RCW 70A.15.2310 — Washington Code / Title 70A / Chapter 15 / Section 2310
RCW 70A.15.2310: Variances—Application for—Considerations—Limitations—Renewals—Review.
Status: in_force

(1) Any person who owns or is in control of any plant, building, structure, establishment, process or equipment may apply to the department of ecology or appropriate local authority board for a variance from rules or regulations governing the quality, nature, duration or extent of discharges of air contaminants. The application shall be accompanied by such information and data as the department of ecology or board may require. The department of ecology or board may grant such variance, provided that variances to state rules shall require the department's approval prior to being issued by a local authority board. The total time period for a variance and renewal of such variance shall not exceed one year. Variances may be issued by either the department or a local board but only after public hearing or due notice, if the department or board finds that: (a) The emissions occurring or proposed to occur do not endanger public health or safety or the environment; and (b) Compliance with the rules or regulations from which variance is sought would produce serious hardship without equal or greater benefits to the public. (2) No variance shall be granted pursuant to this section until the department of ecology or board has considered the relative interests of the applicant, other owners of property likely to be affected by the discharges, and the general public. (3) Any variance or renewal thereof shall be granted within the requirements of subsection (1) of this section and under conditions consistent with the reasons therefor, and within the following limitations: (a) If the variance is granted on the ground that there is no practicable means known or available for the adequate prevention, abatement or control of the pollution involved, it shall be only until the necessary means for prevention, abatement or control become known and available, and subject to the taking of any substitute or alternate measures that the department of ecology or board may prescribe. (b) If the variance is granted on the ground that compliance with the particular requirement or requirements from which variance is sought will require the taking of measures which, because of their extent or cost, must be spread over a considerable period of time, it shall be for a period not to exceed such reasonable time as, in the view of the department of ecology or board is requisite for the taking of the necessary measures. A variance granted on the ground specified herein shall contain a timetable for the taking of action in an expeditious manner and shall be conditioned on adherence to such timetable. (c) If the variance is granted on the ground that it is justified to relieve or prevent hardship of a kind other than that provided for in (a) and (b) of this subsection, it shall be for not more than one year. (4) Any variance granted pursuant to this section may be renewed on terms and conditions and for periods which would be appropriate on initial granting of a variance. If complaint is made to the department of ecology or board on account of the variance, no renewal thereof shall be granted unless following a public hearing on the complaint on due notice the department or board finds that renewal is justified. No renewal shall be granted except on application therefor. Any such application shall be made at least sixty days prior to the expiration of the variance. Immediately upon receipt of an application for renewal, the department of ecology or board shall give public notice of such application in accordance with rules of the department of ecology or board. (5) A variance or renewal shall not be a right of the applicant or holder thereof but shall be granted at the discretion of the department of ecology or board. However, any applicant adversely affected by the denial or the terms and conditions of the granting of an application for a variance or renewal of a variance by the department of ecology or board may obtain judicial review thereof under the provisions of chapter 34.05 RCW as now or hereafter amended. (6) Nothing in this section and no variance or renewal granted pursuant hereto shall be construed to prevent or limit the application of the emergency provisions and procedures of RCW 70A.15.6000 through 70A.15.6040 to any person or his or her property. (7) An application for a variance, or for the renewal thereof, submitted to the department of ecology or board pursuant to this section shall be approved or disapproved by the department or board within sixty-five days of receipt unless the applicant and the department of ecology or board agree to a continuance. (8) Variances approved under this section shall not be included in orders or permits provided for in RCW 70A.15.2260 or 70A.15.2210 until such time as the variance has been accepted by the United States environmental protection agency as part of an approved state implementation plan.
RCW 70A.15.3510 — Washington Code / Title 70A / Chapter 15 / Section 3510
RCW 70A.15.3510: Woodstoves—Definitions.
Status: in_force

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout RCW 70A.15.3510 through 70A.15.3620 : (1) "Authority" means any air pollution control agency whose jurisdictional boundaries are coextensive with the boundaries of one or more counties. (2) "Department" means the department of ecology. (3) "Fireplace" means: (a) Any permanently installed masonry fireplace; or (b) any factory-built metal solid fuel burning device designed to be used with an open combustion chamber and without features to control the air to fuel ratio. (4) "New woodstove" means: (a) A woodstove that is sold at retail, bargained, exchanged, or given away for the first time by the manufacturer, the manufacturer's dealer or agency, or a retailer; and (b) has not been so used to have become what is commonly known as "secondhand" within the ordinary meaning of that term. (5) "Opacity" means the degree to which an object seen through a plume is obscured, stated as a percentage. The methods approved by the department in accordance with RCW 70A.15.3000 shall be used to establish opacity for the purposes of this chapter. (6) "Solid fuel burning device" means any device for burning wood, coal, or any other nongaseous and nonliquid fuel, including a woodstove and fireplace. (7) "Woodstove" means a solid fuel burning device other than a fireplace not meeting the requirements of RCW 70A.15.3530 , including any fireplace insert, woodstove, wood burning heater, wood stick boiler, coal-fired furnace, coal stove, or similar device burning any solid fuel used for aesthetic or space-heating purposes in a private residence or commercial establishment, which has a heat input less than one million British thermal units per hour. The term "woodstove" does not include wood cook stoves.
RCW 70.02.230 — Washington Code / Title 70 / Chapter 02 / Section 230
RCW 70.02.230: Mental health services, confidentiality of records—Permitted disclosures.
Status: in_force

(1) The fact of admission to a provider for mental health services and all information and records compiled, obtained, or maintained in the course of providing mental health services to either voluntary or involuntary recipients of services at public or private agencies may not be disclosed except as provided in this section, RCW 70.02.050 , 71.05.445 , 74.09.295 , 70.02.210 , 70.02.240 , 70.02.250 , 70.02.260 , and 70.02.265 , or pursuant to a valid authorization under RCW 70.02.030 . (2) Information and records related to mental health services, other than those obtained through treatment under chapter 71.34 RCW, may be disclosed: (a) In communications between qualified professional persons to meet the requirements of chapter 71.05 RCW, including Indian health care providers, in the provision of services or appropriate referrals, or in the course of guardianship proceedings if provided to a professional person: (i) Employed by the facility; (ii) Who has medical responsibility for the patient's care; (iii) Who is a designated crisis responder; (iv) Who is providing services under chapter 71.24 RCW; (v) Who is employed by a state or local correctional facility where the person is confined or supervised; or (vi) Who is providing evaluation, treatment, or follow-up services under chapter 10.77 RCW; (b) When the communications regard the special needs of a patient and the necessary circumstances giving rise to such needs and the disclosure is made by a facility providing services to the operator of a facility in which the patient resides or will reside; (c)(i) When the person receiving services, or his or her guardian, designates persons to whom information or records may be released, or if the person is a minor, when his or her parents make such a designation; (ii) A public or private agency shall release to a person's next of kin, attorney, personal representative, guardian, or conservator, if any: (A) The information that the person is presently a patient in the facility or that the person is seriously physically ill; (B) A statement evaluating the mental and physical condition of the patient, and a statement of the probable duration of the patient's confinement, if such information is requested by the next of kin, attorney, personal representative, guardian, or conservator; and (iii) Other information requested by the next of kin or attorney as may be necessary to decide whether or not proceedings should be instituted to appoint a guardian or conservator; (d)(i) To the courts, including tribal courts, as necessary to the administration of chapter 71.05 RCW, or equivalent proceedings in tribal courts, or to a court ordering an evaluation or treatment under chapter 10.77 RCW solely for the purpose of preventing the entry of any evaluation or treatment order that is inconsistent with any order entered under chapter 71.05 RCW. (ii) To a court or its designee in which a motion under chapter 10.77 RCW has been made for involuntary medication of a defendant for the purpose of competency restoration. (iii) Disclosure under this subsection is mandatory for the purpose of the federal health insurance portability and accountability act; (e)(i) When a mental health professional or designated crisis responder is requested by a representative of a law enforcement or corrections agency, including a police officer, sheriff, community corrections officer, a municipal attorney, or prosecuting attorney to undertake an investigation or provide treatment under RCW 71.05.150 , 10.31.110 , or 71.05.153 , the mental health professional or designated crisis responder shall, if requested to do so, advise the representative in writing of the results of the investigation including a statement of reasons for the decision to detain or release the person investigated. The written report must be submitted within 72 hours of the completion of the investigation or the request from the law enforcement or corrections representative, whichever occurs later. (ii) Disclosure under this subsection is mandatory for the purposes of the federal health insurance portability and accountability act; (f) To the attorney of the detained person; (g) To the prosecuting attorney, including tribal prosecuting attorney, as necessary to carry out the responsibilities of the office under RCW 71.05.330 (2), 71.05.340 (1)(b), and 71.05.335 . The prosecutor, including tribal prosecutor, must be provided access to records regarding the committed person's treatment and prognosis, medication, behavior problems, and other records relevant to the issue of whether treatment less restrictive than inpatient treatment is in the best interest of the committed person or others. Information must be disclosed only after giving notice to the committed person and the person's counsel; (h)(i) To appropriate law enforcement agencies, including tribal law enforcement agencies, and to a person, when the identity of the person is known to the public or private agency, whose health and safety has been threatened, or who is known to have been repeatedly harassed, by the patient. The person may designate a representative to receive the disclosure. The disclosure must be made by the professional person in charge of the public or private agency or his or her designee and must include the dates of commitment, admission, discharge, or release, authorized or unauthorized absence from the agency's facility, and only any other information that is pertinent to the threat or harassment. The agency or its employees are not civilly liable for the decision to disclose or not, so long as the decision was reached in good faith and without gross negligence. Nothing in this section shall be interpreted as a waiver of sovereign immunity by a tribe. (ii) Disclosure under this subsection is mandatory for the purposes of the federal health insurance portability and accountability act; (i)(i) To appropriate corrections and law enforcement agencies, including tribal corrections and law enforcement agencies, all necessary and relevant information in the event of a crisis or emergent situation that poses a significant and imminent risk to the public. The mental health service agency or its employees are not civilly liable for the decision to disclose or not so long as the decision was reached in good faith and without gross negligence. (ii) Disclosure under this subsection is mandatory for the purposes of the health insurance portability and accountability act; (j) To the persons designated in RCW 71.05.425 for the purposes described in those sections; (k) By a care coordinator, including an Indian health care provider, under RCW 71.05.585 or * 10.77.575 assigned to a person ordered to receive less restrictive alternative treatment for the purpose of sharing information to parties necessary for the implementation of proceedings under chapter 71.05 or 10.77 RCW; (l) Upon the death of a person. The person's next of kin, personal representative, guardian, or conservator, if any, must be notified. Next of kin who are of legal age and competent must be notified under this section in the following order: Spouse, parents, children, brothers and sisters, and other relatives according to the degree of relation. Access to all records and information compiled, obtained, or maintained in the course of providing services to a deceased patient are governed by RCW 70.02.140 ; (m) To mark headstones or otherwise memorialize patients interred at state hospital cemeteries. The department of social and health services shall make available the name, date of birth, and date of death of patients buried in state hospital cemeteries fifty years after the death of a patient; (n) To law enforcement officers and to prosecuting attorneys as are necessary to enforce RCW 9.41.040 (2)(a)(iii). The extent of information that may be released is limited as follows: (i) Only the fact, place, and date of involuntary commitment, an official copy of any order or orders of commitment, and an official copy of any written or oral notice of ineligibility to possess a firearm that was provided to the person pursuant to RCW 9.41.047 (1), must be disclosed upon request; (ii) The law enforcement and prosecuting attorneys may only release the information obtained to the person's attorney as required by court rule and to a jury or judge, if a jury is waived, that presides over any trial at which the person is charged with violating RCW 9.41.040 (2)(a)(iii); (iii) Tribal law enforcement officers and tribal prosecuting attorneys who enforce tribal laws or tribal court orders similar to RCW 9.41.040 (2)(a)(v) may also receive confidential information in accordance with this subsection; (iv) Disclosure under this subsection is mandatory for the purposes of the federal health insurance portability and accountability act; (o) When a patient would otherwise be subject to the provisions of this section and disclosure is necessary for the protection of the patient or others due to his or her unauthorized disappearance from the facility, and his or her whereabouts is unknown, notice of the disappearance, along with relevant information, may be made to relatives, the department of corrections when the person is under the supervision of the department, and governmental law enforcement agencies designated by the physician or psychiatric advanced registered nurse practitioner in charge of the patient or the professional person in charge of the facility, or his or her professional designee; (p) Pursuant to lawful order of a court, including a tribal court; (q) To qualified staff members of the department, to the authority, to behavioral health administrative services organizations, to managed care organizations, to resource management services responsible for serving a patient, or to service providers designated by resource management services as necessary to determine the progress and adequacy of treatment and to determine whether the person should be transferred to a less restrictive or more appropriate treatment modality or facility; (r) Within the mental health service agency or Indian health care provider facility where the patient is receiving treatment, confidential information may be disclosed to persons employed, serving in bona fide training programs, or participating in supervised volunteer programs, at the facility when it is necessary to perform their duties; (s) Within the department and the authority as necessary to coordinate treatment for mental illness, developmental disabilities, or substance use disorder of persons who are under the supervision of the department; (t) Between the department of social and health services, the department of children, youth, and families, and the health care authority as necessary to coordinate treatment for mental illness, developmental disabilities, or substance use disorder of persons who are under the supervision of the department of social and health services or the department of children, youth, and families; (u) To a licensed physician or psychiatric advanced registered nurse practitioner who has determined that the life or health of the person is in danger and that treatment without the information and records related to mental health services could be injurious to the patient's health. Disclosure must be limited to the portions of the records necessary to meet the medical emergency; (v)(i) Consistent with the requirements of the federal health insurance portability and accountability act, to: (A) A health care provider, including an Indian health care provider, who is providing care to a patient, or to whom a patient has been referred for evaluation or treatment; or (B) Any other person who is working in a care coordinator role for a health care facility, health care provider, or Indian health care provider, or is under an agreement pursuant to the federal health insurance portability and accountability act with a health care facility or a health care provider and requires the information and records to assure coordinated care and treatment of that patient. (ii) A person authorized to use or disclose information and records related to mental health services under this subsection (2)(v) must take appropriate steps to protect the information and records relating to mental health services. (iii) Psychotherapy notes may not be released without authorization of the patient who is the subject of the request for release of information; (w) To administrative and office support staff designated to obtain medical records for those licensed professionals listed in (v) of this subsection; (x) To a facility that is to receive a person who is involuntarily committed under chapter 71.05 RCW, or upon transfer of the person from one evaluation and treatment facility to another. The release of records under this subsection is limited to the information and records related to mental health services required by law, a record or summary of all somatic treatments, and a discharge summary. The discharge summary may include a statement of the patient's problem, the treatment goals, the type of treatment which has been provided, and recommendation for future treatment, but may not include the patient's complete treatment record; (y) To the person's counsel or guardian ad litem, without modification, at any time in order to prepare for involuntary commitment or recommitment proceedings, reexaminations, appeals, or other actions relating to detention, admission, commitment, or patient's rights under chapter 71.05 RCW; (z) To staff members of the protection and advocacy agency or to staff members of a private, nonprofit corporation for the purpose of protecting and advocating the rights of persons with mental disorders or developmental disabilities. Resource management services may limit the release of information to the name, birthdate, and county of residence of the patient, information regarding whether the patient was voluntarily admitted, or involuntarily committed, the date and place of admission, placement, or commitment, the name and address of a guardian of the patient, and the date and place of the guardian's appointment. Any staff member who wishes to obtain additional information must notify the patient's resource management services in writing of the request and of the resource management services' right to object. The staff member shall send the notice by mail to the guardian's address. If the guardian does not object in writing within fifteen days after the notice is mailed, the staff member may obtain the additional information. If the guardian objects in writing within fifteen days after the notice is mailed, the staff member may not obtain the additional information; (aa) To all current treating providers, including Indian health care providers, of the patient with prescriptive authority who have written a prescription for the patient within the last twelve months. For purposes of coordinating health care, the department or the authority may release without written authorization of the patient, information acquired for billing and collection purposes as described in RCW 70.02.050 (1)(d). The department, or the authority, if applicable, shall notify the patient that billing and collection information has been released to named providers, and provide the substance of the information released and the dates of such release. Neither the department nor the authority may release counseling, inpatient psychiatric hospitalization, or drug and alcohol treatment information without a signed written release from the client; (bb)(i) To the secretary of social and health services and the director of the health care authority for either program evaluation or research, or both so long as the secretary or director, where applicable, adopts rules for the conduct of the evaluation or research, or both. Such rules must include, but need not be limited to, the requirement that all evaluators and researchers sign an oath of confidentiality substantially as follows: "As a condition of conducting evaluation or research concerning persons who have received services from (fill in the facility, agency, or person) I, . . . . . ., agree not to divulge, publish, or otherwise make known to unauthorized persons or the public any information obtained in the course of such evaluation or research regarding persons who have received services such that the person who received such services is identifiable. I recognize that unauthorized release of confidential information may subject me to civil liability under the provisions of state law. /s/ . . . . . ." (ii) Nothing in this chapter may be construed to prohibit the compilation and publication of statistical data for use by government or researchers under standards, including standards to assure maintenance of confidentiality, set forth by the secretary, or director, where applicable; (cc) To any person if the conditions in RCW 70.02.205 are met; (dd) To the secretary of health for the purposes of the maternal mortality review panel established in RCW 70.54.450 ; or (ee) To a tribe or Indian health care provider to carry out the requirements of RCW 71.05.150 (5). (3) Whenever federal law or federal regulations restrict the release of information contained in the information and records related to mental health services of any patient who receives treatment for a substance use disorder, the department or the authority may restrict the release of the information as necessary to comply with federal law and regulations. (4) Civil liability and immunity for the release of information about a particular person who is committed to the department of social and health services or the authority under RCW ** 71.05.280 (3) and *** 71.05.320 (4)(c) after dismissal of a sex offense as defined in RCW 9.94A.030 , is governed by RCW 4.24.550 . (5) The fact of admission to a provider of mental health services, as well as all records, files, evidence, findings, or orders made, prepared, collected, or maintained pursuant to chapter 71.05 RCW are not admissible as evidence in any legal proceeding outside that chapter without the written authorization of the person who was the subject of the proceeding except as provided in RCW 70.02.260 , in a subsequent criminal prosecution of a person committed pursuant to RCW ** 71.05.280 (3) or *** 71.05.320 (4)(c) on charges that were dismissed pursuant to chapter 10.77 RCW due to incompetency to stand trial, in a civil commitment proceeding pursuant to chapter 71.09 RCW, or, in the case of a minor, a guardianship or dependency proceeding. The records and files maintained in any court proceeding pursuant to chapter 71.05 RCW must be confidential and available subsequent to such proceedings in accordance with RCW 71.05.620 . In addition, the court may order the subsequent release or use of such records or files only upon good cause shown if the court finds that appropriate safeguards for strict confidentiality are and will be maintained. (6)(a) Except as provided in RCW 4.24.550 , any person may bring an action against an individual who has willfully released confidential information or records concerning him or her in violation of the provisions of this section, for the greater of the following amounts: (i) One thousand dollars; or (ii) Three times the amount of actual damages sustained, if any. (b) It is not a prerequisite to recovery under this subsection that the plaintiff suffered or was threatened with special, as contrasted with general, damages. (c) Any person may bring an action to enjoin the release of confidential information or records concerning him or her or his or her ward, in violation of the provisions of this section, and may in the same action seek damages as provided in this subsection. (d) The court may award to the plaintiff, should he or she prevail in any action authorized by this subsection, reasonable attorney fees in addition to those otherwise provided by law. (e) If an action is brought under this subsection, no action may be brought under RCW 70.02.170 .
RCW 70.15.010 — Washington Code / Title 70 / Chapter 15 / Section 010
RCW 70.15.010: Definitions.
Status: in_force

