emotional support, and counseling in an individualized manner to a 26
person participating in an alcohol or drug addiction recovery 27
fellowship may not testify in any civil action or proceeding about 28
any communication made by the person participating in the addiction 29
recovery fellowship to the individual who acts as a sponsor except 30
with the written authorization of that person or, in the case of 31
death or disability, the person's personal representative.32
(11)(a) Neither a union representative nor an employee the union 33
represents or has represented shall be examined as to, or be required 34
to disclose, any communication between an employee and union 35
representative or between union representatives made in the course of 36
union representation except: 37
(i) To the extent such examination or disclosure appears 38
necessary to prevent the commission of a crime that is likely to 39
p. 30 SB 6059
result in a clear, imminent risk of serious physical injury or death 1
of a person; 2
(ii) In actions, civil or criminal, in which the represented 3
employee is accused of a crime or assault or battery;4
(iii) In actions, civil or criminal, where a union member is a 5
party to the action, the union member may obtain a copy of any 6
statement previously given by that union member concerning the 7
subject matter of the action and may elicit testimony concerning such 8
statements. The right of the union member to obtain such statements, 9
or the union member's possession of such statements, does not render 10
them discoverable over the objection of the union member;11
(iv) In actions, regulatory, civil, or criminal, against the 12
union or its affiliated, subordinate, or parent bodies or their 13
agents; or 14
(v) When an admission of, or intent to engage in, criminal 15
conduct is revealed by the represented union member to the union 16
representative. 17
(b) The privilege created in this subsection (11) does not apply 18
to any record of communications that would otherwise be subject to 19
disclosure under chapter 42.56 RCW. 20
(c) The privilege created in this subsection (11) may not 21
interfere with an employee's or union representative's applicable 22
statutory mandatory reporting requirements, including but not limited 23
to duties to report in chapters 26.44, 43.101, and 74.34 RCW.24
(d) For purposes of this subsection: 25
(i) "Employee" means a person represented by a certified or 26
recognized union regardless of whether the employee is a member of 27
the union. 28
(ii) "Union" means any lawful organization that has as one of its 29
primary purposes the representation of employees in their employment 30
relations with employers, including without limitation labor 31
organizations defined by 29 U.S.C. Sec. 152 (5) and 5 U.S.C. Sec. 32
7103(a)(4), representatives defined by 45 U.S.C. Sec. 151, and 33
bargaining representatives defined in RCW 41.56.030, and employee 34
organizations as defined in RCW 28B.52.020, 41.59.020, 41.80.005, 35
41.76.005, 47.64.011, and 53.18.010. 36
(iii) "Union representation" means action by a union on behalf of 37
one or more employees it represents in regard to their employment 38
relations with employers, including personnel matters, grievances, 39
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labor disputes, wages, rates of pay, hours of employment, conditions 1
of work, or collective bargaining. 2
(iv) "Union representative" means a person authorized by a union 3
to act for the union in regard to union representation.4
(v) "Communication" includes any oral, written, or electronic 5
communication or document containing such communication.6
Sec. 33. RCW 18.120.020 and 2024 c 362 s 9 and 2024 c 217 s 6 7
are each reenacted and amended to read as follows: 8
The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter 9
unless the context clearly requires otherwise. 10
(1) "Applicant group" includes any health professional group or 11
organization, any individual, or any other interested party which 12
proposes that any health professional group not presently regulated 13
be regulated or which proposes to substantially increase the scope of 14
practice of the profession. 15
(2) "Certificate" and "certification" mean a voluntary process by 16
which a statutory regulatory entity grants recognition to an 17
individual who (a) has met certain prerequisite qualifications 18
specified by that regulatory entity, and (b) may assume or use 19
"certified" in the title or designation to perform prescribed health 20
professional tasks. 21
(3) "Grandfather clause" means a provision in a regulatory 22
statute applicable to practitioners actively engaged in the regulated 23
health profession prior to the effective date of the regulatory 24
statute which exempts the practitioners from meeting the prerequisite 25
qualifications set forth in the regulatory statute to perform 26
prescribed occupational tasks. 27
(4) "Health professions" means and includes the following health 28
and health-related licensed or regulated professions and occupations: 29
Podiatric medicine and surgery under chapter 18.22 RCW; chiropractic 30
under chapter 18.25 RCW; dental hygiene under chapter 18.29 RCW; 31
dentistry under chapter 18.32 RCW; denturism under chapter 18.30 RCW; 32
dental anesthesia assistants under chapter 18.350 RCW; dispensing 33
opticians under chapter 18.34 RCW; hearing instruments under chapter 34
18.35 RCW; naturopaths under chapter 18.36A RCW; embalming and 35
funeral directing under chapter 18.39 RCW; midwifery under chapter 36
18.50 RCW; nursing home administration under chapter 18.52 RCW; 37
optometry under chapters 18.53 and 18.54 RCW; ocularists under 38
chapter 18.55 RCW; osteopathic medicine and surgery under chapter 39
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18.57 RCW; pharmacy under chapters 18.64 and 18.64A RCW; medicine 1
under chapters 18.71 and 18.71A RCW; emergency medicine under chapter 2
18.73 RCW; physical therapy under chapter 18.74 RCW; practical nurses 3
under chapter 18.79 RCW; psychologists under chapter 18.83 RCW; 4
registered nurses under chapter 18.79 RCW; occupational therapists 5
licensed under chapter 18.59 RCW; respiratory care practitioners 6
licensed under chapter 18.89 RCW; veterinarians and veterinary 7
technicians under chapter 18.92 RCW; massage therapists under chapter 8
18.108 RCW; acupuncturists or acupuncture and Eastern medicine 9
practitioners licensed under chapter 18.06 RCW; persons registered 10
under chapter 18.19 RCW; persons licensed as mental health 11
counselors((,)) or marriage and family therapists ((, and social 12
workers)) under chapter 18.225 RCW; persons licensed as social 13
workers under chapter 18.320 RCW; dietitians and nutritionists 14
certified by chapter 18.138 RCW; radiologic technicians under chapter 15
18.84 RCW; nursing assistants registered or certified under chapter 16
18.88A RCW; reflexologists certified under chapter 18.108 RCW; 17
medical assistants-certified, medical assistants-hemodialysis 18
technician, medical assistants-phlebotomist, forensic phlebotomist, 19
medical assistant-EMT, and medical assistants-registered certified 20
and registered under chapter 18.360 RCW; licensed behavior analysts, 21
licensed assistant behavior analysts, and certified behavior 22
technicians under chapter 18.380 RCW; music therapists licensed under 23
chapter 18.233 RCW; dental therapists licensed under chapter 18.265 24
RCW; and anesthesiologist assistants licensed under chapter 18.71D 25
RCW. 26
(5) "Inspection" means the periodic examination of practitioners 27
by a state agency in order to ascertain whether the practitioners' 28
occupation is being carried out in a fashion consistent with the 29
public health, safety, and welfare. 30
(6) "Legislative committees of reference" means the standing 31
legislative committees designated by the respective rules committees 32
of the senate and house of representatives to consider proposed 33
legislation to regulate health professions not previously regulated.34
(7) "License," "licensing," and "licensure" mean permission to 35
engage in a health profession which would otherwise be unlawful in 36
the state in the absence of the permission. A license is granted to 37
those individuals who meet prerequisite qualifications to perform 38
prescribed health professional tasks and for the use of a particular 39
title. 40
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(8) "Practitioner" means an individual who (a) has achieved 1
knowledge and skill by practice, and (b) is actively engaged in a 2
specified health profession. 3
(9) "Professional license" means an individual, nontransferable 4
authorization to carry on a health activity based on qualifications 5
which include: (a) Graduation from an accredited or approved program, 6
and (b) acceptable performance on a qualifying examination or series 7
of examinations. 8
(10) "Public member" means an individual who is not, and never 9
was, a member of the health profession being regulated or the spouse 10
of a member, or an individual who does not have and never has had a 11
material financial interest in either the rendering of the health 12
professional service being regulated or an activity directly related 13
to the profession being regulated. 14
(11) "Registration" means the formal notification which, prior to 15
rendering services, a practitioner shall submit to a state agency 16
setting forth the name and address of the practitioner; the location, 17
nature and operation of the health activity to be practiced; and, if 18
required by the regulatory entity, a description of the service to be 19
provided. 20
(12) "Regulatory entity" means any board, commission, agency, 21
division, or other unit or subunit of state government which 22
regulates one or more professions, occupations, industries, 23
businesses, or other endeavors in this state. 24
(13) "State agency" includes every state office, department, 25
board, commission, regulatory entity, and agency of the state, and, 26
where provided by law, programs and activities involving less than 27
the full responsibility of a state agency. 28
Sec. 34. RCW 18.205.105 and 2023 c 425 s 24 are each amended to 29
read as follows: 30
(1) The department shall develop training standards for the 31
creation of a co-occurring disorder specialist enhancement which may 32
be added to the license or registration held by one of the following:33
(a) Psychologists licensed under chapter 18.83 RCW;34
(b) Independent clinical social workers licensed under chapter 35
((18.225)) 18.320 RCW; 36
(c) Marriage and family therapists licensed under chapter 18.225 37
RCW; 38
p. 34 SB 6059
(d) Mental health counselors licensed under chapter 18.225 RCW; 1
and 2
(e) An agency affiliated counselor licensed under chapter 18.19 3
RCW. 4
(2) To obtain the co-occurring disorder specialist enhancement, 5
the applicant must meet training standards and experience 6
requirements. The training standards must be designed with 7