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (1) "Department" means the department of health. (2) "Disaster relief organization" means an entity that provides emergency or disaster relief services that include health or veterinary services provided by volunteer health practitioners and that: (a) Is designated or recognized as a provider of those services pursuant to a disaster response and recovery plan adopted by an agency of the federal government or the department; or (b) Regularly plans and conducts its activities in coordination with an agency of the federal government or the department. (3) "Emergency" means an event or condition that is an emergency, disaster, or public health emergency under chapter 38.52 RCW. (4) "Emergency declaration" means a proclamation of a state of emergency issued by the governor under RCW 43.06.010 . (5) "Emergency management assistance compact" means the interstate compact approved by congress by P.L. 104-321, 110 Stat. 3877, RCW 38.10.010 . (6) "Entity" means a person other than an individual. (7) "Health facility" means an entity licensed under the laws of this or another state to provide health or veterinary services. (8) "Health practitioner" means an individual licensed under the laws of this or another state to provide health or veterinary services. (9) "Health services" means the provision of treatment, care, advice or guidance, or other services, or supplies, related to the health or death of individuals or human populations, to the extent necessary to respond to an emergency, including: (a) The following, concerning the physical or mental condition or functional status of an individual or affecting the structure or function of the body: (i) Preventive, diagnostic, therapeutic, rehabilitative, maintenance, or palliative care; and (ii) Counseling, assessment, procedures, or other services; (b) Sale or dispensing of a drug, a device, equipment, or another item to an individual in accordance with a prescription; and (c) Funeral, cremation, alkaline hydrolysis, natural organic reduction as defined in RCW 68.04.310 , cemetery, or other mortuary services. (10) "Host entity" means an entity operating in this state which uses volunteer health practitioners to respond to an emergency. (11) "License" means authorization by a state to engage in health or veterinary services that are unlawful without the authorization. The term includes authorization under the laws of this state to an individual to provide health or veterinary services based upon a national certification issued by a public or private entity. (12) "Person" means an individual, corporation, business trust, trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture, public corporation, government or governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality, or any other legal or commercial entity. (13) "Scope of practice" means the extent of the authorization to provide health or veterinary services granted to a health practitioner by a license issued to the practitioner in the state in which the principal part of the practitioner's services are rendered, including any conditions imposed by the licensing authority. (14) "State" means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. (15) "Veterinary services" means the provision of treatment, care, advice or guidance, or other services, or supplies, related to the health or death of an animal or to animal populations, to the extent necessary to respond to an emergency, including: (a) Diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of an animal disease, injury, or other physical or mental condition by the prescription, administration, or dispensing of vaccine, medicine, surgery, or therapy; (b) Use of a procedure for reproductive management; and (c) Monitoring and treatment of animal populations for diseases that have spread or demonstrate the potential to spread to humans. (16) "Volunteer health practitioner" means a health practitioner who provides health or veterinary services, whether or not the practitioner receives compensation for those services. The term does not include a practitioner who receives compensation pursuant to a preexisting employment relationship with a host entity or affiliate which requires the practitioner to provide health services in this state, unless the practitioner is not a resident of this state and is employed by a disaster relief organization providing services in this state while an emergency declaration is in effect.
RCW 70.05.030 — Washington Code / Title 70 / Chapter 05 / Section 030
RCW 70.05.030: Counties—Local board of health—Jurisdiction.
Status: in_force

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, for counties without a home rule charter, the board of county commissioners and the members selected under (a) and (e) of this subsection, shall constitute the local board of health, unless the county is part of a health district pursuant to chapter 70.46 RCW. For counties without a home rule charter where the board of county commissioners is comprised of five commissioners, the board of county commissioners may adopt an ordinance reducing the number of county commissioners that are members of the local board of health, provided that the board of health includes at least one county commissioner. The jurisdiction of the local board of health shall be coextensive with the boundaries of the county. (a) The remaining board members must be persons who are not elected officials and must be selected from the following categories consistent with the requirements of this section and the rules adopted by the state board of health under RCW 43.20.300 : (i) Public health, health care facilities, and providers. This category consists of persons practicing or employed in the county who are: (A) Medical ethicists; (B) Epidemiologists; (C) Experienced in environmental public health, such as a registered sanitarian; (D) Community health workers; (E) Holders of master's degrees or higher in public health or the equivalent; (F) Employees of a hospital located in the county; or (G) Any of the following providers holding an active or retired license in good standing under Title 18 RCW: (I) Physicians or osteopathic physicians; (II) Advanced practice registered nurses; (III) Physician assistants or osteopathic physician assistants; (IV) Registered nurses; (V) Dentists; (VI) Naturopaths; or (VII) Pharmacists; (ii) Consumers of public health. This category consists of county residents who have self-identified as having faced significant health inequities or as having lived experiences with public health-related programs such as: The special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children; the supplemental nutrition program; home visiting; or treatment services. It is strongly encouraged that individuals from historically marginalized and underrepresented communities are given preference. These individuals may not be elected officials and may not have any fiduciary obligation to a health facility or other health agency, and may not have a material financial interest in the rendering of health services; and (iii) Other community stakeholders. This category consists of persons representing the following types of organizations located in the county: (A) Community-based organizations or nonprofits that work with populations experiencing health inequities in the county; (B) Active, reserve, or retired armed services members; (C) The business community; or (D) The environmental public health regulated community. (b) The board members selected under (a) of this subsection must be approved by a majority vote of the board of county commissioners. (c) If the number of board members selected under (a) of this subsection is evenly divisible by three, there must be an equal number of members selected from each of the three categories. If there are one or two members over the nearest multiple of three, those members may be selected from any of the three categories. However, if the board of health demonstrates that it attempted to recruit members from all three categories and was unable to do so, the board may select members only from the other two categories. (d) There may be no more than one member selected under (a) of this subsection from one type of background or position. (e) If a federally recognized Indian tribe holds reservation or trust lands within the county, or if an urban Indian organization recognized by the Indian health service and registered as a 501(c)(3) organization in Washington that serves American Indian and Alaska Native people provides services within the county, the board of health must allow a tribal representative from each tribe and each organization, as selected by such tribe or organization, to serve as a member and must notify the American Indian health commission. (f) The board of county commissioners may, at its discretion, adopt an ordinance expanding the size and composition of the board of health to include elected officials from cities and towns and persons other than elected officials as members so long as the city and county elected officials do not constitute a majority of the total membership of the board. (g) Except as provided in (a) and (e) of this subsection, an ordinance adopted under this section shall include provisions for the appointment, term, and compensation, or reimbursement of expenses. (h) The jurisdiction of the local board of health shall be coextensive with the boundaries of the county. (i) The local health officer, as described in RCW 70.05.050 , shall be appointed by the official designated under the provisions of the county charter. The same official designated under the provisions of the county charter may appoint an administrative officer, as described in RCW 70.05.045 . (j) The number of members selected or included under (a) and (e) of this subsection must equal the number of city and county elected officials on the board of health. If a member is added under (e) of this subsection, the board of county commissioners shall modify the membership of the board: (i) In compliance with timelines established by the state board of health in rule once such rules are in effect; and (ii) Until the rules in (j)(i) of this subsection are in effect, within 60 days of receipt of notice of the selection of a tribal representative. (k) At the first meeting of a district board of health the members shall elect a chair to serve for a period of one year. (l) Any decision by the board of health related to the setting or modification of permit, licensing, and application fees may only be determined by the city and county elected officials on the board. (2) A local board of health comprised solely of elected officials may retain this composition if the local health jurisdiction had a public health advisory committee or board with its own bylaws established on January 1, 2021. By January 1, 2022, the public health advisory committee or board must meet the requirements established in RCW 70.46.140 for community health advisory boards. Any future changes to local board of health composition must meet the requirements of subsection (1) of this section.
RCW 70.129.090 — Washington Code / Title 70 / Chapter 129 / Section 090
RCW 70.129.090: Advocacy, access, and visitation rights.
Status: in_force

(1) The resident has the right and the facility must not interfere with access to any resident by the following: (a) Any representative of the state; (b) The resident's individual physician; (c) The state long-term care ombuds as established under chapter 43.190 RCW; (d) The agency responsible for the protection and advocacy system for individuals with developmental disabilities as established under part C of the developmental disabilities assistance and bill of rights act; (e) The agency responsible for the protection and advocacy system for individuals with mental illness as established under the protection and advocacy for mentally ill individuals act; (f) Subject to reasonable restrictions to protect the rights of others and to the resident's right to deny or withdraw consent at any time, resident representative, immediate family or other relatives of the resident, and others who are visiting with the consent of the resident; (g) The agency responsible for the protection and advocacy system for individuals with disabilities as established under section 509 of the rehabilitation act of 1973, as amended, who are not served under the mandates of existing protection and advocacy systems created under federal law. (2) The facility must provide reasonable access to a resident by the resident representative or an entity or individual that provides health, social, legal, or other services to the resident, subject to the resident's right to deny or withdraw consent at any time. (3) The facility must allow representatives of the state ombuds to examine a resident's clinical records with the permission of the resident or resident representative to the extent provided by law, and consistent with state and federal law.
RCW 70.77.410 — Washington Code / Title 70 / Chapter 77 / Section 410
RCW 70.77.410: Public displays not to be hazardous.
Status: in_force

All public displays of fireworks shall be of such a character and so located, discharged, or fired as not to be hazardous or dangerous to persons or property.
RCW 70A.208.040 — Washington Code / Title 70A / Chapter 208 / Section 040
RCW 70A.208.040: Producer and producer responsibility organization responsibilities.
Status: in_force

(1) A producer must: (a) After July 1, 2026, be a member of a producer responsibility organization registered in this state or register as a producer responsibility organization that will implement an individual plan; (b) Through a producer responsibility organization, implement and finance a statewide program for packaging and paper products in accordance with this chapter that encourages redesign to reduce environmental impacts and human health impacts and that reduces generation of covered material waste through waste reduction, refill, reuse, recycling, and composting and by providing for the collection, transportation, and processing of used covered materials for reuse, recycling, and composting; (c) Maintain membership with and pay fees to the producer responsibility organization under which they are registered; and (d) Comply with all other applicable requirements under this chapter. (2) Beginning March 1, 2029, a producer that is not a member in good standing with a registered producer responsibility organization or has not submitted an individual plan may not introduce covered materials into the state. (3) A producer responsibility organization must: (a)(i) Beginning March 1, 2026, register with the department; (ii)(A) Except as provided in (a)(ii)(B) of this subsection, by September 1, 2026, submit a one-time payment to the department, to cover the costs of the department under this chapter from July 27, 2025, through June 30, 2027, including the costs determined by the department of labor and industries to implement and enforce RCW 49.46.380 ; (B) By September 1, 2026, an individual producer registered as a producer responsibility organization must make a one-time payment in an amount determined by the department to cover any incremental costs to the department under this chapter from July 27, 2025, through June 30, 2027, associated with the registration of the individual producer as a producer responsibility organization; (iii) Beginning May 1, 2027, pay an annual registration fee to the department as required under RCW 70A.208.030 ; (b) Establish an initial producer fee structure to fund the initial implementation of the program, to be used until the producer responsibility program has an approved plan, and collect fees annually from registered producers; (c) By October 1, 2028, and every five years thereafter, submit a plan that meets the requirements of this chapter to the department for approval; (d) By January 1, 2030, or within six months of plan approval, whichever is later, implement the plan approved by the department; (e) By July 1, 2031, and each July 1st thereafter, submit an annual report to the department for the prior calendar year; (f) Ensure that each producer operating under a plan administered by the producer responsibility organization complies with the requirements of the plan and this chapter; (g) Expel a producer from the producer responsibility organization if efforts to return the producer to compliance with the plan or the requirements of this chapter are unsuccessful and notify the department of the producer's expulsion; (h) Consider and respond in writing to comments received from the advisory council, including justifications for not incorporating advisory council recommendations; (i) Provide producers with information regarding state and federal laws that restrict toxic substances in covered materials or require postconsumer recycled content in covered materials; (j) Notify the department within 30 days of a change made to board membership, to the executive director, or to the contact information for a person responsible for implementing the plan; (k) Assist service providers to identify and use responsible markets; (l) Reimburse service providers in a timely manner, at intervals no longer than monthly unless agreed to by a service provider and a producer responsibility organization; (m) Maintain a website and implement education and outreach activities as required under RCW 70A.208.190 ; and (n) Comply with all other applicable requirements of this chapter. (4) If more than one producer responsibility organization is established under this chapter, the producers and producer responsibility organizations must establish a coordinating body and process to prevent redundancy. The coordinating body must integrate: (a) Plans of all producer responsibility organizations into a single plan that implements all requirements of this chapter and encompasses all producers when submitted to the department for approval; (b) Annual reports of all producer responsibility organizations into a single annual report that covers all requirements of this chapter and encompasses all producers when submitted to the department; and (c) Payments between all registered producer responsibility organizations to achieve equitable apportionment of funding for the reuse financial assistance program and coordination of that program's administration. (5)(a) Each producer responsibility organization must annually fund and implement a reuse financial assistance program to reduce the negative environmental impacts of covered materials through reuse. The reuse financial assistance program must collectively be funded by registered producer responsibility organizations. The funded amount must be: (i) At least $5,000,000 beginning in 2029 and adjusted annually thereafter for inflation. The producer responsibility organization must use the consumer price index for urban wage earners to calculate the annual rate of inflation adjustment effective January 1st of each year; and (ii) Sufficient to achieve the reuse and return rate targets and requirements established in RCW 70A.208.150 . If at any point the department determines that reuse and return rate targets or statewide requirements are not met, each producer responsibility organization must increase annual contributions to and expenditures from the reuse financial assistance program. (b) Entities eligible for reuse financial assistance include, but are not limited to: (i) Government entities; (ii) Tribal governments; (iii) Nonprofit organizations; and (iv) Private organizations. (c) In administering the reuse financial assistance program, the producer responsibility organization must solicit applications using an open and competitive process and must select applications through an evaluation that considers criteria including, but not limited to: (i) The environmental benefits of the activity; (ii) The human health benefits of the activity; (iii) The social and economic benefits of the activity; (iv) The cost-effectiveness of the activity; and (v) The needs of economically distressed or overburdened communities. (d) The producer responsibility organization must consult with the advisory council in determining the criteria in (c) of this subsection, evaluating and selecting applications, and in administering the reuse financial assistance program under this subsection. (6) A producer responsibility organization may not include on its board of directors, or otherwise be governed by, representatives or affiliates of any public or private entities that submit bids to perform work for the producer responsibility organization or that contract with the producer responsibility organization. (7) The activities authorized by this chapter require collaboration among producers. These activities will enable the waste reduction, collection, recycling, composting, and disposal of covered materials in Washington and are therefore in the best interest of the public. The benefits of collaboration, together with active state supervision, outweigh potential adverse impacts. Therefore, the legislature exempts from state antitrust laws, and provides immunity through the state action doctrine from federal antitrust laws, activities that are undertaken in compliance with and pursuant to this chapter, including activities that are reviewed or approved by the department, that might otherwise be constrained by such laws. The legislature does not intend and does not authorize any person or entity to engage in activities not provided for by this chapter, and the legislature neither exempts nor provides immunity for such activities.
RCW 70A.35.040 — Washington Code / Title 70A / Chapter 35 / Section 040
RCW 70A.35.040: Proposals for low-income weatherization programs—Matching funds.
Status: in_force