consideration of the practices of the health professions listed in 8
subsection (1) of this section and consisting of ((sixty)) 60 hours 9
of instruction consisting of (a) ((thirty)) 30 hours in understanding 10
the disease pattern of addiction and the pharmacology of alcohol and 11
other drugs; and (b) ((thirty)) 30 hours in understanding addiction 12
placement, continuing care, and discharge criteria, including the 13
American society of addiction medicine criteria; treatment planning 14
specific to substance abuse; relapse prevention; and confidentiality 15
issues specific to substance use disorder treatment.16
(3) In developing the training standards, the department shall 17
consult with the examining board of psychology established in chapter 18
18.83 RCW, the Washington state mental health counselors ((,)) and 19
marriage and family therapists ((, and social workers )) advisory 20
committee established in chapter 18.225 RCW, the substance use 21
disorder certification advisory committee established in chapter 22
18.205 RCW, the Washington state board of governors for licensed 23
social workers established in chapter 18.320 RCW, and educational 24
institutions in Washington state that train psychologists, marriage 25
and family therapists, mental health counselors, independent clinical 26
social workers, and substance use disorder professionals.27
(4) The department shall approve educational programs that meet 28
the training standards, and must not limit its approval to 29
university-based courses. 30
(5) The secretary shall issue a co-occurring disorder specialist 31
enhancement to any applicant who demonstrates to the secretary's 32
satisfaction that the following requirements have been met:33
(a) Completion of the training standards; 34
(b) Successful completion of an approved examination based on 35
core competencies of substance use disorder counseling;36
(c) Successful completion of an experience requirement of:37
(i) Eighty hours of supervised experience for an applicant listed 38
under subsection (1) of this section with fewer than five years of 39
experience; or 40
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(ii) Forty hours of supervised experience for an applicant listed 1
under subsection (1) of this section with five or more years of 2
experience; and 3
(d) Payment of any fees that may be established by the 4
department. 5
(6) An applicant for the co-occurring disorder specialist 6
enhancement may receive supervised experience from any person who 7
meets or exceeds the requirements of a certified substance use 8
disorder professional in the state of Washington and who would be 9
eligible to take the examination required for substance use disorder 10
professional certification. 11
(7) A person who has obtained a co-occurring disorder specialist 12
enhancement may provide substance use disorder counseling services 13
which are equal in scope with those provided by substance use 14
disorder professionals under this chapter, subject to the following 15
limitations: 16
(a) A co-occurring disorder specialist may only provide substance 17
use disorder counseling services if the co-occurring disorder 18
specialist is employed by: 19
(i) An agency that provides counseling services;20
(ii) A federally qualified health center; or 21
(iii) A hospital; 22
(b) Following an initial intake or assessment, a co-occurring 23
disorder specialist may provide substance use disorder treatment only 24
to clients diagnosed with a substance use disorder and a mental 25
health disorder; 26
(c) Prior to providing substance use disorder treatment to a 27
client assessed to be in need of 2.1 or higher level of care 28
according to American society of addiction medicine criteria, a co-29
occurring disorder specialist must make a reasonable effort to refer 30
and connect the client to the appropriate care setting, as indicated 31
by the client's American society of addiction medicine level of care; 32
and 33
(d) A co-occurring disorder specialist must comply with rules 34
promulgated by the department under subsection (11) of this section.35
(8) The secretary shall establish by rule what constitutes 36
adequate proof of meeting the criteria. 37
(9) Applicants are subject to the grounds for denial of a 38
certificate or issuance of a conditional certificate under chapter 39
18.130 RCW. 40
p. 36 SB 6059
(10) The department may adopt a fee to defray the cost of 1
regulatory activities related to the issuance of co-occurring 2
disorder specialist enhancements and any related disciplinary 3
activities. 4
(11) The department shall adopt rules regarding the role of co-5
occurring disorder specialists across the American society of 6
addiction medicine continuum of care. 7
(12) Any increase in fees necessary to cover the cost of 8
regulating co-occurring disorder specialists who receive an 9
enhancement under this section must be borne by persons licensed as 10
psychologists under chapter 18.83 RCW, independent clinical social 11
workers under chapter ((18.225)) 18.320 RCW, marriage and family 12
therapists under chapter 18.225 RCW, or mental health counselors 13
under chapter 18.225 RCW. The cost of regulating co-occurring 14
disorder specialists who receive an enhancement under this section 15
may not be borne by substance use disorder professionals or substance 16
use disorder professional trainees certified under this chapter and 17
may not be included in the calculation of fees for substance use 18
disorder professionals or substance use disorder professional 19
trainees certified under this chapter. 20
Sec. 35. RCW 19.410.010 and 2025 c 58 s 5085 are each amended to 21
read as follows: 22
(1) Subject to amounts appropriated for this purpose, the 23
psilocybin therapy services pilot program is established within, and 24
administered by, the University of Washington department of 25
psychiatry and behavioral sciences. No later than January 1, 2025, 26
the University of Washington department of psychiatry and behavioral 27
sciences must implement this section. 28
(2) The pilot program must: 29
(a) Offer psilocybin therapy services through pathways approved 30
by the federal food and drug administration, to populations including 31
first responders and veterans who are: 32
(i) 21 years of age or older; and 33
(ii) Experiencing posttraumatic stress disorder, mood disorders, 34
or substance use disorders; 35
(b) Offer psilocybin therapy services facilitated by:36
(i) ((An advanced social worker, independent clinical social 37
worker, or)) A mental health counselor licensed under chapter 18.225 38
RCW; 39
p. 37 SB 6059
(ii) A physician licensed under chapter 18.71 RCW; or1
(iii) A psychiatric advanced practice registered nurse licensed 2
under chapter 18.79 RCW as defined in RCW 71.05.020; or3
(iv) An advanced social worker or independent clinical social 4
worker licensed under chapter 18.320 RCW; 5
(c) Ensure psilocybin therapy services are safe, accessible, and 6
affordable; 7
(d) Require an initial assessment to understand participant goals 8
and expectations, and assess the participant's history for any 9
concerns that require further intervention or information before 10
receiving psilocybin therapy services, and an integration session 11
after receiving psilocybin therapy services; and 12
(e) Use outreach and engagement strategies to include 13
participants from communities or demographic groups that are more 14
likely to be historically marginalized and less likely to be included 15
in research and clinical trials represented by race, sex, sexual 16
orientation, socioeconomic status, age, or geographic location.17
Sec. 36. RCW 43.70.110 and 2025 c 19 s 1 are each amended to 18
read as follows: 19
(1) The secretary shall charge fees to the licensee for obtaining 20
a license. Physicians regulated pursuant to chapter 18.71 RCW who 21
reside and practice in Washington and obtain or renew a retired 22
active license are exempt from such fees. Municipal corporations 23
providing emergency medical care and transportation services pursuant 24
to chapter 18.73 RCW shall be exempt from such fees, provided that 25
such other emergency services shall only be charged for their pro 26
rata share of the cost of licensure and inspection, if appropriate. 27
The secretary may charge different fees for registered nurses 28
licensed under chapter 18.79 RCW, licensed practical nurses licensed 29
under chapter 18.79 RCW, and nurses who hold a valid multistate 30
license issued by the state of Washington under chapter 18.80 RCW. 31
The secretary may waive the fees when, in the discretion of the 32
secretary, the fees would not be in the best interest of public 33
health and safety, or when the fees would be to the financial 34
disadvantage of the state. 35
(2) Except as provided in subsection (3) of this section, fees 36
charged shall be based on, but shall not exceed, the cost to the 37
department for the licensure of the activity or class of activities 38
and may include costs of necessary inspection. 39
p. 38 SB 6059
(3) License fees shall include amounts in addition to the cost of 1
licensure activities in the following circumstances:2
(a) For registered nurses and licensed practical nurses licensed 3
under chapter 18.79 RCW, and for nurses who hold a valid multistate 4
license issued by the state of Washington under chapter 18.80 RCW, 5
support of a central nursing resource center as provided in RCW 6
18.79.202; 7
(b) For all health care providers licensed under RCW 18.130.040, 8
the cost of regulatory activities for retired volunteer medical 9
worker licensees as provided in RCW 18.130.360; and10
(c) For physicians licensed under chapter 18.71 RCW, physician 11
assistants licensed under chapter 18.71A RCW, osteopathic physicians 12
licensed under chapter 18.57 RCW, naturopaths licensed under chapter 13
18.36A RCW, podiatrists licensed under chapter 18.22 RCW, 14
chiropractors licensed under chapter 18.25 RCW, psychologists and 15
psychological associates licensed under chapter 18.83 RCW, registered 16
nurses and licensed practical nurses licensed under chapter 18.79 17
RCW, nurses who hold a valid multistate license issued by the state 18
of Washington under chapter 18.80 RCW, optometrists licensed under 19
chapter 18.53 RCW, mental health counselors and mental health 20
counselor associates licensed under chapter 18.225 RCW, massage 21
therapists licensed under chapter 18.108 RCW, advanced social workers 22
licensed under chapter ((18.225)) 18.320 RCW, independent clinical 23
social workers and independent clinical social worker associates 24
licensed under chapter ((18.225)) 18.320 RCW, midwives licensed under 25
chapter 18.50 RCW, marriage and family therapists and marriage and 26
family therapist associates licensed under chapter 18.225 RCW, 27
occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants licensed 28
under chapter 18.59 RCW, dietitians and nutritionists certified under 29