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 2338.SL ) ***

(1) The department shall solicit proposals for low-income weatherization programs from potential sponsors. A proposal shall state the amount of the sponsor match, the amount requested, the name of the weatherizing agency, and any other information required by the department. (2)(a) A sponsor may use its own moneys, including corporate or ratepayer moneys, or moneys provided by landlords, charitable groups, government programs, the Bonneville power administration, or other sources to pay the sponsor match. (b) Moneys provided by a sponsor pursuant to requirements in this section shall be in addition to and shall not supplant any funding for low-income weatherization that would otherwise have been provided by the sponsor or any other entity enumerated in (a) of this subsection. (c) No proposal may require any contribution as a condition of weatherization from any household whose residence is weatherized under the proposal. (d) Proposals shall provide that full levels of all cost-effective, structurally feasible, sustainable residential weatherization materials, measures, and practices, as determined by the department, shall be installed when a low-income residence is weatherized. (3) Sponsors may propose to utilize grant awards and matching funds to make healthy housing improvements to homes undergoing weatherization. (4)(a) The department may in its discretion accept, accept in part, or reject proposals submitted. (b) The department shall prioritize allocating funds from the low-income weatherization and structural rehabilitation assistance account to projects that maximize energy efficiency, extend the usable life of an affordable home, and improve the health and safety of its residents by: (i) Installing energy efficiency measures; and (ii) providing structural rehabilitation and repairs, so that funding from federal energy efficiency programs such as the weatherization assistance program, the weatherization plus health initiative, the energy efficiency and conservation block grant program, residential energy efficiency components of the state energy program, and the retrofit ramp-up program is distributed expeditiously. (c) When allocating funds from the low-income weatherization and structural rehabilitation assistance account, the department shall, to the extent feasible, consider local and state benefits including pledged sponsor match, available energy efficiency, repair, and rehabilitation funds from other sources, the preservation of affordable housing, and balance of participation in proportion to population among low-income households for: (i) Geographic regions in the state; (ii) types of fuel used for heating, except that the department shall encourage the use of energy efficient sustainable technologies; (iii) owner-occupied and rental residences; and (iv) single-family and multifamily dwellings. (d) The department shall then allocate funds appropriated from the low-income weatherization and structural rehabilitation assistance account for energy efficiency and repair activities among proposals accepted or accepted in part. (e) The department shall develop policies to ensure prudent, cost-effective investments are made in homes and buildings requiring energy efficiency, repair, and rehabilitation improvements that will maximize energy savings, extend the life of a home, and improve the health and safety of its residents. (f) The department shall give priority to the structural rehabilitation and weatherization of dwelling units occupied by low-income households with incomes at or below one hundred twenty-five percent of the federally established poverty level. (g) The department may allocate funds to a nonutility sponsor without requiring a sponsor match if the department determines that such an allocation is necessary to provide the greatest benefits to low-income residents of the state. (h) The department shall require weatherizing agencies to employ individuals trained from workforce training and apprentice programs established under chapter 536, Laws of 2009 if these workers are available, pay prevailing wages under chapter 39.12 RCW, hire from the community in which the program is located, and create employment opportunities for veterans, members of the national guard, and low-income and disadvantaged populations. (5)(a) A sponsor may elect to: (i) Pay a sponsor match as a lump sum at the time of structural rehabilitation or weatherization; or (ii) make yearly payments to the low-income weatherization and structural rehabilitation assistance account over a period not to exceed ten years. If a sponsor elects to make yearly payments, the value of the payments shall not be less than the value of the lump sum payment that would have been made under (a)(i) of this subsection. (b) The department may permit a sponsor to meet its match requirement in whole or in part through providing labor, materials, or other in-kind expenditures. (6) Service providers receiving funding under this section must report to the department at least quarterly, or in alignment with federal reporting, whichever is the greater frequency, the project costs, and the number of dwelling units repaired, rehabilitated, and weatherized, the number of jobs created or maintained, and the number of individuals trained through workforce training and apprentice programs. The director of the department shall review the accuracy of these reports. (7) The department shall adopt rules to carry out this section.
RCW 70.54.260 — Washington Code / Title 70 / Chapter 54 / Section 260
RCW 70.54.260: Liability.
Status: in_force

Providing information required under RCW 70.54.240 or 70.54.250 shall not create any liability on the part of the provider nor shall it constitute a breach of confidentiality. The contractor shall, at the request of the provider, but not more frequently than once a year, sign an oath of confidentiality, which reads substantially as follows: "As a condition of conducting research concerning persons who have received services from (name of the health care provider or facility), I . . . . . . . . ., agree not to divulge, publish, or otherwise make known to unauthorized persons or the public any information obtained in the course of such research that could lead to identification of such persons receiving services, or to the identification of their health care providers. I recognize that unauthorized release of confidential information may subject me to civil liability under the provisions of state law."
RCW 70.47.020 — Washington Code / Title 70 / Chapter 47 / Section 020
RCW 70.47.020: Definitions.
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter: (1) "Director" means the director of the Washington state health care authority. (2) "Health coverage tax credit eligible enrollee" means individual workers and their qualified family members who lose their jobs due to the effects of international trade and are eligible for certain trade adjustment assistance benefits; or are eligible for benefits under the alternative trade adjustment assistance program; or are people who receive benefits from the pension benefit guaranty corporation and are at least fifty-five years old. (3) "Health coverage tax credit program" means the program created by the Trade Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-210) that provides a federal tax credit that subsidizes private health insurance coverage for displaced workers certified to receive certain trade adjustment assistance benefits and for individuals receiving benefits from the pension benefit guaranty corporation. (4) "Managed health care system" means: (a) Any health care organization, including health care providers, insurers, health care service contractors, health maintenance organizations, or any combination thereof, that provides directly or by contract basic health care services, as defined by the director and rendered by duly licensed providers, to a defined patient population enrolled in the plan and in the managed health care system; or (b) a self-funded or self-insured method of providing insurance coverage to subsidized enrollees provided under RCW 41.05.140 and subject to the limitations under RCW 70.47.100 (9). (5) "Nonparticipating provider" means a person, health care provider, practitioner, facility, or entity, acting within their authorized scope of practice or licensure, that does not have a written contract to participate in a managed health care system's provider network, but provides services to plan enrollees who receive coverage through the managed health care system. (6) "Nonsubsidized enrollee" means an individual, or an individual plus the individual's spouse or dependent children: (a) Who is not eligible for medicare; (b) who is not confined or residing in a government-operated institution, unless he or she meets eligibility criteria adopted by the director; (c) who is accepted for enrollment by the director as provided in *RCW 48.43.018 , either because the potential enrollee cannot be required to complete the standard health questionnaire under *RCW 48.43.018 , or, based upon the results of the standard health questionnaire, the potential enrollee would not qualify for coverage under the Washington state health insurance pool; (d) who resides in an area of the state served by a managed health care system participating in the plan; (e) who chooses to obtain basic health care coverage from a particular managed health care system; and (f) who pays or on whose behalf is paid the full costs for participation in the plan, without any subsidy from the plan. (7) "Premium" means a periodic payment, which an individual, their employer or another financial sponsor makes to the plan as consideration for enrollment in the plan as a subsidized enrollee, a nonsubsidized enrollee, or a health coverage tax credit eligible enrollee. (8) "Rate" means the amount, negotiated by the director with and paid to a participating managed health care system, that is based upon the enrollment of subsidized, nonsubsidized, and health coverage tax credit eligible enrollees in the plan and in that system. (9) "Subsidy" means the difference between the amount of periodic payment the director makes to a managed health care system on behalf of a subsidized enrollee plus the administrative cost to the plan of providing the plan to that subsidized enrollee, and the amount determined to be the subsidized enrollee's responsibility under RCW 70.47.060 (2). (10) "Subsidized enrollee" means: (a) An individual, or an individual plus the individual's spouse or dependent children: (i) Who is not eligible for medicare; (ii) Who is not confined or residing in a government-operated institution, unless he or she meets eligibility criteria adopted by the director; (iii) Who is not a full-time student who has received a temporary visa to study in the United States; (iv) Who resides in an area of the state served by a managed health care system participating in the plan; (v) Until March 1, 2011, whose gross family income at the time of enrollment does not exceed two hundred percent of the federal poverty level as adjusted for family size and determined annually by the federal department of health and human services; (vi) Who chooses to obtain basic health care coverage from a particular managed health care system in return for periodic payments to the plan; (vii) Who is not receiving or has not been determined to be currently eligible for federally financed categorically needy or medically needy programs under chapter 74.09 RCW, except as provided under RCW 70.47.110 ; and (viii) After February 28, 2011, who is in the basic health transition eligibles population under 1115 medicaid demonstration project number 11-W-00254/10; (b) An individual who meets the requirements in (a)(i) through (iv), (vi), and (vii) of this subsection and who is a foster parent licensed under chapter 74.15 RCW and whose gross family income at the time of enrollment does not exceed three hundred percent of the federal poverty level as adjusted for family size and determined annually by the federal department of health and human services; and (c) To the extent that state funds are specifically appropriated for this purpose, with a corresponding federal match, an individual, or an individual's spouse or dependent children, who meets the requirements in (a)(i) through (iv), (vi), and (vii) of this subsection and whose gross family income at the time of enrollment is more than two hundred percent, but less than two hundred fifty-one percent, of the federal poverty level as adjusted for family size and determined annually by the federal department of health and human services. (11) "Washington basic health plan" or "plan" means the system of enrollment and payment for basic health care services, administered by the plan director through participating managed health care systems, created by this chapter.
RCW 70.75.030 — Washington Code / Title 70 / Chapter 75 / Section 030
RCW 70.75.030: Duties of chief of the Washington state patrol—Notification of industrial establishments and property owners having equipment.
Status: in_force

The chief of the Washington state patrol, through the director of fire protection, shall notify industrial establishments and property owners having equipment, which may be necessary for fire department use in protecting the property or putting out fire, of any changes necessary to bring their equipment up to the requirements of the standard established by RCW 70.75.020 , and shall render such assistance as may be available for converting substandard equipment to meet standard specifications and requirements.
RCW 70.41.420 — Washington Code / Title 70 / Chapter 41 / Section 420
RCW 70.41.420: Hospital staffing committee.
Status: in_force

(1) By January 1, 2024, each hospital shall establish a hospital staffing committee, either by creating a new committee or assigning the functions of the hospital staffing committee to an existing nurse staffing committee. (2) Hospital staffing committees must be comprised of: (a) At least 50 percent of the voting members of the hospital staffing committee shall be nursing staff, who are nonsupervisory and nonmanagerial, currently providing direct patient care. The selection of the nursing staff shall be according to the collective bargaining representative or representatives if there is one or more at the hospital. If there is no collective bargaining representative, the members of the hospital staffing committee who are nursing staff providing direct patient care shall be selected by their peers. (b) 50 percent of the members of the hospital staffing committee shall be determined by the hospital administration and shall include but not be limited to the chief financial officer, the chief nursing officers, and patient care unit directors or managers or their designees. (3) Participation in the hospital staffing committee by a hospital employee shall be on scheduled work time and compensated at the appropriate rate of pay. Hospital staffing committee members shall be relieved of all other work duties during meetings of the committee. Additional staffing relief must be provided if necessary to ensure committee members are able to attend hospital staffing committee meetings. (4) Primary responsibilities of the hospital staffing committee shall include: (a) Development and oversight of an annual patient care unit and shift-based hospital staffing plan, based on the needs of patients, to be used as the primary component of the staffing budget. The hospital staffing committee shall use a uniform format or form, created by the department in consultation with the advisory committee established in RCW 43.70.855 and the department of labor and industries, for complying with the requirement to submit the annual staffing plan. The uniform format or form must allow for variations in service offerings, facility design, and other differences between hospitals, but must allow patients and the public to clearly understand and compare staffing plans. Hospitals may include a description of additional resources available to support unit-level patient care and a description of the hospital, including the size and type of facility. Factors to be considered in the development of the plan should include, but are not limited to: (i) Census, including total numbers of patients on the unit on each shift and activity such as patient discharges, admissions, and transfers; (ii) Patient acuity level, intensity of care needs, and the type of care to be delivered on each shift; (iii) Skill mix; (iv) Level of experience and specialty certification or training of nursing and patient care staff providing care; (v) The need for specialized or intensive equipment; (vi) The architecture and geography of the patient care unit, including but not limited to placement of patient rooms, treatment areas, nursing stations, medication preparation areas, and equipment; (vii) Staffing guidelines adopted or published by national nursing professional associations, specialty nursing organizations, and other health professional organizations; (viii) Availability of other personnel and patient care staff supporting nursing services on the unit; and (ix) Compliance with the terms of an applicable collective bargaining agreement, if any, and relevant state and federal laws and rules, including those regarding meal and rest breaks and use of overtime and on-call shifts; (b) Semiannual review of the staffing plan against patient need and known evidence-based staffing information, including the nursing sensitive quality indicators collected by the hospital; and (c) Review, assessment, and response to staffing variations or complaints presented to the committee. (5) In addition to the factors listed in subsection (4)(a) of this section, hospital finances and resources must be taken into account in the development of the hospital staffing plan. (6)(a) The committee shall produce the hospital's annual hospital staffing plan. (b) The committee shall propose by a 50 percent plus one vote a draft of the hospital's annual staffing plan which must be delivered to the hospital's chief executive officer or their designee by July 1, 2024, and annually thereafter. (c) The chief executive officer or their designee must provide written feedback to the hospital staffing committee on the proposed annual staffing plan. The feedback must: (i) Identify those elements of the proposed staffing plan the chief executive officer requests to be changed to address elements identified by the chief executive officer, including subsection (4)(a) of this section, that could cause the chief executive officer concern regarding financial feasibility, concern regarding temporary or permanent closure of units, or patient care risk; and (ii) Provide a status report on implementation of the staffing plan including nursing sensitive quality indicators collected by the hospital, patient surveys, and recruitment and retention efforts, including the hospital's success over the previous six months in filling approved open positions for employees covered by the staffing plan. (d) The committee must review and consider any feedback required under (c)(i) of this subsection prior to approving by a 50 percent plus one vote a revised hospital staffing plan to provide to the chief executive officer. (e) If this revised proposed staffing plan is not adopted by the hospital, the most recent of the following remains in effect: (i) The staffing plan that was in effect January 1, 2023; or (ii) The staffing plan last approved by a 50 percent plus one vote of a duly constituted hospital staffing committee and adopted by the hospital, in accordance with all standards under this section. (f) Beginning January 1, 2025, each hospital shall submit its final staffing plan to the department and thereafter on an annual basis and at any time in between that the plan is updated. (7)(a) Beginning July 1, 2025, each hospital shall implement the staffing plan and assign nursing staff to each patient care unit in accordance with the plan except in instances of unforeseeable emergent circumstances. (b) Each hospital shall document when a patient care unit nursing staff assignment is out of compliance with the adopted hospital staffing plan. For purposes of this subsection, out of compliance means the number of patients assigned to the nursing staff exceeds the patient care unit assignment as directed by the nurse staffing plan. The hospital must adopt written policies and procedures under this subsection no later than October 1, 2024. (i) Each hospital must report to the department on a semiannual basis the accurate percentage of nurse staffing assignments where the assignment in a patient care unit is out of compliance with the adopted nurse staffing plan. Beginning in 2026, semiannual reports are due on July 31st and January 31st each year. The first report is due January 31, 2026, and must cover the last six months of 2025. (ii) Beginning July 1, 2025, if a hospital is in compliance for less than 80 percent of the nurse staffing assignment in a month, the hospital must, within seven calendar days following the end of the month in which the hospital was out of compliance, report to the department regarding lack of compliance with the nurse staffing patient care unit assignments in the hospital staffing plan. (iii) The department must develop a form or forms for the report to be made under this subsection by October 1, 2024. The form must include a checkbox for either cochair of the hospital staffing committee to indicate their belief that the validity of the report should be investigated by the department. If the checkbox on the form has been checked, the department may initiate an investigation as to the validity of the semiannual report under (b)(i) of this subsection. (iv) This subsection (7)(b) does not apply to: (A) Hospitals certified as critical access hospitals; (B) Hospitals with fewer than 25 acute care licensed beds; (C) Hospitals certified by the centers for medicare and medicaid services as sole community hospitals that are not owned or operated by a health system that owns or operates more than one acute hospital licensed under chapter 70.41 RCW; and (D) Hospitals located on an island operating within a public hospital district in Skagit county. (c) A nursing staff may report to the hospital staffing committee any variations where the nursing staff assignment in a patient care unit is not in accordance with the adopted staffing plan and may make a complaint to the committee based on the variations. (d) Shift-to-shift adjustments in staffing levels required by the plan may be made by the appropriate hospital personnel overseeing patient care operations. If nursing staff on a patient care unit objects to a shift-to-shift adjustment, the nursing staff may submit the complaint to the hospital staffing committee. (e) Hospital staffing committees shall develop a process to examine and respond to data submitted under (c) and (d) of this subsection, including the ability to determine if a specific complaint is resolved or dismissing a complaint based on unsubstantiated data. All written complaints submitted to the hospital staffing committee must be reviewed by the staffing committee, regardless of what format the complainant uses to submit the complaint. (f) In the event of an unforeseeable emergent circumstance lasting for 15 days or more, the hospital incident command shall report within 30 days to the cochairs of the hospital staffing committee an assessment of the staffing needs arising from the unforeseeable emergent circumstance and the hospital's plan to address those identified staffing needs. Upon receipt of the report, the hospital staffing committee shall convene to develop a contingency staffing plan to address the needs arising from the unforeseeable emergent circumstance. The hospital's deviation from its staffing plan may not be in effect for more than 90 days without the review of the hospital staffing committee. Within 90 days of an initial deviation under this section the hospital must report to the department the basis for the deviation and must report to the department again once the deviation under this section is no longer in effect. (g) A direct care registered nurse or direct care nursing assistant-certified may not be assigned by hospitals to a nursing unit or clinical area unless that nurse has first received orientation in that clinical area sufficient to provide competent care to patients in that area and has demonstrated current competence in providing care in that area. The hospital must adopt written policies and procedures under this subsection no later than July 1, 2025. (8) Each hospital shall post, in a public area on each patient care unit, the staffing plan and the staffing schedule for that shift on that unit, as well as the relevant clinical staffing for that shift. The staffing plan and current staffing levels must also be made available to patients and visitors upon request. The hospital must also post in a public area on each patient care unit any corrective action plan relevant to that patient care unit as required under RCW 70.41.425 (4). (9) A hospital may not retaliate against or engage in any form of intimidation or otherwise take any adverse action against: (a) An employee for performing any duties or responsibilities in connection with the hospital staffing committee; or (b) An employee, patient, or other individual who notifies the hospital staffing committee or the hospital administration of his or her concerns on nurse staffing. (10) This section is not intended to create unreasonable burdens on critical access hospitals under 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1395i-4. Critical access hospitals may develop flexible approaches to accomplish the requirements of this section that may include but are not limited to having hospital staffing committees work by videoconference, telephone, or email. (11) By July 1, 2024, the hospital staffing committee shall file with the department a charter that must include, but is not limited to: (a) A process for electing cochairs and their terms; (b) Roles, responsibilities, and processes by which the hospital staffing committee functions, including which patient care staff job classes will be represented on the committee as nonvoting members, how many members will serve on the committee, processes to ensure adequate quorum and ability of committee members to attend, and processes for replacing members who do not regularly attend; (c) Schedule for monthly meetings with more frequent meetings as needed that ensures committee members have 30 days' notice of meetings; (d) Processes by which all staffing complaints will be reviewed, investigated, and resolved, noting the date received as well as initial, contingent, and final disposition of complaints and corrective action plan where applicable; (e) Processes by which complaints will be resolved within 90 days of receipt, or longer with majority approval of the committee, and processes to ensure the complainant receives a letter stating the outcome of the complaint; (f) Processes for attendance by any employee, and a labor representative if requested by the employee, who is involved in a complaint; (g) Processes for the hospital staffing committee to conduct quarterly reviews of: Staff turnover rates including new hire turnover rates during first year of employment; anonymized aggregate exit interview data on an annual basis; and hospital plans regarding workforce development; (h) Standards for hospital staffing committee approval of meeting documentation including meeting minutes, attendance, and actions taken; (i) Policies for retention of meeting documentation for a minimum of three years and consistent with each hospital's document retention policies; (j) Processes for the hospital to provide the hospital staffing committee with information regarding patient complaints involving staffing made to the hospital through the patient grievance process required under 42 C.F.R. 482.13(a)(2); and (k) Processes for how the information from the reports required under subsection (7) of this section will be used to inform the development and semiannual review of the staffing plan. (12) The department and the department of labor and industries must provide technical assistance to hospital staffing committees to assist with compliance with this section. Technical assistance may not be provided during an inspection, or during the time between when an investigation of a hospital has been initiated and when such investigation is resolved.
RCW 70.230.030 — Washington Code / Title 70 / Chapter 230 / Section 030
RCW 70.230.030: Operating without a license.
Status: in_force

Except as provided in RCW 70.230.040 , after June 30, 2009, no person or governmental unit of the state of Washington, acting separately or jointly with any other person or governmental unit, shall establish, maintain, or conduct an ambulatory surgical facility in this state or advertise by using the term "ambulatory surgical facility," "day surgery center," "licensed surgical center," or other words conveying similar meaning without a license issued by the department under this chapter.
RCW 43.44.130 — Washington Code / Title 70 / Chapter 44 / Section 130
RCW 43.44.130: Hazardous liquid and gas pipeline accidents—Preparedness of local first responders.
Status: in_force

(1) The chief of the Washington state patrol, through the director of fire protection or his or her authorized deputy, shall, in consultation with the emergency management program within the state military department, the department of ecology, the utilities and transportation commission, and local emergency services organizations: (a) Evaluate the preparedness of local first responders in meeting emergency management demands under subsection (2) of this section; and (b) Conduct an assessment of the equipment and personnel needed by local first responders to meet emergency management demands related to pipelines. (2) The chief of the Washington state patrol, through the director of fire protection or his or her deputy, shall develop curricula for training local first responders to deal with hazardous liquid and gas pipeline accidents. The curricula shall be developed in conjunction with pipeline companies and local first responders, and shall include a timetable and costs for providing training as defined in the curricula to all communities housing pipelines. Separate curricula shall be developed for hazardous liquid and gas pipelines so that the differences between pipelines may be recognized and appropriate accident responses provided. The need for a training program for regional incident management teams shall also be evaluated. (3) In consultation with other relevant agencies, the chief of the Washington state patrol, through the director of fire protection or his or her deputy, shall identify the need and means for achieving consistent application of the national interagency incident management system. (4) For the purposes of this section, "local first responders" means police, fire, emergency medical staff, and volunteers.No health care service contractor nor any individual acting on behalf thereof shall guarantee or agree to the payment of future dividends or future refunds of unused charges or savings in any specific or approximate amounts or percentages in respect to any contract being offered to the public, except in a group contract containing an experience refund provision.The principal and interest of such general bonds shall be paid by levying each year a tax upon the taxable property within the district sufficient, together with other revenues of the district available for such purpose, to pay said interest and principal of said bonds, which tax shall be due and collectible as any other tax. All bonds and warrants issued under the authority of this chapter shall be legal securities, which may be used by any bank or trust company for deposit with the state treasurer, or any county or city treasurer, as security for deposits, in lieu of a surety bond, under any law relating to deposits of public moneys.
RCW 70.305.020 — Washington Code / Title 70 / Chapter 305 / Section 020
RCW 70.305.020: Preventing and mitigating the effects of adverse childhood experiences—Planning group—Report to the legislature—Secretary's authority.
Status: in_force

(1)(a) The secretary of the department of social and health services and the secretary of the department of children, youth, and families shall actively participate in the development of a nongovernmental private-public initiative focused on coordinating government and philanthropic organizations' investments in the positive development of children and preventing and mitigating the effects of adverse childhood experiences. The secretaries shall convene a planning group to work with interested private partners to: (i) Develop a process by which the goals identified in RCW 70.305.005 shall be met; and (ii) develop recommendations for inclusive and diverse governance to advance the adverse childhood experiences initiative. (b) The secretaries shall select no more than twelve to fifteen persons as members of the planning group. The members selected must represent a diversity of interests including: Early learning coalitions, community public health and safety networks, organizations that work to prevent and address child abuse and neglect, tribes, representatives of public agency agencies involved with interventions in or prevention of adverse childhood experiences, philanthropic organizations, and organizations focused on community mobilization. (c) The secretaries shall cochair the planning group meetings and shall convene the first meeting. (2) In addition to other powers granted to the secretary of the department of social and health services, the secretary of the department of social and health services may: (a) Enter into contracts on behalf of the department of social and health services to carry out the purposes of this chapter; (b) Provide funding to communities or any governance entity that is created as a result of the partnership; and (c) Accept gifts, grants, or other funds for the purposes of this chapter.
RCW 70.185.040 — Washington Code / Title 70 / Chapter 185 / Section 040
RCW 70.185.040: Rules.
Status: in_force

The department shall adopt rules consistent with this chapter to carry out the purpose of this chapter. All rules shall be adopted in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW. All rules and procedures adopted by the department shall minimize paperwork and compliance requirements for participants and should not be complex in nature so as to serve as a barrier or disincentive for prospective participants applying for the project.
RCW 70A.405.005 — Washington Code / Title 70A / Chapter 405 / Section 005
RCW 70A.405.005: Findings.
Status: in_force

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have been used extensively as flame retardants in a large number of common household products for the past thirty years. Studies on animals show that PBDEs can impact the developing brain, affecting behavior and learning after birth and into adulthood, making exposure to fetuses and children a particular concern. Levels of PBDEs are increasing in people, and in the environment, particularly in North America. Because people can be exposed to these chemicals through house dust and indoor air as well as through food, it is important to phase out their use in common household products, provided that effective flame retardants that are safer and technically feasible are available at a reasonable cost.
RCW 70A.115.030 — Washington Code / Title 70A / Chapter 115 / Section 030
RCW 70A.115.030: Operating permits required—Application.
Status: in_force

(1) A person may not install or operate a large on-site sewage system without an operating permit as provided in this chapter after July 1, 2009. The owner of the system is responsible for obtaining a permit. (2) The department shall issue operating permits in accordance with the rules adopted under RCW 70A.115.040 . (3) The department shall ensure the system meets all applicable siting, design, construction, and installation requirements prior to issuing an initial operating permit. Prior to renewing an operating permit, the department may review the performance of the system to determine compliance with rules and any permit conditions. (4) At the time of initial permit application or at the time of permit renewal the department shall impose those permit conditions, requirements for system improvements, and compliance schedules as it determines are reasonable and necessary to ensure that the system will be operated and maintained properly. Each application must be accompanied by a fee as established in rules adopted by the department. (5) Operating permits shall be issued for a term of one year, and shall be renewed annually, unless the operator fails to apply for a new permit or the department finds good cause to deny the application for renewal. (6) Each permit may be issued only for the site and owner named in the application. Permits are not transferable or assignable except with the written approval of the department. (7) The department may deny an application for a permit or modify, suspend, or revoke a permit in any case in which it finds that the permit was obtained by fraud or there is or has been a failure, refusal, or inability to comply with the requirements of this chapter or the standards or rules adopted under this chapter. RCW 43.70.115 governs notice of denial, revocation, suspension, or modification and provides the right to an adjudicative proceeding to the permit applicant or permittee. (8) For systems with design flows of more than fourteen thousand five hundred gallons per day, the department shall adopt rules to ensure adequate public notice and opportunity for review and comment on initial large on-site sewage system permit applications and subsequent permit applications to increase the volume of waste disposal or change effluent characteristics. The rules must include provisions for notice of final decisions. Methods for providing notice may include email, posting on the department's internet site, publication in a local newspaper, press releases, mailings, or other means of notification the department determines appropriate. (9) A person aggrieved by the issuance of an initial permit, or by the issuance of a subsequent permit to increase the volume of waste disposal or to change effluent characteristics, for systems with design flows of more than fourteen thousand five hundred gallons per day, has the right to an adjudicative proceeding. The application for an adjudicative proceeding must be in writing, state the basis for contesting the action, include a copy of the decision, be served on and received by the department within twenty-eight days of receipt of notice of the final decision, and be served in a manner that shows proof of receipt. An adjudicative proceeding conducted under this subsection is governed by chapter 34.05 RCW. (10) Any permit issued by the department of ecology for a large on-site sewage system under chapter 90.48 RCW is valid until it first expires after July 22, 2007. The system owner shall apply for an operating permit at least one hundred twenty days prior to expiration of the department of ecology permit. (11) Systems required to meet operator certification requirements under chapter 70A.212 RCW must continue to meet those requirements as a condition of the department operating permit.
RCW 70A.388.070 — Washington Code / Title 70A / Chapter 388 / Section 070
RCW 70A.388.070: Inspection.
Status: in_force

The agency or its duly authorized representative shall have the power to enter at all reasonable times upon any private or public property for the purpose of determining whether or not there is compliance with or violation of the provisions of this chapter and rules and regulations issued thereunder.
RCW 70A.214.050 — Washington Code / Title 70A / Chapter 214 / Section 050
RCW 70A.214.050: Waste reduction techniques—Workshops and seminars.
Status: in_force