chapter 18.138 RCW, speech-language pathologists licensed under 30
chapter 18.35 RCW, acupuncturists or acupuncture and Eastern medicine 31
practitioners licensed under chapter 18.06 RCW, and veterinarians and 32
veterinary technicians licensed under chapter 18.92 RCW, the license 33
fees shall include up to an additional ((twenty-five dollars)) $25 to 34
be transferred by the department to the University of Washington for 35
the purposes of RCW 43.70.112. 36
(4) Department of health advisory committees may review fees 37
established by the secretary for licenses and comment upon the 38
appropriateness of the level of such fees. 39
p. 39 SB 6059
Sec. 37. RCW 43.70.442 and 2025 c 58 s 5094 are each amended to 1
read as follows: 2
(1)(a) Each of the following professionals certified or licensed 3
under Title 18 RCW shall, at least once every six years, complete 4
training in suicide assessment, treatment, and management that is 5
approved, in rule, by the relevant disciplining authority:6
(i) An adviser or counselor certified under chapter 18.19 RCW;7
(ii) A substance use disorder professional licensed under chapter 8
18.205 RCW; 9
(iii) A marriage and family therapist licensed under chapter 10
18.225 RCW; 11
(iv) A mental health counselor licensed under chapter 18.225 RCW;12
(v) An occupational therapy practitioner licensed under chapter 13
18.59 RCW; 14
(vi) A psychologist licensed under chapter 18.83 RCW;15
(vii) An advanced social worker or independent clinical social 16
worker licensed under chapter ((18.225)) 18.320 RCW; and17
(viii) A social worker associate — advanced or social worker 18
associate— independent clinical licensed under chapter ((18.225)) 19
18.320 RCW. 20
(b) The requirements in (a) of this subsection apply to a person 21
holding a retired active license for one of the professions in (a) of 22
this subsection. 23
(c) The training required by this subsection must be at least six 24
hours in length, unless a disciplining authority has determined, 25
under subsection (10)(b) of this section, that training that includes 26
only screening and referral elements is appropriate for the 27
profession in question, in which case the training must be at least 28
three hours in length. 29
(d) Beginning July 1, 2017, the training required by this 30
subsection must be on the model list developed under subsection (6) 31
of this section. Nothing in this subsection (1)(d) affects the 32
validity of training completed prior to July 1, 2017.33
(2)(a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection:34
(i) A professional listed in subsection (1)(a) of this section 35
must complete the first training required by this section by the end 36
of the first full continuing education reporting period after January 37
1, 2014, or during the first full continuing education reporting 38
period after initial licensure or certification, whichever occurs 39
later. 40
p. 40 SB 6059
(ii) Beginning July 1, 2021, the second training for a 1
psychologist, a marriage and family therapist, a mental health 2
counselor, an advanced social worker, an independent clinical social 3
worker, a social worker associate-advanced, or a social worker 4
associate-independent clinical must be either: (A) An advanced 5
training focused on suicide management, suicide care protocols, or 6
effective treatments; or (B) a training in a treatment modality shown 7
to be effective in working with people who are suicidal, including 8
dialectical behavior therapy, collaborative assessment and management 9
of suicide risk, or cognitive behavior therapy-suicide prevention. If 10
a professional subject to the requirements of this subsection has 11
already completed the professional's second training prior to July 1, 12
2021, the professional's next training must comply with this 13
subsection. This subsection (2)(a)(ii) does not apply if the licensee 14
demonstrates that the training required by this subsection (2)(a)(ii) 15
is not reasonably available. 16
(b)(i) A professional listed in subsection (1)(a) of this section 17
applying for initial licensure may delay completion of the first 18
training required by this section for six years after initial 19
licensure if he or she can demonstrate successful completion of the 20
training required in subsection (1) of this section no more than six 21
years prior to the application for initial licensure.22
(ii) Beginning July 1, 2021, a psychologist, a marriage and 23
family therapist, a mental health counselor, an advanced social 24
worker, an independent clinical social worker, a social worker 25
associate-advanced, or a social worker associate-independent clinical 26
exempt from his or her first training under (b)(i) of this subsection 27
must comply with the requirements of (a)(ii) of this subsection for 28
his or her first training after initial licensure. If a professional 29
subject to the requirements of this subsection has already completed 30
the professional's first training after initial licensure, the 31
professional's next training must comply with this subsection 32
(2)(b)(ii). This subsection (2)(b)(ii) does not apply if the licensee 33
demonstrates that the training required by this subsection (2)(b)(ii) 34
is not reasonably available. 35
(3) The hours spent completing training in suicide assessment, 36
treatment, and management under this section count toward meeting any 37
applicable continuing education or continuing competency requirements 38
for each profession. 39
p. 41 SB 6059
(4)(a) A disciplining authority may, by rule, specify minimum 1
training and experience that is sufficient to exempt an individual 2
professional from the training requirements in subsections (1) and 3
(5) of this section. Nothing in this subsection (4)(a) allows a 4
disciplining authority to provide blanket exemptions to broad 5
categories or specialties within a profession. 6
(b) A disciplining authority may exempt a professional from the 7
training requirements of subsections (1) and (5) of this section if 8
the professional has only brief or limited patient contact.9
(5)(a) Each of the following professionals credentialed under 10
Title 18 RCW shall complete a one-time training in suicide 11
assessment, treatment, and management that is approved by the 12
relevant disciplining authority: 13
(i) A chiropractor licensed under chapter 18.25 RCW;14
(ii) A naturopath licensed under chapter 18.36A RCW;15
(iii) A licensed practical nurse, registered nurse, or advanced 16
practice registered nurse, other than a certified registered nurse 17
anesthetist, licensed under chapter 18.79 RCW; 18
(iv) An osteopathic physician and surgeon licensed under chapter 19
18.57 RCW, other than a holder of a postgraduate osteopathic medicine 20
and surgery license issued under RCW 18.57.035; 21
(v) A physical therapist or physical therapist assistant licensed 22
under chapter 18.74 RCW; 23
(vi) A physician licensed under chapter 18.71 RCW, other than a 24
resident holding a limited license issued under RCW 18.71.095(3);25
(vii) A physician assistant licensed under chapter 18.71A RCW;26
(viii) A pharmacist licensed under chapter 18.64 RCW;27
(ix) A dentist licensed under chapter 18.32 RCW;28
(x) A dental hygienist licensed under chapter 18.29 RCW;29
(xi) An athletic trainer licensed under chapter 18.250 RCW;30
(xii) An optometrist licensed under chapter 18.53 RCW;31
(xiii) An acupuncture and Eastern medicine practitioner licensed 32
under chapter 18.06 RCW; 33
(xiv) A dental therapist licensed under chapter 18.265 RCW; and34
(xv) A person holding a retired active license for one of the 35
professions listed in (a)(i) through (xiv) of this subsection.36
(b)(i) A professional listed in (a)(i) through (vii) of this 37
subsection or a person holding a retired active license for one of 38
the professions listed in (a)(i) through (vii) of this subsection 39
must complete the one-time training by the end of the first full 40
p. 42 SB 6059
continuing education reporting period after January 1, 2016, or 1
during the first full continuing education reporting period after 2
initial licensure, whichever is later. Training completed between 3
June 12, 2014, and January 1, 2016, that meets the requirements of 4
this section, other than the timing requirements of this subsection 5
(5)(b), must be accepted by the disciplining authority as meeting the 6
one-time training requirement of this subsection (5).7
(ii) A licensed pharmacist or a person holding a retired active 8
pharmacist license must complete the one-time training by the end of 9
the first full continuing education reporting period after January 1, 10
2017, or during the first full continuing education reporting period 11
after initial licensure, whichever is later. 12
(iii) A licensed dentist, a licensed dental hygienist, or a 13
person holding a retired active license as a dentist shall complete 14
the one-time training by the end of the full continuing education 15
reporting period after August 1, 2020, or during the first full 16
continuing education reporting period after initial licensure, 17
whichever is later. Training completed between July 23, 2017, and 18
August 1, 2020, that meets the requirements of this section, other 19
than the timing requirements of this subsection (5)(b)(iii), must be 20
accepted by the disciplining authority as meeting the one-time 21
training requirement of this subsection (5). 22
(iv) A licensed optometrist or a licensed acupuncture and Eastern 23
medicine practitioner, or a person holding a retired active license 24
as an optometrist or an acupuncture and Eastern medicine 25
practitioner, shall complete the one-time training by the end of the 26
full continuing education reporting period after August 1, 2021, or 27
during the first full continuing education reporting period after 28
initial licensure, whichever is later. Training completed between 29
August 1, 2020, and August 1, 2021, that meets the requirements of 30
this section, other than the timing requirements of this subsection 31
(5)(b)(iv), must be accepted by the disciplining authority as meeting 32
the one-time training requirement of this subsection (5).33
(c) The training required by this subsection must be at least six 34
hours in length, unless a disciplining authority has determined, 35
under subsection (10)(b) of this section, that training that includes 36
only screening and referral elements is appropriate for the 37
profession in question, in which case the training must be at least 38
three hours in length. 39
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(d) Beginning July 1, 2017, the training required by this 1
subsection must be on the model list developed under subsection (6) 2
of this section. Nothing in this subsection (5)(d) affects the 3
validity of training completed prior to July 1, 2017.4
(6)(a) The secretary and the disciplining authorities shall work 5
collaboratively to develop a model list of training programs in 6
suicide assessment, treatment, and management. Beginning July 1, 7