The office, in coordination with all other state waste reduction technical assistance programs, shall sponsor technical workshops and seminars on waste reduction techniques that have been successfully used to eliminate or reduce substantially the amount of waste or toxicity of hazardous waste generated, or that use in-process reclamation or reuse of spent material.
RCW 70.41.020 — Washington Code / Title 70 / Chapter 41 / Section 020
RCW 70.41.020: Definitions.
Status: in_force

Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the following terms, whenever used in this chapter, shall be deemed to have the following meanings: (1) "Aftercare" means the assistance provided by a lay caregiver to a patient under this chapter after the patient's discharge from a hospital. The assistance may include, but is not limited to, assistance with activities of daily living, wound care, medication assistance, and the operation of medical equipment. "Aftercare" includes assistance only for conditions that were present at the time of the patient's discharge from the hospital. "Aftercare" does not include: (a) Assistance related to conditions for which the patient did not receive medical care, treatment, or observation in the hospital; or (b) Tasks the performance of which requires licensure as a health care provider. (2)(a) "Audio-only telemedicine" means the delivery of health care services through the use of audio-only technology, permitting real-time communication between the patient at the originating site and the provider, for the purpose of diagnosis, consultation, or treatment. (b) "Audio-only telemedicine" does not include: (i) The use of facsimile or email; or (ii) The delivery of health care services that are customarily delivered by audio-only technology and customarily not billed as separate services by the provider, such as the sharing of laboratory results. (3) "Department" means the Washington state department of health. (4) "Discharge" means a patient's release from a hospital following the patient's admission to the hospital. (5) "Distant site" means the site at which a physician or other licensed provider, delivering a professional service, is physically located at the time the service is provided through telemedicine. (6) "Emergency care to victims of sexual assault" means medical examinations, procedures, and services provided by a hospital emergency room to a victim of sexual assault following an alleged sexual assault. (7) "Emergency contraception" means any health care treatment approved by the food and drug administration that prevents pregnancy, including but not limited to administering two increased doses of certain oral contraceptive pills within seventy-two hours of sexual contact. (8) "Emergency medical condition" means: (a) A condition of such severity that the absence of immediate medical attention could result in: (i) Placing the health of an individual or, with respect to a pregnant person, the health of the pregnant person or their embryo or fetus in serious jeopardy; (ii) serious impairment to bodily functions; or (iii) serious dysfunction of a bodily organ or part; (b) With respect to a pregnant person who is having contractions: (i) That there is inadequate time to affect a safe transfer to another hospital before delivery; or (ii) that transfer may pose a threat to the health or safety of the pregnant person or their embryo or fetus; or (c) Any of the following conditions: Ectopic pregnancy; emergent complications resulting from pregnancy or of pregnancy loss; previable preterm premature rupture of membranes; emergent placental abnormalities; or emergent hypertensive disorders, such as preeclampsia. (9) "Hospital" means any institution, place, building, or agency which provides accommodations, facilities and services over a continuous period of twenty-four hours or more, for observation, diagnosis, or care, of two or more individuals not related to the operator who are suffering from illness, injury, deformity, or abnormality, or from any other condition for which obstetrical, medical, or surgical services would be appropriate for care or diagnosis. "Hospital" as used in this chapter does not include hotels, or similar places furnishing only food and lodging, or simply domiciliary care; nor does it include clinics, or physician's offices where patients are not regularly kept as bed patients for twenty-four hours or more; nor does it include nursing homes, as defined and which come within the scope of chapter 18.51 RCW; nor does it include birthing centers, which come within the scope of chapter 18.46 RCW; nor does it include behavioral health hospitals, which come within the scope of chapter 71.12 RCW; nor any other hospital, or institution specifically intended for use in the diagnosis and care of those suffering from mental illness, intellectual disability, convulsive disorders, or other abnormal mental condition. Furthermore, nothing in this chapter or the rules adopted pursuant thereto shall be construed as authorizing the supervision, regulation, or control of the remedial care or treatment of residents or patients in any hospital conducted for those who rely primarily upon treatment by prayer or spiritual means in accordance with the creed or tenets of any well recognized church or religious denominations. (10) "Immediate jeopardy" means a situation in which the hospital's noncompliance with one or more statutory or regulatory requirements has placed the health and safety of patients in its care at risk for serious injury, serious harm, serious impairment, or death. (11) "Lay caregiver" means any individual designated as such by a patient under this chapter who provides aftercare assistance to a patient in the patient's residence. "Lay caregiver" does not include a long-term care worker as defined in RCW 74.39A.009 . (12) "Originating site" means the physical location of a patient receiving health care services through telemedicine. (13) "Person" means any individual, firm, partnership, corporation, company, association, or joint stock association, and the legal successor thereof. (14) "Secretary" means the secretary of health. (15) "Sexual assault" has the same meaning as in RCW 70.125.030 . (16) "Telemedicine" means the delivery of health care services through the use of interactive audio and video technology, permitting real-time communication between the patient at the originating site and the provider, for the purpose of diagnosis, consultation, or treatment. "Telemedicine" includes audio-only telemedicine, but does not include facsimile or email. (17) "Victim of sexual assault" means a person who alleges or is alleged to have been sexually assaulted and who presents as a patient.
RCW 70.41.350 — Washington Code / Title 70 / Chapter 41 / Section 350
RCW 70.41.350: Emergency care provided to victims of sexual assault—Development of informational materials on emergency contraception—Rules.
Status: in_force

(1) Every hospital providing emergency care to a victim of sexual assault shall: (a) Provide the victim with medically and factually accurate and unbiased written and oral information about emergency contraception; (b) Orally inform each victim of sexual assault of her option to be provided emergency contraception at the hospital; and (c) If not medically contraindicated, provide emergency contraception immediately at the hospital to each victim of sexual assault who requests it. (2) The secretary, in collaboration with community sexual assault programs and other relevant stakeholders, shall develop, prepare, and produce informational materials relating to emergency contraception for the prevention of pregnancy in rape victims for distribution to and use in all emergency rooms in the state, in quantities sufficient to comply with the requirements of this section. The secretary, in collaboration with community sexual assault programs and other relevant stakeholders, may also approve informational materials from other sources for the purposes of this section. The informational materials must be clearly written and readily comprehensible in a culturally competent manner, as the secretary, in collaboration with community sexual assault programs and other relevant stakeholders, deems necessary to inform victims of sexual assault. The materials must explain the nature of emergency contraception, including that it is effective in preventing pregnancy, treatment options, and where they can be obtained. (3) The secretary shall adopt rules necessary to implement this section.
RCW 70.48.501 — Washington Code / Title 70 / Chapter 48 / Section 501
RCW 70.48.501: Use of restraints on pregnant women or youth in custody—Provision of information to staff, women, or youth of childbearing age in custody.
Status: in_force

(1) The jail administrator or his or her designee or chief law enforcement executive or his or her designee shall provide notice of the requirements of chapter 181, Laws of 2010 to the appropriate staff at a correctional facility or a facility covered by this chapter. Appropriate staff shall include all medical staff and staff who are involved in the transportation of pregnant women and youth as well as such other staff deemed appropriate. (2) The jail administrator or his or her designee or chief law enforcement executive or his or her designee shall cause the requirements of chapter 181, Laws of 2010 to be provided to all women and youth of childbearing age at intake. In addition, the jail administrator or his or her designee or chief law enforcement executive or his or her designee shall cause a notice containing the requirements of chapter 181, Laws of 2010 to be posted in locations in which medical care is provided within the facilities.
RCW 70.129.050 — Washington Code / Title 70 / Chapter 129 / Section 050
RCW 70.129.050: Privacy and confidentiality of personal and medical records.
Status: in_force

The resident has the right to personal privacy and confidentiality of his or her personal and clinical records. (1) Personal privacy includes accommodations, medical treatment, written and telephone communications, personal care, visits, and meetings of family and resident groups. This does not require the facility to provide a private room for each resident however, a resident cannot be prohibited by the facility from meeting with guests in his or her bedroom if no roommates object. (2) The resident may approve or refuse the release of personal and clinical records to an individual outside the facility unless otherwise provided by law.
RCW 70.24.005 — Washington Code / Title 70 / Chapter 24 / Section 005
RCW 70.24.005: Transfer of duties to the department of health.
Status: in_force

The powers and duties of the department of social and health services, the department of licensing, and the secretary of social and health services under this chapter shall be performed by the department of health and the secretary of health.
RCW 70A.445.060 — Washington Code / Title 70A / Chapter 445 / Section 060
RCW 70A.445.060: Rule-making authority.
Status: in_force

The department may adopt rules as necessary to implement this chapter.
RCW 70.265.030 — Washington Code / Title 70 / Chapter 265 / Section 030
RCW 70.265.030: Establishing a public hospital capital facility area—Process.
Status: in_force

(1)(a) Upon receipt of a completed petition to both establish a public hospital capital facility area and submit a ballot proposition under RCW 70.265.070 to finance public hospital capital facilities and other capital health care facilities, the legislative authority of the county in which a proposed public hospital capital facility area is to be established shall submit separate ballot propositions to voters to authorize establishing the proposed public hospital capital facility area and authorizing the public hospital capital facility area, if established, to finance public hospital capital facilities or other capital health care facilities by issuing general indebtedness and imposing excess levies to retire the indebtedness. A petition submitted under this section must be accompanied by a written request to establish a public hospital capital facility area that is signed by a majority of the commissioners of the public hospital district serving the proposed area. (b) The ballot propositions must be submitted to voters of the proposed public hospital capital facility area at a general or special election. If the proposed election date is not a general election, the county legislative authority is encouraged to request an election when another unit of local government with territory located in the proposed public hospital capital facility area is already holding a special election under RCW 29A.04.330 . Approval of the ballot proposition to create a public hospital capital facility area requires a simple majority vote by the voters participating in the election. (2) A completed petition submitted under this section must include: (a) A description of the boundaries of the public hospital capital facility area; and (b) A copy of a resolution of the legislative authority of each city, town, and hospital district with territory in the proposed public hospital capital facility area indicating both: (i) Approval of the creation of the proposed public hospital capital facility area; and (ii) agreement on how election costs will be paid for ballot propositions to voters that authorize the public hospital capital facility area to incur general indebtedness and impose excess levies to retire the general indebtedness.
RCW 70A.435.040 — Washington Code / Title 70A / Chapter 435 / Section 040
RCW 70A.435.040: Department's duties—Enforcement sequence.
Status: in_force

(1) The department shall achieve compliance with RCW 70A.435.030 through the enforcement sequence specified in this section. (2) To provide assistance in identifying environmentally preferred wheel weights, the department shall, by October 1, 2010, prepare and distribute information regarding this chapter to the maximum extent practicable to: (a) Persons that replace or balance motor vehicle tires in Washington; and (b) Persons generally in the motor vehicle tire and wheel weight manufacturing, distribution, wholesale, and retail industries. (3) The department shall issue a warning letter to a person who fails to comply with RCW 70A.435.030 and offer information or other appropriate assistance. If the person does not comply with RCW 70A.435.030 (1) within one year of the department's issuance of the warning letter, the department may assess civil penalties under RCW 70A.435.050 .
RCW 70A.315.040 — Washington Code / Title 70A / Chapter 315 / Section 040
RCW 70A.315.040: Civil penalties.
Status: in_force

(1) Except as provided in RCW 43.05.060 through 43.05.080 and 43.05.150 , any person who violates any provision of a department regulation or regulatory order relating to the management of special incinerator ash shall incur in addition to any other penalty provided by law, a penalty in an amount up to ten thousand dollars a day for every such violation. Each and every such violation shall be a separate and distinct offense. In case of continuing violation, every day's continuance shall be a separate and distinct violation. Every person who, through an act of commission or omission, procures, aids, or abets in the violation shall be considered to have violated the provisions of this section and shall be subject to the penalty herein provided. (2) The penalty provided for in this section shall be imposed by a notice in writing, either by certified mail with return receipt requested or by personal service, to the person incurring the same from the department, describing the violation with reasonable particularity. Within fifteen days after the notice is received, the person incurring the penalty may apply in writing to the department for the remission or mitigation of such penalty. Upon receipt of the application, the department may remit or mitigate the penalty upon whatever terms the department in its discretion deems proper, giving consideration to the degree of hazard associated with the violation, provided the department deems such remission or mitigation to be in the best interests of carrying out the purposes of this chapter. The department shall have authority to ascertain the facts regarding all such applications in such reasonable manner and under such rules as it may deem proper. (3) Any penalty imposed by this section shall become due and payable thirty days after receipt of a notice imposing the same unless application for remission or mitigation is made or petition for review by the hearings board is filed. When such an application for remission or mitigation is made, any penalty incurred pursuant to this section shall become due and payable thirty days after receipt of notice setting forth the disposition of such application. (4) If the amount of any penalty is not paid to the department within thirty days after it becomes due and payable, the attorney general, upon the request of the director, shall bring an action in the name of the state of Washington in the superior court of Thurston county, or any county in which such violator may do business, to recover such penalty. In all such actions, the procedure and rules of evidence shall be the same as an ordinary civil action except as otherwise provided in this chapter.
RCW 70A.15.5070 — Washington Code / Title 70A / Chapter 15 / Section 5070
RCW 70A.15.5070: Limited outdoor burning—Program—Exceptions.
Status: in_force

(1) It shall be the responsibility and duty of the department of natural resources, department of ecology, department of agriculture, county fire marshals in consultation with fire districts, and local air pollution control authorities to establish, through regulations, ordinances, or policy, a limited burning permit program. (2) The permit program shall apply to residential and land clearing burning in the following areas: (a) In the nonurban areas of any county with an unincorporated population of greater than fifty thousand; and (b) In any city and urban growth area that is not otherwise prohibited from burning pursuant to RCW 70A.15.5020 . (3) The permit program shall apply only to land clearing burning in the nonurban areas of any county with an unincorporated population of less than fifty thousand. (4) The permit program may be limited to a general permit by rule, or by verbal, written, or electronic approval by the permitting entity. (5) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, neither a permit nor the payment of a fee shall be required for outdoor burning for the purpose of disposal of tumbleweeds blown by wind. Such burning shall not be conducted during an air pollution episode or any stage of impaired air quality declared under RCW 70A.15.6010 . This subsection (5) shall only apply within counties with a population less than two hundred fifty thousand. (6) Burning shall be prohibited in an area when an alternate technology or method of disposing of the organic refuse is available, reasonably economical, and less harmful to the environment. It is the policy of this state to foster and encourage development of alternate methods or technology for disposing of or reducing the amount of organic refuse. (7) Incidental agricultural burning must be allowed without applying for any permit and without the payment of any fee if: (a) The burning is incidental to commercial agricultural activities; (b) The operator notifies the local fire department within the area where the burning is to be conducted; (c) The burning does not occur during an air pollution episode or any stage of impaired air quality declared under RCW 70A.15.6010 ; and (d) Only the following items are burned: (i) Orchard prunings; (ii) Organic debris along fence lines or irrigation or drainage ditches; or (iii) Organic debris blown by wind. (8) As used in this section, "nonurban areas" are unincorporated areas within a county that are not designated as urban growth areas under chapter 36.70A RCW. (9) Nothing in this section shall require fire districts to enforce air quality requirements related to outdoor burning, unless the fire district enters into an agreement with the department of ecology, department of natural resources, a local air pollution control authority, or other appropriate entity to provide such enforcement.
RCW 70.90.110 — Washington Code / Title 70 / Chapter 90 / Section 110
RCW 70.90.110: Definitions.
Status: in_force

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter. (1) "Water recreation facility" means any artificial basin or other structure containing water used or intended to be used for recreation, bathing, relaxation, or swimming, where body contact with the water occurs or is intended to occur and includes auxiliary buildings and appurtenances. The term includes, but is not limited to: (a) Conventional swimming pools, wading pools, and spray pools; (b) Recreational water contact facilities as defined in this chapter; (c) Spa pools and tubs using hot water, cold water, mineral water, air induction, or hydrojets; and (d) Any area designated for swimming in natural waters with artificial boundaries within the waters. (2) "Recreational water contact facility" means an artificial water associated facility with design and operational features that provide patron recreational activity which is different from that associated with a conventional swimming pool and purposefully involves immersion of the body partially or totally in the water, and that includes but is not limited to, water slides, wave pools, and water lagoons. (3) "Local health officer" means the health officer of the city, county, or city-county department or district or a representative authorized by the local health officer. (4) "Secretary" means the secretary of health. (5) "Person" means an individual, firm, partnership, co- partnership, corporation, company, association, club, government entity, or organization of any kind. (6) "Department" means the department of health. (7) "Board" means the state board of health.
RCW 70.48.801 — Washington Code / Title 70 / Chapter 48 / Section 801
RCW 70.48.801: Jail standards task force.
Status: in_force