2021, for purposes of subsection (2)(a)(ii) of this section, the 8
model list must include advanced training and training in treatment 9
modalities shown to be effective in working with people who are 10
suicidal. 11
(b) The secretary and the disciplining authorities shall update 12
the list at least once every two years. 13
(c) By June 30, 2016, the department shall adopt rules 14
establishing minimum standards for the training programs included on 15
the model list. The minimum standards must require that six-hour 16
trainings include content specific to veterans and the assessment of 17
issues related to imminent harm via lethal means or self-injurious 18
behaviors and that three-hour trainings for pharmacists or dentists 19
include content related to the assessment of issues related to 20
imminent harm via lethal means. By July 1, 2024, the minimum 21
standards must be updated to require that both the six-hour and 22
three-hour trainings include content specific to the availability of 23
and the services offered by the 988 crisis hotline and the behavioral 24
health crisis response and suicide prevention system and best 25
practices for assisting persons with accessing the 988 crisis hotline 26
and the system. Beginning September 1, 2024, trainings submitted to 27
the department for review and approval must include the updated 28
information in the minimum standards for the model list as well as 29
all subsequent submissions. When adopting the rules required under 30
this subsection (6)(c), the department shall: 31
(i) Consult with the affected disciplining authorities, public 32
and private institutions of higher education, educators, experts in 33
suicide assessment, treatment, and management, the Washington 34
department of veterans affairs, and affected professional 35
associations; and 36
(ii) Consider standards related to the best practices registry of 37
the American foundation for suicide prevention and the suicide 38
prevention resource center. 39
(d) Beginning January 1, 2017: 40
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(i) The model list must include only trainings that meet the 1
minimum standards established in the rules adopted under (c) of this 2
subsection and any three-hour trainings that met the requirements of 3
this section on or before July 24, 2015; 4
(ii) The model list must include six-hour trainings in suicide 5
assessment, treatment, and management, and three-hour trainings that 6
include only screening and referral elements; and 7
(iii) A person or entity providing the training required in this 8
section may petition the department for inclusion on the model list. 9
The department shall add the training to the list only if the 10
department determines that the training meets the minimum standards 11
established in the rules adopted under (c) of this subsection.12
(e) By January 1, 2021, the department shall adopt minimum 13
standards for advanced training and training in treatment modalities 14
shown to be effective in working with people who are suicidal. 15
Beginning July 1, 2021, all such training on the model list must meet 16
the minimum standards. When adopting the minimum standards, the 17
department must consult with the affected disciplining authorities, 18
public and private institutions of higher education, educators, 19
experts in suicide assessment, treatment, and management, the 20
Washington department of veterans affairs, and affected professional 21
associations. 22
(7) The department shall provide the health profession training 23
standards created in this section to the professional educator 24
standards board as a model in meeting the requirements of RCW 25
28A.410.226 and provide technical assistance, as requested, in the 26
review and evaluation of educator training programs. The educator 27
training programs approved by the professional educator standards 28
board may be included in the department's model list.29
(8) Nothing in this section may be interpreted to expand or limit 30
the scope of practice of any profession regulated under chapter 31
18.130 RCW. 32
(9) The secretary and the disciplining authorities affected by 33
this section shall adopt any rules necessary to implement this 34
section. 35
(10) For purposes of this section: 36
(a) "Disciplining authority" has the same meaning as in RCW 37
18.130.020. 38
(b) "Training in suicide assessment, treatment, and management" 39
means empirically supported training approved by the appropriate 40
p. 45 SB 6059
disciplining authority that contains the following elements: Suicide 1
assessment, including screening and referral, suicide treatment, and 2
suicide management. However, the disciplining authority may approve 3
training that includes only screening and referral elements if 4
appropriate for the profession in question based on the profession's 5
scope of practice. The board of occupational therapy may also approve 6
training that includes only screening and referral elements if 7
appropriate for occupational therapy practitioners based on practice 8
setting. 9
(11) A state or local government employee is exempt from the 10
requirements of this section if he or she receives a total of at 11
least six hours of training in suicide assessment, treatment, and 12
management from his or her employer every six years. For purposes of 13
this subsection, the training may be provided in one six -hour block 14
or may be spread among shorter training sessions at the employer's 15
discretion. 16
(12) An employee of a community mental health agency licensed 17
under chapter 71.24 RCW or a chemical dependency program certified 18
under chapter 71.24 RCW is exempt from the requirements of this 19
section if he or she receives a total of at least six hours of 20
training in suicide assessment, treatment, and management from his or 21
her employer every six years. For purposes of this subsection, the 22
training may be provided in one six-hour block or may be spread among 23
shorter training sessions at the employer's discretion.24
Sec. 38. RCW 43.70.903 and 2023 c 425 s 5 are each amended to 25
read as follows: 26
(1) The department, in consultation with the workforce training 27
and education coordinating board and the examining board of 28
psychology, shall examine licensure requirements for the following 29
professions to identify changes to statutes and rules that would 30
remove barriers to entering and remaining in the health care 31
workforce and to streamline and shorten the credentialing process:32
(a) Advanced social workers and independent clinical social 33
workers licensed under chapter ((18.225)) 18.320 RCW;34
(b) Marriage and family therapists licensed under chapter 18.225 35
RCW; 36
(c) Mental health counselors licensed under chapter 18.225 RCW;37
(d) Substance use disorder professionals certified under chapter 38
18.205 RCW; and 39
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(e) Psychologists licensed under chapter 18.83 RCW.1
(2) The licensure requirements to be examined by the department 2
shall include examinations, continuing education requirements, 3
administrative requirements for license application and renewal, 4
English language proficiency requirements, and supervised experience 5
requirements, including supervisor requirements and costs associated 6
with completing supervised experience requirements.7
(3) When conducting the review required in subsection (1) of this 8
section, the department shall at a minimum consider the following:9
(a) The availability of peer-reviewed research and other 10
evidence, including requirements in other states, indicating the 11
necessity of specific licensure requirements for ensuring that 12
behavioral health professionals are prepared to practice with 13
reasonable skill and safety; 14
(b) Changes that would facilitate licensure of qualified, out-of-15
state and international applicants to promote reciprocity, including 16
the adoption of applicable interstate compacts; 17
(c) Changes that would promote greater consistency across 18
licensure requirements for professions licensed under chapter s 18.225 19
and 18.320 RCW and allow for applicants' prior professional 20
experience within relevant fields to be counted towards supervised 21
experience requirements established under chapter s 18.225 and 18.320 22
RCW, including the extent to which an applicant may use prior 23
professional experience gained before graduation from a master's or 24
doctoral level educational program to satisfy the applicant's 25
supervised experience requirement; 26
(d) Technical assistance programs, such as navigators or 27
dedicated customer service lines, to facilitate the completion of 28
licensing applications; 29
(e) In consultation with the examining board of psychology and a 30
statewide organization representing licensed psychologists, the 31
creation of an associate-level license for psychologists;32
(f) Whether agency affiliated counselors should be allowed to 33
practice in federally qualified health centers; and34
(g) Any rules that pose excessive administrative requirements for 35
application or renewal or that place a disproportionate burden on 36
applicants from disadvantaged communities. 37
(4) By November 1, 2023, the department shall provide a progress 38
report and initial findings to the appropriate committees of the 39
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legislature on actions and recommendations to remove licensing 1
barriers and improve credentialing time frames. 2
(5) By November 1, 2024, the department shall provide a final 3
report to the appropriate committees of the legislature on actions 4
and recommendations to remove licensing barriers and improve 5
credentialing time frames. 6
Sec. 39. RCW 48.43.087 and 2025 c 58 s 5050 are each amended to 7
read as follows: 8
(1) For purposes of this section: 9
(a) "Health carrier" includes disability insurers regulated under 10
chapter 48.20 or 48.21 RCW, health care services contractors 11
regulated under chapter 48.44 RCW, plans operating under the health 12
care authority under chapter 41.05 RCW, the basic health plan 13
operating under chapter 70.47 RCW, the state health insurance pool 14
operating under chapter 48.41 RCW, insuring entities regulated under 15
this chapter, and health maintenance organizations regulated under 16
chapter 48.46 RCW. 17
(b) "Intermediary" means a person duly authorized to negotiate 18
and execute provider contracts with health carriers on behalf of 19
mental health care practitioners. 20
(c) Consistent with their lawful scopes of practice, "mental 21
health care practitioners" includes only the following: Any generally 22
recognized medical specialty of practitioners licensed under chapter 23
18.57 or 18.71 RCW who provide mental health services, advanced 24
practice psychiatric nurses as authorized by the state board of 25
nursing under chapter 18.79 RCW, psychologists licensed under chapter 26
18.83 RCW, ((and)) mental health counselors ((,)) and marriage and 27
family therapists ((, and social workers )) licensed under chapter 28
18.225 RCW, and social workers licensed under chapter 18.320 RCW.29
(d) "Mental health services" means outpatient services.30
(2) Consistent with federal and state law and rule, no contract 31
between a mental health care practitioner and an intermediary or 32
between a mental health care practitioner and a health carrier that 33
is written, amended, or renewed after June 6, 1996, may contain a 34
provision prohibiting a practitioner and an enrollee from agreeing to 35
contract for services solely at the expense of the enrollee as 36
follows: 37
(a) On the exhaustion of the enrollee's mental health care 38
coverage; 39
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(b) During an appeal or an adverse certification process;1
(c) When an enrollee's condition is excluded from coverage; or2
(d) For any other clinically appropriate reason at any time.3
(3) If a mental health care practitioner provides services to an 4
enrollee during an appeal or adverse certification process, the 5
practitioner must provide to the enrollee written notification that 6
the enrollee is responsible for payment of these services, unless the 7
health carrier elects to pay for services provided.8
(4) This section does not apply to a mental health care 9
practitioner who is employed full time on the staff of a health 10
carrier. 11
Sec. 40. RCW 70.02.180 and 2001 c 251 s 34 are each amended to 12
read as follows: 13
Mental health counselors ((,)) and marriage and family 14
therapists((, and social workers )) licensed under chapter 18.225 RCW 15
and social workers licensed under chapter 18.320 RCW are subject to 16
this chapter. 17
Sec. 41. RCW 71.05.765 and 2024 c 366 s 15 are each amended to 18
read as follows: 19
The authority must contract with an association that represents 20
designated crisis responders in Washington to develop and begin 21
delivering by July 1, 2025, a training program for social workers 22
licensed under chapter ((18.225)) 18.320 RCW who practice in an 23
emergency department with responsibilities related to civil 24
commitments under this chapter. The training must include instruction 25
emphasizing standards and procedures relating to the civil commitment 26
of persons with substance use disorders and mental illness, including 27
which clinical presentations warrant summoning a designated crisis 28
responder. The training must emphasize the manner in which a patient 29
with a primary substance use disorder may present as a risk of harm 30
to self or others, or gravely disabled. Each hospital shall ensure 31
that, by July 1, 2026, or within three months of hire, all social 32
workers employed in the emergency department with responsibilities 33
relating to civil commitments under this chapter complete the 34
training every three years. 35
Sec. 42. RCW 71.24.025 and 2025 c 360 s 17 and 2025 c 346 s 2 36
are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:37
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Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in 1
this section apply throughout this chapter. 2
(1) "23-hour crisis relief center" means a community-based 3
facility or portion of a facility which is licensed or certified by 4
the department of health and open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 5
offering access to mental health and substance use care for no more 6
than 23 hours and 59 minutes at a time per patient, and which accepts 7
all behavioral health crisis walk-ins drop-offs from first 8
responders, and individuals referred through the 988 system 9
regardless of behavioral health acuity, and meets the requirements 10
under RCW 71.24.916. 11
(2) "988 crisis hotline" means the universal telephone number 12
within the United States designated for the purpose of the national 13
suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system operating 14
through the national suicide prevention lifeline. 15
(3) "Acutely mentally ill" means a condition which is limited to 16
a short-term severe crisis episode of: 17
(a) A mental disorder as defined in RCW 71.05.020 or, in the case 18
of a child, as defined in RCW 71.34.020; 19
(b) Being gravely disabled as defined in RCW 71.05.020 or, in the 20
case of a child, a gravely disabled minor as defined in RCW 21
71.34.020; or 22
(c) Presenting a likelihood of serious harm as defined in RCW 23
71.05.020 or, in the case of a child, as defined in RCW 71.34.020.24
(4) "Alcoholism" means a disease, characterized by a dependency 25
on alcoholic beverages, loss of control over the amount and 26
circumstances of use, symptoms of tolerance, physiological or 27
psychological withdrawal, or both, if use is reduced or discontinued, 28
and impairment of health or disruption of social or economic 29
functioning. 30
(5) "Approved substance use disorder treatment program" means a 31
program for persons with a substance use disorder provided by a 32
treatment program licensed or certified by the department as meeting 33
standards adopted under this chapter. 34
(6) "Authority" means the Washington state health care authority.35
(7) "Available resources" means funds appropriated for the 36
purpose of providing community behavioral health programs, federal 37
funds, except those provided according to Title XIX of the Social 38
Security Act, and state funds appropriated under this chapter or 39
chapter 71.05 RCW by the legislature during any biennium for the 40
p. 50 SB 6059
purpose of providing residential services, resource management 1
services, community support services, and other behavioral health 2
services. This does not include funds appropriated for the purpose of 3
operating and administering the state psychiatric hospitals.4
(8) "Behavioral health administrative services organization" 5
means an entity contracted with the authority to administer 6
behavioral health services and programs under RCW 71.24.381, 7
including crisis services and administration of chapter 71.05 RCW, 8
the involuntary treatment act, for all individuals in a defined 9
regional service area. 10
(9) "Behavioral health aide" means a counselor, health educator, 11
and advocate who helps address individual and community-based 12
behavioral health needs, including those related to alcohol, drug, 13
and tobacco abuse as well as mental health problems such as grief, 14
depression, suicide, and related issues and is certified by a 15
community health aide program of the Indian health service or one or 16
more tribes or tribal organizations consistent with the provisions of 17
25 U.S.C. Sec. 1616l and RCW 43.71B.010 (7) and (8).18
(10) "Behavioral health provider" means a person licensed under 19
chapter 18.57, 18.71, 18.71A, 18.83, 18.205, 18.225, 18.320, or 18.79 20
RCW, as it applies to registered nurses and advanced practice 21
registered nurses. 22
(11) "Behavioral health services" means mental health services, 23
substance use disorder treatment services, and co-occurring disorder 24
treatment services as described in this chapter and chapter 71.36 RCW 25
that, depending on the type of service, are provided by licensed or 26
certified behavioral health agencies, behavioral health providers, or 27
integrated into other health care providers. 28
(12) "Child" means a person under the age of 18 years.29
(13) "Chronically mentally ill adult" or "adult who is 30
chronically mentally ill" means an adult who has a mental disorder 31
and meets at least one of the following criteria: 32
(a) Has undergone two or more episodes of hospital care for a 33
mental disorder within the preceding two years; or34
(b) Has experienced a continuous behavioral health 35
hospitalization or residential treatment exceeding six months' 36
duration within the preceding year; or 37
(c) Has been unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity 38
by reason of any mental disorder which has lasted for a continuous 39
period of not less than 12 months. "Substantial gainful activity" 40
p. 51 SB 6059
shall be defined by the authority by rule consistent with Public Law 1
92-603, as amended. 2
(14) "Clubhouse" means a community-based program that provides 3
rehabilitation services and is licensed or certified by the 4
department. 5
(15) "Co-response" means a multidisciplinary partnership between 6
first responders and human services professionals that responds to 7
emergency situations involving behavioral health crises and people 8
experiencing complex medical needs. Participants in co-response 9
respond to in-progress 911 calls, 988 calls, and requests for service 10
from dispatch and other first responders and include first responders 11
such as public safety telecommunicators, law enforcement officers, 12
firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and paramedics, and 13
human services professionals such as social workers, behavioral 14
health clinicians, advanced practice registered nurses, registered 15
nurses, community health workers, and peer support specialists.16
(16) "Community behavioral health program" means all 17
expenditures, services, activities, or programs, including reasonable 18
administration and overhead, designed and conducted to prevent or 19
treat substance use disorder, mental illness, or both in the 20
community behavioral health system. 21
(17) "Community behavioral health service delivery system" means 22
public, private, or tribal agencies that provide services 23
specifically to persons with mental disorders, substance use 24
disorders, or both, as defined under RCW 71.05.020 and receive 25
funding from public sources. 26
(18) "Community support services" means services authorized, 27
planned, and coordinated through resource management services 28
including, at a minimum, assessment, diagnosis, emergency crisis 29
intervention available 24 hours, seven days a week, prescreening 30
determinations for persons who are mentally ill being considered for 31
placement in nursing homes as required by federal law, screening for 32
patients being considered for admission to residential services, 33
diagnosis and treatment for children who are acutely mentally ill or 34
severely emotionally or behaviorally disturbed discovered under 35
screening through the federal Title XIX early and periodic screening, 36
diagnosis, and treatment program, investigation, legal, and other 37
nonresidential services under chapter 71.05 RCW, case management 38
services, psychiatric treatment including medication supervision, 39
counseling, psychotherapy, assuring transfer of relevant patient 40
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information between service providers, recovery services, and other 1
services determined by behavioral health administrative services 2
organizations. 3
(19) "Community-based crisis team" means a team that is part of 4
an emergency medical services agency, a fire service agency, a public 5
health agency, a medical facility, a nonprofit crisis response 6