(1) A joint legislative task force on jail standards is established, with members as provided in this subsection. (a) The president of the senate shall appoint one member from each of the two largest caucuses of the senate. (b) The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint one member from each of the two largest caucuses of the house of representatives. (c) The president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives jointly shall appoint 13 members representing the interests of: Prosecutors, defense attorneys, law enforcement, counties, cities, jail administrators, superior courts, district and municipal courts, a state designated protection and advocacy agency, medical and mental health service providers, a statewide civil legal aid organization, persons with lived experience, and other entities involved with or interested in the operation of local jails. (2) The legislative membership shall convene the initial meeting of the task force. The task force shall choose its chair from among its legislative membership. (3) Staff support for the task force must be provided by the office of the attorney general. (4)(a) Legislative members of the task force may be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 44.04.120 . Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, nonlegislative members are not entitled to be reimbursed for travel expenses if they are elected officials or are participating on behalf of an employer, governmental entity, or other organization. Any reimbursement for other nonlegislative members is subject to chapter 43.03 RCW. (b) Nonlegislative members of the task force who demonstrate financial hardship must be reimbursed for travel expenses as provided in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060 , as well as other expenses as needed for each day a nonlegislative task force member attends a task force meeting to provide consultative assistance. (5) The expenses of the task force must be paid jointly by the senate and the house of representatives. Task force expenditures are subject to approval by the senate facilities and operations committee and the house executive rules committee, or their successor committees. (6) The task force shall review the following issues: (a) The adequacy of standards adopted and used by jails including, but not limited to, standards for conditions and operations, inspections, enforcement, and oversight; (b) Current data on jails in the state including, but not limited to, square footage of living space per individual, jail capacity, average daily population over the previous five years, medical and dental services, mental health services, treatment programming options, accreditation status, use of force incidents over the previous five years, and in-custody deaths and the causes of those deaths; (c) How the jails in the state compare to jail standards and practices in other states regarding safety and physical conditions; health and welfare; access to medical, mental health, dental care, and substance use disorder treatment; food quality and quantity; use of force; use of solitary confinement; and recreational activities and programming; (d) The revenue sources and funding mechanisms used by other states to pay for local jails and the kinds of services that are provided to inmates in jails in other states, including identifying the entity that is responsible for financing those services; (e) Inmate's access to jail telecommunication, electronic media, and commissary services, including the rates and fees charged by the jail for these services that are often borne by families of incarcerated individuals; and (f) Other issues the task force deems relevant to the conditions of jails. (7) The task force shall make recommendations regarding: (a) Statewide minimum jail standards, oversight, or other policy changes to ensure jail conditions meet state and federal constitutional and statutory standards and include adequate safety and welfare safeguards for incarcerated persons and staff; and (b) Restoration of a statewide authority to set mandatory minimum jail standards and conduct inspections of jails for compliance and enforcement of those standards. (8) The task force shall consult with organizations and entities with interest or experience in jail standards and operations including, but not limited to, treatment providers, victims' advocates, inmate advocates, organizations representing jail employees and officers, and other community organizations. (9) The Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs and representatives from county, city, and regional jails must provide any data or information that is requested by the task force to perform its duties under this section. (10) The task force shall report findings and recommendations to the governor and the appropriate committees of the legislature by December 1, 2023.
RCW 70A.15.1040 — Washington Code / Title 70A / Chapter 15 / Section 1040
RCW 70A.15.1040: Environmental excellence program agreements—Effect on chapter.
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any legal requirement under this chapter, including any standard, limitation, rule, or order is superseded and replaced in accordance with the terms and provisions of an environmental excellence program agreement, entered into under chapter 43.21K RCW.
RCW 70A.430.060 — Washington Code / Title 70A / Chapter 430 / Section 060
RCW 70A.430.060: Notice that a children's product or a consumer product contains a high priority chemical.
Status: in_force

A manufacturer of a children's product or a consumer product containing a priority chemical subject to a rule adopted to implement a determination made consistent with RCW 70A.350.040 (1)(b), or a trade organization on behalf of its member manufacturers, shall provide notice to the department that the manufacturer's product contains a high priority chemical or a priority chemical identified under chapter 70A.350 RCW. The notice must be filed annually with the department and must include the following information: (1) The name of the chemical used or produced and its chemical abstracts service registry number; (2) A brief description of the product or product component containing the substance; (3) A description of the function of the chemical in the product; (4) The amount of the chemical used in each unit of the product or product component. The amount may be reported in ranges, rather than the exact amount; (5) The name and address of the manufacturer and the name, address, and phone number of a contact person for the manufacturer; and (6) Any other information the manufacturer deems relevant to the appropriate use of the product.
RCW 70.24.220 — Washington Code / Title 70 / Chapter 24 / Section 220
RCW 70.24.220: Sexually transmitted disease education in public schools—Finding.
Status: in_force

The legislature finds that the public schools provide a unique and appropriate setting for educating young people about the pathology and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. The legislature recognizes that schools and communities vary throughout the state and that locally elected school directors should have a significant role in establishing a program of sexually transmitted disease education in their districts, consistent with RCW 28A.230.020 and 28A.300.475 .
RCW 70A.345.010 — Washington Code / Title 70A / Chapter 345 / Section 010
RCW 70A.345.010: Intent.
Status: in_force

(1) The legislature intends for the pollution liability insurance agency to establish a revolving loan and grant program to assist owners and operators of petroleum underground storage tank systems to: (a) Remediate past releases; (b) upgrade, replace, or remove petroleum underground storage tank systems to prevent future releases; and (c) install new infrastructure or retrofit existing infrastructure for dispensing or using renewable or alternative energy. (2) Furthermore, the legislature intends for the revolving loan and grant program to assist owners and operators of heating oil tanks to: (a) Remediate past releases; or (b) prevent future releases by upgrading, replacing, decommissioning, or removing heating oil systems.
RCW 70A.65.030 — Washington Code / Title 70A / Chapter 65 / Section 030
RCW 70A.65.030: Environmental justice assessment (as amended by 2025 c 424).
Status: in_force

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 2251-S2.SL ) ***

(1) Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, each year or biennium, as appropriate, when allocating funds from the carbon emissions reduction account created in RCW 70A.65.240 , the climate commitment account created in RCW 70A.65.260 , the natural climate solutions account created in RCW 70A.65.270 , the climate investment account created in RCW 70A.65.250 , the air quality and health disparities improvement account created in RCW 70A.65.280 , the climate transit programs account created in *RCW 46.68.500 , or the climate active transportation account created in *RCW 46.68.490 , or administering grants or programs funded by the accounts, agencies shall conduct an environmental justice assessment consistent with the requirements of RCW 70A.02.060 and establish a minimum of not less than 35 percent and a goal of 40 percent of total investments that provide direct and meaningful benefits to vulnerable populations within the boundaries of overburdened communities through: (a) The direct reduction of environmental burdens in overburdened communities; (b) the reduction of disproportionate, cumulative risk from environmental burdens, including those associated with climate change; (c) the support of community led project development, planning, and participation costs; or (d) meeting a community need identified by the community that is consistent with the intent of this chapter or RCW 70A.02.010 . (2) The allocation of funding under subsection (1) of this section must adhere to the following principles, additional to the requirements of RCW 70A.02.080 : (a) Benefits and programs should be directed to areas and targeted to vulnerable populations and overburdened communities to reduce statewide disparities; (b) investments and benefits should be made roughly proportional to the health disparities that a specific community experiences, with a goal of eliminating the disparities; (c) investments and programs should focus on creating environmental benefits, including eliminating health burdens, creating community and population resilience, and raising the quality of life of those in the community; and (d) efforts should be made to balance investments and benefits across the state and within counties, local jurisdictions, and unincorporated areas as appropriate to reduce disparities by location and to ensure efforts contribute to a reduction in disparities that exist based on race or ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or other factors. (3) Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, state agencies allocating funds or administering grants or programs from the carbon emissions reduction account created in RCW 70A.65.240 , the climate commitment account created in RCW 70A.65.260 , the natural climate solutions account created in RCW 70A.65.270 , the climate investment account created in RCW 70A.65.250 , the air quality and health disparities improvement account created in RCW 70A.65.280 , the climate transit programs account created in *RCW 46.68.500 , or the climate active transportation account created in *RCW 46.68.490 , must: (a) Report annually to the environmental justice council created in RCW 70A.02.110 regarding progress toward meeting environmental justice and environmental health goals; (b) Consider recommendations by the environmental justice council; and (c)(i) If the agency is not a covered agency subject to the requirements of chapter 70A.02 RCW, create and adopt a community engagement plan to describe how it will engage with overburdened communities and vulnerable populations in allocating funds or administering grants or programs from the climate investment account. (ii) The plan must include methods for outreach and communication with those who face barriers, language or otherwise, to participation. (4) During the 2023-2025 fiscal biennium: (a) The requirement of subsection (1) of this section to conduct an environmental justice assessment applies only to covered agencies as defined in RCW 70A.02.010 and to significant agency actions as defined in RCW 70A.02.010 . (b) Agencies shall coordinate with the department and the office of financial management to achieve total statewide spending from the accounts listed in subsection (1) of this section of not less than 35 percent and a goal of 40 percent of total investments that provide direct and meaningful benefits to vulnerable populations within the boundaries of overburdened communities as otherwise described in subsection (1)(a) through (d) of this section and in accordance with RCW 70A.65.230 . (c) The requirements of subsection (3)(c) of this section for agencies other than covered agencies to create and adopt community engagement plans apply only to executive branch agencies and institutions of higher education, as defined in RCW 28B.10.016 , receiving total appropriations of more than $2,000,000 for the 2023-2025 fiscal biennium from the accounts listed in subsection (1) of this section.
RCW 70.79.110 — Washington Code / Title 70 / Chapter 79 / Section 110
RCW 70.79.110: Chief inspector—Duties in general.
Status: in_force

The chief inspector, if authorized by the director of the department of labor and industries is hereby charged, directed and empowered: (1) To cause the prosecution of all violators of the provisions of this chapter; (2) To issue, or to suspend, or revoke for cause, inspection certificates as provided for in RCW 70.79.290 ; (3) To take action necessary for the enforcement of the laws of the state governing the use of boilers and unfired pressure vessels and of the rules and regulations of the board; (4) To keep a complete record of the type, dimensions, maximum allowable working pressure, age, condition, location, and date of the last recorded internal inspection of all boilers and unfired pressure vessels to which this chapter applies; (5) To publish and distribute, among manufacturers and others requesting them, copies of the rules and regulations adopted by the board.
RCW 70.157.010 — Washington Code / Title 70 / Chapter 157 / Section 010
RCW 70.157.010: Definitions.
Status: in_force

(a) "Adjusted for inflation" means increased in accordance with the formula for inflation adjustment set forth in Exhibit C to the Master Settlement Agreement. (b) "Affiliate" means a person who directly or indirectly owns or controls, is owned or controlled by, or is under common ownership or control with, another person. Solely for purposes of this definition, the terms "owns," "is owned" and "ownership" mean ownership of an equity interest, or the equivalent thereof, of ten percent or more, and the term "person" means an individual, partnership, committee, association, corporation or any other organization or group of persons. (c) "Allocable share" means Allocable Share as that term is defined in the Master Settlement Agreement. (d) "Cigarette" means any product that contains nicotine, is intended to be burned or heated under ordinary conditions of use, and consists of or contains (1) any roll of tobacco wrapped in paper or in any substance not containing tobacco; or (2) tobacco, in any form, that is functional in the product, which, because of its appearance, the type of tobacco used in the filler, or its packaging and labeling, is likely to be offered to, or purchased by, consumers as a cigarette; or (3) any roll of tobacco wrapped in any substance containing tobacco which, because of its appearance, the type of tobacco used in the filler, or its packaging and labeling, is likely to be offered to, or purchased by, consumers as a cigarette described in clause (1) of this definition. The term "cigarette" includes "roll-your-own" (i.e., any tobacco which, because of its appearance, type, packaging, or labeling is suitable for use and likely to be offered to, or purchased by, consumers as tobacco for making cigarettes). For purposes of this definition of "cigarette," 0.09 ounces of "roll-your-own" tobacco shall constitute one individual "cigarette". (e) "Master Settlement Agreement" means the settlement agreement (and related documents) entered into on November 23, 1998 by the State and leading United States tobacco product manufacturers. (f) "Qualified escrow fund" means an escrow arrangement with a federally or State chartered financial institution having no affiliation with any tobacco product manufacturer and having assets of at least $1,000,000,000 where such arrangement requires that such financial institution hold the escrowed funds' principal for the benefit of releasing parties and prohibits the tobacco product manufacturer placing the funds into escrow from using, accessing or directing the use of the funds' principal except as consistent with RCW 70.157.020 (b). (g) "Released claims" means Released Claims as that term is defined in the Master Settlement Agreement. (h) "Releasing parties" means Releasing Parties as that term is defined in the Master Settlement Agreement. (i) "Tobacco Product Manufacturer" means an entity that after the date of enactment of this Act directly (and not exclusively through any affiliate): (1) manufactures cigarettes anywhere that such manufacturer intends to be sold in the United States, including cigarettes intended to be sold in the United States through an importer (except where such importer is an original participating manufacturer (as that term is defined in the Master Settlement Agreement) that will be responsible for the payments under the Master Settlement Agreement with respect to such cigarettes as a result of the provisions of subsections II(mm) of the Master Settlement Agreement and that pays the taxes specified in subsection II(z) of the Master Settlement Agreement, and provided that the manufacturer of such cigarettes does not market or advertise such cigarettes in the United States); (2) is the first purchaser anywhere for resale in the United States of cigarettes manufactured anywhere that the manufacturer does not intend to be sold in the United States; or (3) becomes a successor of an entity described in paragraph (1) or (2). The term "Tobacco Product Manufacturer" shall not include an affiliate of a tobacco product manufacturer unless such affiliate itself falls within any of (1)-(3) above. (j) "Units sold" means the number of individual cigarettes sold in the State by the applicable tobacco product manufacturer (whether directly or through a distributor, retailer or similar intermediary or intermediaries) during the year in question, as measured by excise taxes collected by the State on packs bearing the excise tax stamp of the State or "roll-your-own" tobacco containers. The department of revenue shall promulgate such regulations as are necessary to ascertain the amount of State excise tax paid on the cigarettes of such tobacco product manufacturer for each year.
RCW 70A.205.005 — Washington Code / Title 70A / Chapter 205 / Section 005
RCW 70A.205.005: Legislative finding—Priorities—Goals.
Status: in_force