provider, or a city or county government entity, other than a law 7
enforcement agency, that provides the on-site community-based 8
interventions of a mobile rapid response crisis team for individuals 9
who are experiencing a behavioral health crisis. 10
(20) "Consensus-based" means a program or practice that has 11
general support among treatment providers and experts, based on 12
experience or professional literature, and may have anecdotal or case 13
study support, or that is agreed but not possible to perform studies 14
with random assignment and controlled groups. 15
(21) "Coordinated regional behavioral health crisis response 16
system" means the coordinated operation of 988 call centers, regional 17
crisis lines, certified public safety telecommunicators, and other 18
behavioral health crisis system partners within each regional service 19
area. 20
(22) "County authority" means the board of county commissioners, 21
county council, or county executive having authority to establish a 22
behavioral health administrative services organization, or two or 23
more of the county authorities specified in this subsection which 24
have entered into an agreement to establish a behavioral health 25
administrative services organization. 26
(23) "Crisis stabilization services" means services such as 23-27
hour crisis relief centers, crisis stabilization units, short-term 28
respite facilities, peer-run respite services, and same-day walk-in 29
behavioral health services, including within the overall crisis 30
system components that operate like hospital emergency departments 31
that accept all walk-ins, and ambulance, fire, and police drop-offs, 32
or determine the need for involuntary hospitalization of an 33
individual. 34
(24) "Crisis stabilization unit" has the same meaning as under 35
RCW 71.05.020. 36
(25) "Department" means the department of health.37
(26) "Designated 988 contact hub" or "988 contact hub" means a 38
state-designated contact center that streamlines clinical 39
interventions and access to resources for people experiencing a 40
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behavioral health crisis and participates in the national suicide 1
prevention lifeline network to respond to statewide or regional 988 2
contacts that meets the requirements of RCW 71.24.890.3
(27) "Designated crisis responder" has the same meaning as in RCW 4
71.05.020. 5
(28) "Director" means the director of the authority.6
(29) "Drug addiction" means a disease characterized by a 7
dependency on psychoactive chemicals, loss of control over the amount 8
and circumstances of use, symptoms of tolerance, physiological or 9
psychological withdrawal, or both, if use is reduced or discontinued, 10
and impairment of health or disruption of social or economic 11
functioning. 12
(30) "Early adopter" means a regional service area for which all 13
of the county authorities have requested that the authority purchase 14
medical and behavioral health services through a managed care health 15
system as defined under RCW 71.24.380(7). 16
(31) "Emerging best practice" or "promising practice" means a 17
program or practice that, based on statistical analyses or a well 18
established theory of change, shows potential for meeting the 19
evidence-based or research-based criteria, which may include the use 20
of a program that is evidence-based for outcomes other than those 21
listed in subsection (32) of this section. 22
(32) "Evidence-based" means a program or practice that has been 23
tested in heterogeneous or intended populations with multiple 24
randomized, or statistically controlled evaluations, or both; or one 25
large multiple site randomized, or statistically controlled 26
evaluation, or both, where the weight of the evidence from a systemic 27
review demonstrates sustained improvements in at least one outcome. 28
"Evidence-based" also means a program or practice that can be 29
implemented with a set of procedures to allow successful replication 30
in Washington and, when possible, is determined to be cost-31
beneficial. 32
(33) "First responders" includes ambulance, fire, mobile rapid 33
response crisis team, co-responder team, designated crisis responder, 34
fire department mobile integrated health team, community assistance 35
referral and education services program under RCW 35.21.930, and law 36
enforcement personnel. 37
(34) "Immediate jeopardy" means a situation in which the licensed 38
or certified behavioral health agency's noncompliance with one or 39
more statutory or regulatory requirements has placed the health and 40
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safety of patients in its care at risk for serious injury, serious 1
harm, serious impairment, or death. 2
(35) "Indian health care provider" means a health care program 3
operated by the Indian health service or by a tribe, tribal 4
organization, or urban Indian organization as those terms are defined 5
in the Indian health care improvement act (25 U.S.C. Sec. 1603).6
(36) "Intensive behavioral health treatment facility" means a 7
community-based specialized residential treatment facility for 8
individuals with behavioral health conditions, including individuals 9
discharging from or being diverted from state and local hospitals, 10
whose impairment or behaviors do not meet, or no longer meet, 11
criteria for involuntary inpatient commitment under chapter 71.05 12
RCW, but whose care needs cannot be met in other community-based 13
placement settings. 14
(37) "Licensed or certified behavioral health agency" means:15
(a) An entity licensed or certified according to this chapter or 16
chapter 71.05 RCW; 17
(b) An entity deemed to meet state minimum standards as a result 18
of accreditation by a recognized behavioral health accrediting body 19
recognized and having a current agreement with the department; or20
(c) An entity with a tribal attestation that it meets state 21
minimum standards for a licensed or certified behavioral health 22
agency. 23
(38) "Licensed physician" means a person licensed to practice 24
medicine or osteopathic medicine and surgery in the state of 25
Washington. 26
(39) "Long-term inpatient care" means inpatient services for 27
persons committed for, or voluntarily receiving intensive treatment 28
for, periods of 90 days or greater under chapter 71.05 RCW. "Long-29
term inpatient care" as used in this chapter does not include: (a) 30
Services for individuals committed under chapter 71.05 RCW who are 31
receiving services pursuant to a conditional release or a court-32
ordered less restrictive alternative to detention; or (b) services 33
for individuals voluntarily receiving less restrictive alternative 34
treatment on the grounds of the state hospital. 35
(40) "Managed care organization" means an organization, having a 36
certificate of authority or certificate of registration from the 37
office of the insurance commissioner, that contracts with the 38
authority under a comprehensive risk contract to provide prepaid 39
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health care services to enrollees under the authority's managed care 1
programs under chapter 74.09 RCW. 2
(41) "Mental health peer-run respite center" means a peer-run 3
program to serve individuals in need of voluntary, short-term, 4
noncrisis services that focus on recovery and wellness.5
(42) Mental health "treatment records" include registration and 6
all other records concerning persons who are receiving or who at any 7
time have received services for mental illness, which are maintained 8
by the department of social and health services or the authority, by 9
behavioral health administrative services organizations and their 10
staffs, by managed care organizations and their staffs, or by 11
treatment facilities. "Treatment records" do not include notes or 12
records maintained for personal use by a person providing treatment 13
services for the entities listed in this subsection, or a treatment 14
facility if the notes or records are not available to others.15
(43) "Mentally ill persons," "persons who are mentally ill," and 16
"the mentally ill" mean persons and conditions defined in subsections 17
(3), (13), (52), and (53) of this section. 18
(44) "Mobile rapid response crisis team" means a team that 19
provides professional on-site community-based intervention such as 20
outreach, de-escalation, stabilization, resource connection, and 21
follow-up support for individuals who are experiencing a behavioral 22
health crisis, that shall include certified peer counselors or 23
certified peer support specialists as a best practice to the extent 24
practicable based on workforce availability, and that meets standards 25
for response times established by the authority. 26
(45) "Recovery" means a process of change through which 27
individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed 28
life, and strive to reach their full potential. 29
(46) "Regional crisis line" means the behavioral health crisis 30
hotline in each regional service area which provides crisis response 31
services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year including 32
but not limited to dispatch of mobile rapid response crisis teams, 33
community-based crisis teams, and designated crisis responders. A 34
regional crisis line may not dispatch law enforcement.35
(47) "Research-based" means a program or practice that has been 36
tested with a single randomized, or statistically controlled 37
evaluation, or both, demonstrating sustained desirable outcomes; or 38
where the weight of the evidence from a systemic review supports 39
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sustained outcomes as described in subsection (32) of this section 1
but does not meet the full criteria for evidence-based.2
(48) "Residential services" means a complete range of residences 3
and supports authorized by resource management services and which may 4
involve a facility, a distinct part thereof, or services which 5
support community living, for persons who are acutely mentally ill, 6
adults who are chronically mentally ill, children who are severely 7
emotionally disturbed, or adults who are seriously disturbed and 8
determined by the behavioral health administrative services 9
organization or managed care organization to be at risk of becoming 10
acutely or chronically mentally ill. The services shall include at 11
least evaluation and treatment services as defined in chapter 71.05 12
RCW, acute crisis respite care, long-term adaptive and rehabilitative 13
care, and supervised and supported living services, and shall also 14
include any residential services developed to service persons who are 15
mentally ill in nursing homes, residential treatment facilities, 16
assisted living facilities, and adult family homes, and may include 17
outpatient services provided as an element in a package of services 18
in a supported housing model. Residential services for children in 19
out-of-home placements related to their mental disorder shall not 20
include the costs of food and shelter, except for children's long-21
term residential facilities existing prior to January 1, 1991.22
(49) "Resilience" means the personal and community qualities that 23
enable individuals to rebound from adversity, trauma, tragedy, 24
threats, or other stresses, and to live productive lives.25
(50) "Resource management services" mean the planning, 26
coordination, and authorization of residential services and community 27
support services administered pursuant to an individual service plan 28
for: (a) Adults and children who are acutely mentally ill; (b) adults 29
who are chronically mentally ill; (c) children who are severely 30
emotionally disturbed; or (d) adults who are seriously disturbed and 31
determined by a behavioral health administrative services 32
organization or managed care organization to be at risk of becoming 33
acutely or chronically mentally ill. Such planning, coordination, and 34
authorization shall include mental health screening for children 35
eligible under the federal Title XIX early and periodic screening, 36
diagnosis, and treatment program. Resource management services 37
include seven day a week, 24 hour a day availability of information 38
regarding enrollment of adults and children who are mentally ill in 39
services and their individual service plan to designated crisis 40
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responders, evaluation and treatment facilities, and others as 1
determined by the behavioral health administrative services 2
organization or managed care organization, as applicable.3
(51) "Secretary" means the secretary of the department of health.4
(52) "Seriously disturbed person" means a person who:5
(a) Is gravely disabled or presents a likelihood of serious harm 6
to himself or herself or others, or to the property of others, as a 7
result of a mental disorder as defined in chapter 71.05 RCW;8
(b) Has been on conditional release status, or under a less 9
restrictive alternative order, at some time during the preceding two 10
years from an evaluation and treatment facility or a state mental 11
health hospital; 12
(c) Has a mental disorder which causes major impairment in 13
several areas of daily living; 14
(d) Exhibits suicidal preoccupation or attempts; or15
(e) Is a child diagnosed by a mental health professional, as 16
defined in chapter 71.34 RCW, as experiencing a mental disorder which 17
is clearly interfering with the child's functioning in family or 18
school or with peers or is clearly interfering with the child's 19
personality development and learning. 20
(53) "Severely emotionally disturbed child" or "child who is 21
severely emotionally disturbed" means a child who has been determined 22
by the behavioral health administrative services organization or 23
managed care organization, if applicable, to be experiencing a mental 24
disorder as defined in chapter 71.34 RCW, including those mental 25
disorders that result in a behavioral or conduct disorder, that is 26
clearly interfering with the child's functioning in family or school 27
or with peers and who meets at least one of the following criteria:28
(a) Has undergone inpatient treatment or placement outside of the 29
home related to a mental disorder within the last two years;30
(b) Has undergone involuntary treatment under chapter 71.34 RCW 31
within the last two years; 32
(c) Is currently served by at least one of the following child-33
serving systems: Juvenile justice, child-protection/welfare, special 34
education, or developmental disabilities; 35
(d) Is at risk of escalating maladjustment due to:36
(i) Chronic family dysfunction involving a caretaker who is 37
mentally ill or inadequate; 38
(ii) Changes in custodial adult; 39
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(iii) Going to, residing in, or returning from any placement 1
outside of the home, for example, behavioral health hospital, short-2
term inpatient, residential treatment, group or foster home, or a 3
correctional facility; 4
(iv) Subject to repeated physical abuse or neglect;5
(v) Drug or alcohol abuse; or 6
(vi) Homelessness. 7
(54) "State minimum standards" means minimum requirements 8
established by rules adopted and necessary to implement this chapter 9
by: 10
(a) The authority for: 11
(i) Delivery of mental health and substance use disorder 12
services; and 13
(ii) Community support services and resource management services;14
(b) The department of health for: 15
(i) Licensed or certified behavioral health agencies for the 16
purpose of providing mental health or substance use disorder programs 17
and services, or both; 18
(ii) Licensed behavioral health providers for the provision of 19
mental health or substance use disorder services, or both; and20
(iii) Residential services. 21
(55) "Substance use disorder" means a cluster of cognitive, 22
behavioral, and physiological symptoms indicating that an individual 23
continues using the substance despite significant substance-related 24
problems. The diagnosis of a substance use disorder is based on a 25
pathological pattern of behaviors related to the use of the 26
substances. 27
(56) "Tribe," for the purposes of this section, means a federally 28
recognized Indian tribe. 29
Sec. 43. RCW 13.40.162 and 2023 c 449 s 17 and 2023 c 150 s 8 30
are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:31
(1) A juvenile offender is eligible for the special sex offender 32
disposition alternative when: 33
(a) The offender is found to have committed a sex offense, other 34
than a sex offense that is also a serious violent offense as defined 35
by RCW 9.94A.030, and the offender has no history of a prior sex 36
offense; or 37
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(b) The offender is found to have committed assault in the fourth 1
degree with sexual motivation, and the offender has no history of a 2
prior sex offense. 3
(2) If the court finds the offender is eligible for this 4
alternative, the court, on its own motion or the motion of the state 5
or the respondent, may order an examination to determine whether the 6
respondent is amenable to treatment. 7
(a) The report of the examination shall include at a minimum the 8
following: 9
(i) The respondent's version of the facts and the official 10
version of the facts; 11
(ii) The respondent's offense history; 12
(iii) An assessment of problems in addition to alleged deviant 13
behaviors; 14
(iv) The respondent's social, educational, and employment 15
situation; 16
(v) Other evaluation measures used. 17
The report shall set forth the sources of the evaluator's 18
information. 19
(b) The examiner shall assess and report regarding the 20
respondent's amenability to treatment and relative risk to the 21
community. A proposed treatment plan shall be provided and shall 22
include, at a minimum: 23
(i) The frequency and type of contact between the offender and 24
therapist; 25
(ii) Specific issues to be addressed in the treatment and 26
description of planned treatment modalities; 27
(iii) Monitoring plans, including any requirements regarding 28
living conditions, lifestyle requirements, and monitoring by family 29
members, legal guardians, or others; 30
(iv) Anticipated length of treatment; and 31
(v) Recommended crime-related prohibitions. 32
(c) For good cause shown, the court on its own motion may order, 33
or on a motion by the state shall order, a second examination 34
regarding the offender's amenability to treatment. The evaluator 35
shall be selected by the party making the motion. 36
(3) After receipt of reports of the examination, the court shall 37
then consider whether the offender and the community will benefit 38
from use of this special sex offender disposition alternative and 39
consider the victim's opinion whether the offender should receive a 40
p. 60 SB 6059
treatment disposition under this section. If the court determines 1
that this special sex offender disposition alternative is 2
appropriate, then the court shall impose a determinate disposition 3
within the standard range for the offense, or if the court concludes, 4
and enters reasons for its conclusions, that such disposition would 5
cause a manifest injustice, the court shall impose a disposition 6
under option D, and the court may suspend the execution of the 7
disposition and place the offender on community supervision for at 8
least two years. 9
(4) As a condition of the suspended disposition, the court may 10
impose the conditions of community supervision and other conditions, 11
including up to 30 days of confinement and requirements that the 12
offender do any one or more of the following: 13
(a) Devote time to a specific education, employment, or 14
occupation; 15
(b) Undergo available outpatient sex offender treatment for up to 16
two years, or inpatient sex offender treatment not to exceed the 17
standard range of confinement for that offense. A community mental 18
health center may not be used for such treatment unless it has an 19
appropriate program designed for sex offender treatment. The 20
respondent shall not change sex offender treatment providers or 21
treatment conditions without first notifying the prosecutor, the 22
probation counselor, and the court, and shall not change providers 23
without court approval after a hearing if the prosecutor or probation 24
counselor object to the change; 25
(c) Remain within prescribed geographical boundaries and notify 26
the court or the probation counselor prior to any change in the 27
offender's address, educational program, or employment;28
(d) Report to the prosecutor and the probation counselor prior to 29
any change in a sex offender treatment provider. This change shall 30
have prior approval by the court; 31
(e) Report as directed to the court and a probation counselor;32
(f) Pay restitution and perform community restitution, or any 33
combination thereof; 34
(g) Make restitution to the victim for the cost of any counseling 35
reasonably related to the offense; or 36
(h) Comply with the conditions of any court-ordered probation 37
bond. 38
p. 61 SB 6059
(5) If the court orders 24 hour, continuous monitoring of the 1
offender while on probation, the court shall include the basis for 2
this condition in its findings. 3
(6)(a) The court must order the offender not to attend the public 4
or approved private elementary, middle, or high school attended by 5
the victim or the victim's siblings. 6
(b) The parents or legal guardians of the offender are 7
responsible for transportation or other costs associated with the 8
offender's change of school that would otherwise be paid by the 9
school district. 10
(c) The court shall send notice of the disposition and 11
restriction on attending the same school as the victim or victim's 12
siblings to the public or approved private school the juvenile will 13
attend, if known, or if unknown, to the approved private schools and 14