The legislature finds: (1) Continuing technological changes in methods of manufacture, packaging, and marketing of consumer products, together with the economic and population growth of this state, the rising affluence of its citizens, and its expanding industrial activity have created new and ever-mounting problems involving disposal of garbage, refuse, and solid waste materials resulting from domestic, agricultural, and industrial activities. (2) Traditional methods of disposing of solid wastes in this state are no longer adequate to meet the ever-increasing problem. Improper methods and practices of handling and disposal of solid wastes pollute our land, air and water resources, blight our countryside, adversely affect land values, and damage the overall quality of our environment. (3) Considerations of natural resource limitations, energy shortages, economics and the environment make necessary the development and implementation of solid waste recovery and/or recycling plans and programs. (4) Waste reduction must become a fundamental strategy of solid waste management. It is therefore necessary to change manufacturing and purchasing practices and waste generation behaviors to reduce the amount of waste that becomes a governmental responsibility. (5) Source separation of waste must become a fundamental strategy of solid waste management. Collection and handling strategies should have, as an ultimate goal, the source separation of all materials with resource value or environmental hazard. (6)(a) It should be the goal of every person and business to minimize their production of wastes and to separate recyclable or hazardous materials from mixed waste. (b) It is the responsibility of state, county, and city governments to provide for a waste management infrastructure to fully implement waste reduction and source separation strategies and to process and dispose of remaining wastes in a manner that is environmentally safe and economically sound. It is further the responsibility of state, county, and city governments to monitor the cost-effectiveness and environmental safety of combusting separated waste, processing mixed municipal solid waste, and recycling programs. (c) It is the responsibility of county and city governments to assume primary responsibility for solid waste management and to develop and implement aggressive and effective waste reduction and source separation strategies. (d) It is the responsibility of state government to ensure that local governments are providing adequate source reduction and separation opportunities and incentives to all, including persons in both rural and urban areas, and nonresidential waste generators such as commercial, industrial, and institutional entities, recognizing the need to provide flexibility to accommodate differing population densities, distances to and availability of recycling markets, and collection and disposal costs in each community; and to provide county and city governments with adequate technical resources to accomplish this responsibility. (7) Environmental and economic considerations in solving the state's solid waste management problems requires strong consideration by local governments of regional solutions and intergovernmental cooperation. (8) The following priorities for the collection, handling, and management of solid waste are necessary and should be followed in descending order as applicable: (a) Waste reduction; (b) Recycling, with source separation of recyclable materials as the preferred method; (c) Energy recovery, incineration, or landfill of separated waste; (d) Energy recovery, incineration, or landfill of mixed municipal solid wastes. (9) It is the state's goal to achieve a fifty percent recycling rate by 2007. (10) It is the state's goal that programs be established to eliminate residential or commercial yard debris in landfills by 2012 in those areas where alternatives to disposal are readily available and effective. (11) Steps should be taken to make recycling at least as affordable and convenient to the ratepayer as mixed waste disposal. (12) It is necessary to compile and maintain adequate data on the types and quantities of solid waste that are being generated and to monitor how the various types of solid waste are being managed. (13) Vehicle batteries should be recycled and the disposal of vehicle batteries into landfills or incinerators should be discontinued. (14) Excessive and nonrecyclable packaging of products should be avoided. (15) Comprehensive education should be conducted throughout the state so that people are informed of the need to reduce, source separate, and recycle solid waste. (16) All governmental entities in the state should set an example by implementing aggressive waste reduction and recycling programs at their workplaces and by purchasing products that are made from recycled materials and are recyclable. (17) To ensure the safe and efficient operations of solid waste disposal facilities, it is necessary for operators and regulators of landfills and incinerators to receive training and certification. (18) It is necessary to provide adequate funding to all levels of government so that successful waste reduction and recycling programs can be implemented. (19) The development of stable and expanding markets for recyclable materials is critical to the long-term success of the state's recycling goals. Market development must be encouraged on a state, regional, and national basis to maximize its effectiveness. The state shall assume primary responsibility for the development of a multifaceted market development program to carry out the purposes of chapter 431, Laws of 1989. (20) There is an imperative need to anticipate, plan for, and accomplish effective storage, control, recovery, and recycling of discarded tires and other problem wastes with the subsequent conservation of resources and energy.
RCW 70.24.110 — Washington Code / Title 70 / Chapter 24 / Section 110
RCW 70.24.110: Minors—Treatment, consent, liability for payment for care.
Status: in_force

A minor fourteen years of age or older who may have come in contact with any sexually transmitted disease or suspected sexually transmitted disease may give consent to the furnishing of hospital, medical, and surgical care related to the diagnosis or treatment of such disease; and treatment to avoid HIV infection. Such consent shall not be subject to disaffirmance because of minority. The consent of the parent, parents, or legal guardian of such minor shall not be necessary to authorize hospital, medical, and surgical care related to such disease, and such parent, parents, or legal guardian shall not be liable for payment for any care rendered pursuant to this section.
RCW 70.77.295 — Washington Code / Title 70 / Chapter 77 / Section 295
RCW 70.77.295: Public display permit—Amount of bond or insurance.
Status: in_force

In the case of an application for a permit under RCW 70.77.260 (2) for the public display of fireworks, the amount of the surety bond or certificate of insurance required under RCW 70.77.285 shall be not less than fifty thousand dollars and one million dollars for bodily injury liability for each person and event, respectively, and not less than twenty-five thousand dollars for property damage liability for each event.
RCW 70.42.140 — Washington Code / Title 70 / Chapter 42 / Section 140
RCW 70.42.140: Suspension of license.
Status: in_force

Under this chapter, and chapter 34.05 RCW, the department may suspend the license of any licensee who: (1) Fails or refuses to comply with the requirements of this chapter or the rules adopted under this chapter; (2) Has knowingly or with reason to know made a false statement of a material fact in the application for a license or in any data attached thereto or in any record required by the department; (3) Refuses to allow representatives of the department to examine any book, record, or file required by this chapter to be maintained; (4) Willfully prevented, interfered with, or attempted to impede in any way the work of a representative of the department; (5) Willfully prevented or interfered with preservation of evidence of a known violation of this chapter or the rules adopted under this chapter; (6) Misrepresented, or was fraudulent in, any aspect of the licensee's business; (7) Used false or fraudulent advertising; or (8) Failed to pay any civil monetary penalty assessed by the department under this chapter within twenty-eight days after the assessment becomes final.
RCW 15.37.100 — Washington Code / Title 70 / Chapter 37 / Section 100
RCW 15.37.100: Coloring of milk in containers, when required.
Status: in_force

It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, offer for sale, hold for sale, advertise for sale, trade, barter, or to give as an inducement for the sale of another product, any milk, cream, or skim milk, for animal food consumption which does not meet, or has not been produced under conditions prescribed for grade A milk, as prescribed in chapter 15.36 RCW as enacted or hereafter amended and rules adopted thereunder, and the applicable provisions of chapter 69.04 RCW (the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act) as enacted and hereafter amended and rules adopted thereunder, in containers provided either by the vendor or vendee and which are capable of holding less than twenty liquid quarts, unless such milk, cream, or skim milk has been decharacterized with a color prescribed by the director which will not affect its nutritive value for animal food.The authority may make contracts, employ or engage engineers, architects, attorneys, an executive director, and other technical or professional assistants, and such other personnel as are necessary. It may delegate to the executive director or other appropriate persons the power to execute legal instruments on its behalf. It may enter into contracts with the United States, accept gifts for its purposes, and exercise any other power reasonably required to implement the principal powers granted in this chapter. No provision of this chapter shall be construed so as to limit the power of the authority to provide bond financing to more than one participant and/or project by means of a single issue of revenue bonds utilizing a single bond fund and/or a single special fund into which proceeds of such bonds are deposited. The authority shall have no power to levy any taxes of any kind or nature and no power to incur obligations on behalf of the state of Washington.
RCW 70.05.080 — Washington Code / Title 70 / Chapter 05 / Section 080
RCW 70.05.080: Local health officer—Failure to appoint—Procedure.
Status: in_force

If the local board of health or other official responsible for appointing a local health officer under RCW 70.05.050 refuses or neglects to appoint a local health officer after a vacancy exists, the secretary of health may appoint a local health officer and fix the compensation. The local health officer so appointed shall have the same duties, powers and authority as though appointed under RCW 70.05.050 . Such local health officer shall serve until a qualified individual is appointed according to the procedures set forth in RCW 70.05.050 . The board or official responsible for appointing the local health officer under RCW 70.05.050 shall also be authorized to appoint an acting health officer to serve whenever the health officer is absent or incapacitated and unable to fulfill his or her responsibilities under the provisions of chapters 70.05 and 70.46 RCW.
RCW 70A.300.130 — Washington Code / Title 70A / Chapter 300 / Section 130
RCW 70A.300.130: Action for damages resulting from violation—Attorneys' fees.
Status: in_force

A person injured as a result of a violation of this chapter or the rules adopted thereunder may bring an action in superior court for the recovery of the damages. A conviction or imposition of a penalty under this chapter is not a prerequisite to an action under this section. The court may award reasonable attorneys' fees to a prevailing injured party in an action under this section.
RCW 70A.430.080 — Washington Code / Title 70A / Chapter 430 / Section 080
RCW 70A.430.080: Adoption of rules.
Status: in_force

The department may adopt rules as necessary for the purpose of implementing, administering, and enforcing this chapter.
RCW 19.28.010 — Washington Code / Title 70 / Chapter 28 / Section 010
RCW 19.28.010: Electrical wiring requirements—General—Exceptions.
Status: in_force

All practicing health care providers in the state are hereby required to report to the local health department cases of every person having tuberculosis who has been attended by, or who has come under the observation of, the health care provider within one day thereof.(1) All wires and equipment, and installations thereof, that convey electric current and installations of equipment to be operated by electric current, in, on, or about buildings or structures, except for telephone, telegraph, radio, and television wires and equipment, and television antenna installations, signal strength amplifiers, and coaxial installations pertaining thereto shall be in strict conformity with this chapter, the statutes of the state of Washington, and the rules issued by the department, and shall be in conformity with approved methods of construction for safety to life and property. The following are exempt from the requirements of this chapter: All wires and equipment that fall within section 90.2(b)(5) of the National Electrical Code, 1981 edition; all wires and equipment within the communication worker safety zone and supply space, as defined in the National Electrical Safety Code, on poles supporting electric utility transmission or distribution lines or wires; and electric utility-owned equipment between a meter base and meter. The regulations and articles in the National Electrical Code, the National Electrical Safety Code, and other installation and safety regulations approved by the national fire protection association, as modified or supplemented by rules issued by the department in furtherance of safety to life and property under authority hereby granted, shall be prima facie evidence of the approved methods of construction. All materials, devices, appliances, and equipment used in such installations shall be of a type that conforms to applicable standards or be indicated as acceptable by the established standards of any electrical product testing laboratory which is accredited by the department. Industrial control panels, utilization equipment, and their components do not need to be listed, labeled, or otherwise indicated as acceptable by an accredited electrical product testing laboratory unless specifically required by the National Electrical Code, 1993 edition. (2) Residential buildings or structures moved into or within a county, city, or town are not required to comply with all of the requirements of this chapter, if the original occupancy classification of the building or structure is not changed as a result of the move. This subsection shall not apply to residential buildings or structures that are substantially remodeled or rehabilitated. (3) This chapter shall not limit the authority or power of any city or town to enact and enforce under authority given by law, any ordinance, rule, or regulation requiring an equal, higher, or better standard of construction and an equal, higher, or better standard of materials, devices, appliances, and equipment than that required by this chapter. A city or town shall require that its electrical inspectors meet the qualifications provided for state electrical inspectors in accordance with RCW 19.28.321 . In a city or town having an equal, higher, or better standard the installations, materials, devices, appliances, and equipment shall be in accordance with the ordinance, rule, or regulation of the city or town. (4) Incorporated cities and towns where electrical inspections are required by local ordinances may enforce the provisions of RCW 19.28.041 (1), 19.28.161 , 19.28.271 (1), 19.28.420 (1), and applicable licensing and certification rules within their respective jurisdictions. Nothing in this subsection diminishes the authority of the department to enforce the provisions of RCW 19.28.041 (1), 19.28.161 , 19.28.271 (1), 19.28.420 (1), and applicable licensing and certification rules within any city or town. (5) Electrical equipment associated with spas, hot tubs, swimming pools, and hydromassage bathtubs shall not be offered for sale or exchange unless the electrical equipment is certified as being in compliance with the applicable product safety standard by bearing the certification mark of an approved electrical products testing laboratory. (6) Nothing in this chapter may be construed as permitting the connection of any conductor of any electric circuit with a pipe that is connected with or designed to be connected with a waterworks piping system, without the consent of the person or persons legally responsible for the operation and maintenance of the waterworks piping system.
RCW 70.47.160 — Washington Code / Title 70 / Chapter 47 / Section 160
RCW 70.47.160: Right of individuals to receive services—Right of providers, carriers, and facilities to refuse to participate in or pay for services for reason of conscience or religion—Requirements.
Status: in_force

(1) The legislature recognizes that every individual possesses a fundamental right to exercise their religious beliefs and conscience. The legislature further recognizes that in developing public policy, conflicting religious and moral beliefs must be respected. Therefore, while recognizing the right of conscientious objection to participating in specific health services, the state shall also recognize the right of individuals enrolled with the basic health plan to receive the full range of services covered under the basic health plan. (2)(a) No individual health care provider, religiously sponsored health carrier, or health care facility may be required by law or contract in any circumstances to participate in the provision of or payment for a specific service if they object to so doing for reason of conscience or religion. No person may be discriminated against in employment or professional privileges because of such objection. (b) The provisions of this section are not intended to result in an enrollee being denied timely access to any service included in the basic health plan. Each health carrier shall: (i) Provide written notice to enrollees, upon enrollment with the plan, listing services that the carrier refuses to cover for reason of conscience or religion; (ii) Provide written information describing how an enrollee may directly access services in an expeditious manner; and (iii) Ensure that enrollees refused services under this section have prompt access to the information developed pursuant to (b)(ii) of this subsection. (c) The *administrator shall establish a mechanism or mechanisms to recognize the right to exercise conscience while ensuring enrollees timely access to services and to assure prompt payment to service providers. (3)(a) No individual or organization with a religious or moral tenet opposed to a specific service may be required to purchase coverage for that service or services if they object to doing so for reason of conscience or religion. (b) The provisions of this section shall not result in an enrollee being denied coverage of, and timely access to, any service or services excluded from their benefits package as a result of their employer's or another individual's exercise of the conscience clause in (a) of this subsection. (c) The *administrator shall define the process through which health carriers may offer the basic health plan to individuals and organizations identified in (a) and (b) of this subsection in accordance with the provisions of subsection (2)(c) of this section. (4) Nothing in this section requires the health care authority, health carriers, health care facilities, or health care providers to provide any basic health plan service without payment of appropriate premium share or enrollee cost sharing.
RCW 70.77.488 — Washington Code / Title 70 / Chapter 77 / Section 488
RCW 70.77.488: Unlawful discharge or use of fireworks—Penalty.
Status: in_force

It is unlawful for any person to discharge or use fireworks in a reckless manner which creates a substantial risk of death or serious physical injury to another person or damage to the property of another. A violation of this section is a gross misdemeanor.
RCW 70.77.375 — Washington Code / Title 70 / Chapter 77 / Section 375
RCW 70.77.375: Revocation of license.
Status: in_force

The chief of the Washington state patrol, through the director of fire protection, upon reasonable opportunity to be heard, may revoke any license issued pursuant to this chapter, if he or she finds that: (1) The licensee has violated any provisions of this chapter or any rule made by the chief of the Washington state patrol, through the director of fire protection, under and with the authority of this chapter; (2) The licensee has created or caused a fire nuisance; (3) Any licensee has failed or refused to file any required reports; or (4) Any fact or condition exists which, if it had existed at the time of the original application for such license, reasonably would have warranted the chief of the Washington state patrol, through the director of fire protection, in refusing originally to issue such license.
RCW 70.97.230 — Washington Code / Title 70 / Chapter 97 / Section 230
RCW 70.97.230: Rules for implementation of chapter.
Status: in_force

(1) The secretary shall adopt rules to implement this chapter. (2) Such rules shall at the minimum: (a) Promote safe treatment and necessary care of individuals residing in the facility and provide for safe and clean conditions; (b) establish licensee qualifications, licensing and enforcement, and license fees sufficient to cover the cost of licensing and enforcement.
RCW 70A.218.020 — Washington Code / Title 70A / Chapter 218 / Section 020
RCW 70A.218.020: Hazardous waste generation—Fee.
Status: in_force

A fee is imposed for the privilege of generating hazardous waste in the state. The annual amount of the fee shall be thirty-five dollars upon every hazardous waste generator doing business in Washington in the current calendar year or any part thereof. This fee shall be collected by the department or its designee. A hazardous waste generator shall be exempt from the fee imposed under this section if the value of products, gross proceeds of sales, or gross income of the business, from all business activities of the hazardous waste generator, is less than twelve thousand dollars in the current calendar year. The department shall, subject to appropriation, use the funds collected from the fees assessed in this subsection to support the activities of the office of waste reduction as specified in RCW 70A.214.030 . The fee imposed pursuant to this section is due annually by July 1 of the year following the calendar year for which the fee is imposed.
RCW 70A.205.545 — Washington Code / Title 70A / Chapter 205 / Section 545
RCW 70A.205.545: Certain businesses must arrange for organic materials management services—Enforcement authority—Requirements—Limitations of this section—Penalties—Definitions.
Status: in_force