the public school district board of directors of the district in 15
which the juvenile resides or intends to reside. This notice must be 16
sent at the earliest possible date but not later than 10 calendar 17
days after entry of the disposition. 18
(7)(a) The sex offender treatment provider shall submit quarterly 19
reports on the respondent's progress in treatment to the court and 20
the parties. The reports shall reference the treatment plan and 21
include at a minimum the following: Dates of attendance, respondent's 22
compliance with requirements, treatment activities, the respondent's 23
relative progress in treatment, and any other material specified by 24
the court at the time of the disposition. 25
(b) At the time of the disposition, the court may set treatment 26
review hearings as the court considers appropriate.27
(c) Except as provided in this subsection, examinations and 28
treatment ordered pursuant to this subsection shall be conducted by 29
qualified professionals as described under (d) of this subsection, 30
certified sex offender treatment providers, or certified affiliate 31
sex offender treatment providers under chapter 18.155 RCW.32
(d) A sex offender therapist who examines or treats a juvenile 33
sex offender pursuant to this subsection does not have to be 34
certified by the department of health pursuant to chapter 18.155 RCW 35
if the therapist is a professional licensed under chapter 18.225, 36
18.320, or 18.83 RCW and the treatment employed is evidence-based for 37
sex offender treatment, or if the court finds that: (i) The offender 38
has already moved to another state or plans to move to another state 39
for reasons other than circumventing the certification requirements; 40
p. 62 SB 6059
(ii) no certified sex offender treatment providers or certified 1
affiliate sex offender treatment providers are available for 2
treatment within a reasonable geographical distance of the offender's 3
home; and (iii) the evaluation and treatment plan comply with this 4
subsection and the rules adopted by the department of health.5
(8)(a) If the offender violates any condition of the disposition 6
or the court finds that the respondent is failing to make 7
satisfactory progress in treatment, the court may revoke the 8
suspension and order execution of the disposition or the court may 9
impose a penalty of up to 30 days confinement for violating 10
conditions of the disposition. 11
(b) The court may order both execution of the disposition and up 12
to 30 days confinement for the violation of the conditions of the 13
disposition. 14
(c) The court shall give credit for any confinement time 15
previously served if that confinement was for the offense for which 16
the suspension is being revoked. 17
(9) For purposes of this section, "victim" means any person who 18
has sustained emotional, psychological, physical, or financial injury 19
to person or property as a direct result of the crime charged. 20
"Victim" may also include a known parent or guardian of a victim who 21
is a minor child unless the parent or guardian is the perpetrator of 22
the offense. 23
(10) The respondent or the parent, guardian, or other person 24
having custody of the respondent shall not be required to pay the 25
cost of any evaluation or treatment of the respondent ordered under 26
this section. 27
(11) A disposition entered under this section is not appealable 28
under RCW 13.40.230. 29
Sec. 44. RCW 18.100.050 and 2023 c 60 s 1 are each amended to 30
read as follows: 31
(1) An individual or group of individuals duly licensed or 32
otherwise legally authorized to render the same professional services 33
within this state may organize and become a shareholder or 34
shareholders of a professional corporation for pecuniary profit under 35
the provisions of Title 23B RCW for the purpose of rendering 36
professional service. One or more of the legally authorized 37
individuals shall be the incorporators of the professional 38
corporation. 39
p. 63 SB 6059
(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, 1
registered architects and registered engineers may own stock in and 2
render their individual professional services through one 3
professional service corporation. 4
(3) Licensed health care professionals, providing services to 5
enrolled participants either directly or through arrangements with a 6
health maintenance organization registered under chapter 48.46 RCW or 7
federally qualified health maintenance organization, may own stock in 8
and render their individual professional services through one 9
professional service corporation. 10
(4) Professionals may organize a nonprofit nonstock corporation 11
under this chapter and chapter 24.03A RCW to provide professional 12
services, and the provisions of this chapter relating to stock and 13
referring to Title 23B RCW shall not apply to any such corporation.14
(5)(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, 15
health care professionals who are licensed or certified pursuant to 16
chapters 18.06, 18.225, 18.22, 18.25, 18.29, 18.34, 18.35, 18.36A, 17
18.50, 18.53, 18.55, 18.57, 18.59, 18.64, 18.71, 18.71A, 18.74, 18
18.79, 18.83, 18.89, 18.108, ((and)) 18.138, and 18.320 RCW may own 19
stock in and render their individual professional services through 20
one professional service corporation and are to be considered, for 21
the purpose of forming a professional service corporation, as 22
rendering the "same specific professional services" or "same 23
professional services" or similar terms. 24
(b) Formation of a professional service corporation under this 25
subsection does not restrict the application of the uniform 26
disciplinary act under chapter 18.130 RCW, or applicable health care 27
professional statutes under ((Title 18 RCW )) this title , including 28
but not limited to restrictions on persons practicing a health 29
profession without being appropriately credentialed and persons 30
practicing beyond the scope of their credential. 31
Sec. 45. RCW 25.05.510 and 2001 c 251 s 31 are each amended to 32
read as follows: 33
(1) A person or group of persons licensed or otherwise legally 34
authorized to render professional services, as defined in RCW 35
18.100.030, within this state may organize and become a member or 36
members of a limited liability partnership under the provisions of 37
this chapter for the purposes of rendering professional service. 38
Nothing in this section prohibits a person duly licensed or otherwise 39
p. 64 SB 6059
legally authorized to render professional services in any 1
jurisdiction other than this state from becoming a member of a 2
limited liability partnership organized for the purpose of rendering 3
the same professional services. Nothing in this section prohibits a 4
limited liability partnership from rendering professional services 5
outside this state through individuals who are not duly licensed or 6
otherwise legally authorized to render such professional services 7
within this state. 8
(2)(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, 9
health care professionals who are licensed or certified pursuant to 10
chapters 18.06, 18.225, 18.22, 18.25, 18.29, 18.34, 18.35, 18.36A, 11
18.50, 18.53, 18.55, 18.64, 18.79, 18.83, 18.89, 18.108, ((and)) 12
18.138, and 18.320 RCW may join and render their individual 13
professional services through one limited liability partnership and 14
are to be considered, for the purpose of forming a limited liability 15
partnership, as rendering the "same specific professional services" 16
or "same professional services" or similar terms. 17
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, health 18
care professionals who are licensed pursuant to chapters 18.57 and 19
18.71 RCW may join and render their individual professional services 20
through one limited liability partnership and are to be considered, 21
for the purpose of forming a limited liability partnership, as 22
rendering the "same specific professional services" or "same 23
professional services" or similar terms. 24
(c) Formation of a limited liability partnership under this 25
subsection does not restrict the application of the uniform 26
disciplinary act under chapter 18.130 RCW, or any applicable health 27
care professional statutes under Title 18 RCW, including but not 28
limited to restrictions on persons practicing a health profession 29
without being appropriately credentialed and persons practicing 30
beyond the scope of their credential. 31
Sec. 46. RCW 49.44.220 and 2022 c 11 s 1 are each amended to 32
read as follows: 33
(1)(a) It is unlawful for an employer to obtain individually 34
identifiable information regarding an employee's participation in an 35
employee assistance program. Individually identifiable information 36
gathered in the process of conducting an employee assistance program 37
must be kept confidential. 38
(b) Subsection (1)(a) of this section does not apply to:39
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(i) Authorized disclosures under RCW 41.04.730;1
(ii) Disclosures to an employer regarding an employee's 2
attendance in an employee assistance program, which the employee was 3
required to attend as a condition of continued employment; and4
(((ii) [(iii)])) (iii) Disclosures that are: 5
(A) Made to prevent or lessen a perceived threat to the health or 6
safety of an individual or the public; or 7
(B) Permitted or required under RCW 18.225.105, 70.02.050, ((or)) 8
71.05.120, or section 11 of this act. 9
(2) An employee's participation or nonparticipation in an 10
employee assistance program must not be a factor in a decision 11
affecting an employee's job security, promotional opportunities, 12
corrective or disciplinary action, or other employment rights.13
Sec. 47. RCW 74.09.748 and 2018 c 175 s 8 are each amended to 14
read as follows: 15
Upon adoption of a fully integrated managed health care system 16
pursuant to chapter 71.24 RCW, regional service areas:17
(1) Must allow reimbursement for time spent supervising persons 18
working toward satisfying supervision requirements established for 19
the relevant practice areas pursuant to RCW 18.225.090 and chapter 20
18.320 RCW; and 21
(2) May allow reimbursement for services delivered through a 22
partial hospitalization or intensive outpatient program as described 23
in RCW 71.24.385. 24
NEW SECTION. Sec. 48. Sections 2 through 18 take effect July 1, 25
2026.26
NEW SECTION. Sec. 49. Sections 19 through 47 of this act take 27
effect July 1, 2027, or later, contingent upon the Washington state 28
board of governors for licensed social workers adopting rules and 29
assuming full regulatory authority from the secretary. The department 30
of health must provide written notice of the effective date of these 31
sections to affected parties, the chief clerk of the house of 32
representatives, the secretary of the senate, the office of the code 33
reviser, and others as deemed appropriate by the department.34
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