(1)(a) Beginning July 1, 2023, and each July 1st thereafter, the department must determine which counties and any cities preparing independent solid waste management plans: (i) Provide for businesses to be serviced by providers that collect food waste and organic material waste for delivery to solid waste facilities that provide for the organic materials management of organic material waste and food waste; and (ii) Are serviced by solid waste facilities that provide for the organic materials management of organic material waste and food waste and have year-round capacity to process and are willing to accept increased volumes of organic materials deliveries. (b)(i) The department must determine and designate that the restrictions of this section apply to businesses in a jurisdiction unless the department determines that the businesses in some or all portions of the city or county have: (A) No available businesses that collect and deliver organic materials to solid waste facilities that provide for the organic materials management of organic material waste and food waste; or (B) No available capacity at the solid waste facilities to which businesses that collect and deliver organic materials could feasibly and economically deliver organic materials from the jurisdiction. (ii)(A) In the event that a county or city provides a written request and supporting evidence to the department determining that the criteria of (b)(i)(A) of this subsection are met, and the department confirms this determination, then the restrictions of this section apply only in those portions of the jurisdiction that have available service-providing businesses. (B) In the event that a county or city provides a written request and supporting evidence to the department determining that the criteria of (b)(i)(B) of this subsection are met, and the department confirms this determination, then the restrictions of this section do not apply to the jurisdiction. (c) The department must make the result of the annual determinations required under this section available on its website. (d) The requirements of this section may be enforced by jurisdictional health departments or a jurisdiction implementing a plan under this chapter, except that: (i) A jurisdictional health department may not charge a fee to permit holders to cover the costs of the jurisdictional health department's administration or enforcement of the requirements of this section; and (ii) Prior to issuing a penalty under this section, a jurisdictional health department or a jurisdiction implementing a plan under this chapter must provide at least two written notices of noncompliance with the requirements of this section to the owner or operator of a business subject to the requirements of this section. (2)(a)(i) Beginning January 1, 2024, a business that generates at least eight cubic yards of organic material waste per week must arrange for organic materials management services specifically for organic material waste; (ii) Beginning January 1, 2025, a business that generates at least four cubic yards of organic material waste per week must arrange for organic materials management services specifically for organic material waste; and (iii) Beginning January 1, 2026, a business that generates at least 96 gallons of organic material waste per week shall arrange for organic materials management services specifically for organic material waste, unless the department determines, by rule, that additional reductions in the landfilling of organic materials would be more appropriately and effectively achieved, at reasonable cost to regulated businesses, through the establishment of a different volumetric threshold of organic waste material than the threshold of 96 gallons of organic material waste per week. (b) The following wastes do not count for purposes of determining waste volumes in (a) of this subsection: (i) Wastes that are managed on-site by the generating business; (ii) Wastes generated from the growth and harvest of food or fiber that are managed off-site by another business engaged in the growth and harvest of food or fiber; (iii) Wastes that are managed by a business that enters into a voluntary agreement to sell or donate organic materials to another business for off-site use; (iv) Wastes generated in exceptional volumes as a result of a natural disaster or other infrequent and unpreventable event; and (v) Wastes generated as a result of a food safety event, such as a product recall, that is due to foreign material or adverse biological activity that requires landfill destruction rather than organic material management. (3) A business may fulfill the requirements of this section by: (a) Source separating organic material waste from other waste, subscribing to a service that includes organic material waste collection and organic materials management, and using such a service for organic material waste generated by the business; (b) Managing its organic material waste on-site or self-hauling its own organic material waste for organic materials management; (c) Qualifying for exclusion from the requirements of this section consistent with subsection (1)(b) of this section; or (d) For a business engaged in the growth, harvest, or processing of food or fiber, entering into a voluntary agreement to sell or donate organic materials to another business for off-site use. (4)(a) A business generating organic material waste shall arrange for any services required by this section in a manner that is consistent with state and local laws and requirements applicable to the collection, handling, or recycling of solid and organic material waste. (b) Nothing in this section requires a business to dispose of materials in a manner that conflicts with federal or state public health or safety requirements. Nothing in this section requires businesses to dispose of wastes generated in exceptional volumes as a result of a natural disaster or other infrequent and unpreventable event through the options established in subsection (3) of this section. Nothing in this section prohibits a business from disposing of nonfood organic materials that are not commingled with food waste by using the services of an organic materials management facility that does not accept food waste. (5) When arranging for gardening or landscaping services, the contract or work agreement between a business subject to this section and a gardening or landscaping service must require that the organic material waste generated by those services be managed in compliance with this chapter. (6)(a) This section does not limit the authority of a local governmental agency to adopt, implement, or enforce a local organic material waste recycling requirement, or a condition imposed upon a self-hauler, that is more stringent or comprehensive than the requirements of this chapter. (b) This section does not modify, limit, or abrogate in any manner any of the following: (i) A franchise granted or extended by a city, county, city and county, or other local governmental agency; (ii) A contract, license, certificate, or permit to collect solid waste previously granted or extended by a city, county, city and county, or other local governmental agency; (iii) The right of a business to sell or donate its organic materials; and (iv) A certificate of convenience and necessity issued to a solid waste collection company under chapter 81.77 RCW. (c) Nothing in this section modifies, limits, or abrogates the authority of a local jurisdiction with respect to land use, zoning, or facility siting decisions by or within that local jurisdiction. (d) Nothing in this section changes or limits the authority of the Washington utilities and transportation commission to regulate collection of solid waste, including curbside collection of residential recyclable materials, nor does this section change or limit the authority of a city or town to provide the service itself or by contract under RCW 81.77.020 . (7)(a) The department must create and publish on its website: (i) The methodology used to determine the businesses that are required to manage organic materials in a manner consistent with the requirements of this section; and (ii) A list of businesses that are likely to be required to manage organic materials in a manner consistent with the requirements of this section. This list is for purposes of outreach assistance but need not represent a complete or determinative list of businesses required to comply with the requirements of this section. (b) The department may hire an independent third party to support the implementation of the responsibilities described in (a) of this subsection. (c) The list created and published under (a) of this subsection must be designed in a manner that facilitates: (i) Education and outreach by solid waste collection companies, jurisdictional health departments, and local governments; and (ii) Enforcement by jurisdictional health departments and jurisdictions implementing a plan under this chapter. (d)(i) In support of the creation of this list, the department may require a solid waste collection company to furnish information that will assist the department in determining the applicability of the requirements of this section to businesses that are currently receiving collection services for organic materials management from the solid waste collection company. (ii) A solid waste collection company that submits information or records to the department under this section may request that the information or records be made available only for the confidential use of the department, the director, or the appropriate division of the department. The director shall give consideration to the request and if this action is not detrimental to the public interest and is otherwise within accord with the policies and purposes of chapter 43.21A RCW, the director must grant the request for the information to remain confidential as authorized in RCW 43.21A.160 . (8)(a) Prior to imposing a civil penalty under (b) of this subsection when a business has been determined to be in violation of the requirements of this section, a jurisdictional health department or jurisdiction implementing a plan under this chapter must issue at least: (i) One notification letter to a business informing them of the requirements of this chapter by certified mail; and (ii) One notice of violation by certified mail subsequent to the notification letter in (a)(i) of this subsection. (b) After being issued at least the notification letter and at least one notice of violation without the imposition of a penalty under (a) of this subsection, beginning July 1, 2026, a business in violation of the requirements of this section is subject to a minimum civil penalty, imposed by a jurisdiction implementing a plan under this chapter or a jurisdictional health department, in an amount of: (i) $500 for each day of violation for a first violation by a business that results in a penalty under this section; (ii) $750 for each day of violation for a second violation by a business that results in a penalty under this section; (iii) $1,000 for each day of violation for a third or subsequent violation by a business that results in a penalty under this section. (c) Except as provided in (d) of this subsection, a jurisdictional health department or jurisdiction enforcing the requirements of this section may adopt civil penalties that exceed the minimum penalties specified in (b) of this subsection. (d) A small business, as defined in RCW 19.85.020 , may not be assessed more than $10,000 in penalties under this section in a single calendar year. (e) The department may not impose a penalty on a solid waste collection company related to their obligation to disclose information to the department under subsection (7)(d) of this section. (f) A penalty imposed under this section may be appealed to the pollution control hearings board created in chapter 43.21B RCW. (9) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. (a)(i) "Business" means a commercial or public entity including, but not limited to, a firm, partnership, proprietorship, joint stock company, corporation, or association that is organized as a for-profit or nonprofit entity. (ii) "Business" does not include a multifamily residential entity. (b) "Food waste" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 70A.205.715 .
RCW 70.47.902 — Washington Code / Title 70 / Chapter 47 / Section 902
RCW 70.47.902: Construction—Chapter applicable to state registered domestic partnerships—2009 c 521.
Status: in_force

For the purposes of this chapter, the terms spouse, marriage, marital, husband, wife, widow, widower, next of kin, and family shall be interpreted as applying equally to state registered domestic partnerships or individuals in state registered domestic partnerships as well as to marital relationships and married persons, and references to dissolution of marriage shall apply equally to state registered domestic partnerships that have been terminated, dissolved, or invalidated, to the extent that such interpretation does not conflict with federal law. Where necessary to implement chapter 521, Laws of 2009, gender-specific terms such as husband and wife used in any statute, rule, or other law shall be construed to be gender neutral, and applicable to individuals in state registered domestic partnerships.
RCW 70A.305.903 — Washington Code / Title 70A / Chapter 305 / Section 903
RCW 70A.305.903: Existing agreements—1989 c 2.
Status: in_force

The consent orders and decrees in effect on March 1, 1989, shall remain valid and binding.
RCW 48.44.470 — Washington Code / Title 70 / Chapter 44 / Section 470
RCW 48.44.470: Nonresident pharmacies.
Status: in_force

For the purposes of this chapter, a nonresident pharmacy is defined as any pharmacy located outside this state that ships, mails, or delivers, in any manner, except when delivered in person to an enrolled participant or his/her representative, controlled substances, legend drugs, or devices into this state. After October 1, 1991, a health care service contractor providing coverage of prescription drugs from nonresident pharmacies may only provide coverage from licensed nonresident pharmacies. The health care service contractors shall obtain proof of current licensure in conformity with this section and RCW 18.64.350 through 18.64.400 from the nonresident pharmacy and keep that proof of licensure on file. The department may request from the health care service contractor the proof of current licensure for all nonresident pharmacies through which the insurer is providing coverage for prescription drugs for residents of the state of Washington. This information, which may constitute a full or partial customer list, shall be confidential and exempt from public disclosure, and from the requirements of chapter 42.56 RCW. The board or the department shall not be restricted in the disclosure of the name of a nonresident pharmacy that is or has been licensed under RCW 18.64.360 or 18.64.370 or of the identity of a nonresident pharmacy disciplined under RCW 18.64.350 through 18.64.400 .This chapter does not apply to transfers of property under *sections 1 and 2 of this act.
RCW 70A.15.6240 — Washington Code / Title 70A / Chapter 15 / Section 6240
RCW 70A.15.6240: Department of ecology may accept delegation of programs.
Status: in_force

The department of ecology may accept delegation of programs as provided for in the federal clean air act. Subject to federal approval, the department may, in turn, delegate such programs to the local authority with jurisdiction in a given area.
RCW 70.335.040 — Washington Code / Title 70 / Chapter 335 / Section 040
RCW 70.335.040: Public registry—Notification of changes.
Status: in_force

(1) The department shall create and maintain an online public registry of all registered blood-collecting or distributing establishments that supply blood products for transfusion in Washington. (2) The department shall, within fourteen days of receipt, publish in the public registry the information received from each registered blood-collecting or distributing establishment under RCW 70.335.030 , including changes in the standing of the establishment's United States food and drug administration license. (3) The department shall notify all of a blood-collecting or distributing establishment's Washington clients within fourteen days of receiving notice under RCW 70.335.030 that the establishment has experienced a change in standing in its United States food and drug administration license or no longer holds a license issued by the United States food and drug administration.
RCW 70.02.300 — Washington Code / Title 70 / Chapter 02 / Section 300
RCW 70.02.300: Sexually transmitted diseases—Required statement upon disclosure.
Status: in_force

Whenever disclosure is made of information and records related to sexually transmitted diseases pursuant to this chapter, except for RCW 70.02.050 (1)(a) and 70.02.220 (2) (a) and (b) and (7), it must be accompanied by a statement in writing which includes the following or substantially similar language: "This information has been disclosed to you from records whose confidentiality is protected by state law. State law prohibits you from making any further disclosure of it without the specific written authorization of the person to whom it pertains, or as otherwise permitted by state law. A general authorization for the release of medical or other information is NOT sufficient for this purpose." An oral disclosure must be accompanied or followed by such a notice within ten days.
RCW 70A.65.010 — Washington Code / Title 70A / Chapter 65 / Section 010
RCW 70A.65.010: Definitions.
Status: in_force

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (1) "Allowance" means an authorization to emit up to one metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent. (2) "Allowance price containment reserve" means an account maintained by the department with allowances available for sale through separate reserve auctions at predefined prices to assist in containing compliance costs for covered and opt-in entities in the event of unanticipated high costs for compliance instruments. (3) "Annual allowance budget" means the total number of greenhouse gas allowances allocated for auction and distribution for one calendar year by the department. (4) "Asset controlling supplier" means any entity that owns or operates interconnected electricity generating facilities or serves as an exclusive marketer for these facilities even though it does not own them, and has been designated by the department and received a department-published emissions factor for the wholesale electricity procured from its system. The department shall use a methodology consistent with the methodology used by an external greenhouse gas emissions trading program that shares the regional electricity transmission system. Electricity from an asset controlling supplier is considered a specified source of electricity. (5) "Auction" means the process of selling greenhouse gas allowances by offering them up for bid, taking bids, and then distributing the allowances to winning bidders. (6) "Auction floor price" means a price for allowances below which bids at auction are not eligible to be accepted. (7) "Auction purchase limit" means the limit on the number of allowances one registered entity or a group of affiliated registered entities may purchase from the share of allowances sold at an auction. (8) "Balancing authority" means the responsible entity that integrates resource plans ahead of time, maintains load-interchange-generation balance within a balancing authority area, and supports interconnection frequency in real time. (9) "Balancing authority area" means the collection of generation, transmission, and load within the metered boundaries of a balancing authority. A balancing authority maintains load-resource balance within this area. (10) "Best available technology" means a technology or technologies that will achieve the greatest reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, taking into account the fuels, processes, and equipment used by facilities to produce goods of comparable type, quantity, and quality. Best available technology must be technically feasible, commercially available, economically viable, not create excessive environmental impacts, and be compliant with all applicable laws while not changing the characteristics of the good being manufactured. (11) "Biomass" means nonfossilized and biodegradable organic material originating from plants, animals, and microorganisms, including products, by-products, residues, and waste from agriculture, forestry, and related industries as well as the nonfossilized and biodegradable organic fractions of municipal wastewater and industrial waste, including gases and liquids recovered from the decomposition of nonfossilized and biodegradable organic material. (12) "Biomass-derived fuels," "biomass fuels," or "biofuels" means whichever of the following fuels derived from biomass has lower associated life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions: (a) Fuels that have at least 30 percent lower greenhouse gas emissions based on a full life-cycle analysis when compared to petroleum fuels for which biofuels are capable as serving as a substitute; or (b) fuels that meet a standard adopted by the department by rule that align with the definition of biofuel, or other standards applicable to biofuel, established by a jurisdiction with which the department has entered into a linkage agreement. (13) "Carbon dioxide equivalents" means a measure used to compare the emissions from various greenhouse gases based on their global warming potential. (14) "Carbon dioxide removal" means deliberate human activities removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and durably storing it in geological, terrestrial, or ocean reservoirs, or in products. "Carbon dioxide removal" includes existing and potential anthropogenic enhancement of biological or geochemical sinks and including, but not limited to, carbon mineralization and direct air capture and storage. (15) "Climate commitment" means the process and mechanisms to ensure a coordinated and strategic approach to advancing climate resilience and environmental justice and achieving an equitable and inclusive transition to a carbon neutral economy. (16) "Climate resilience" is the ongoing process of anticipating, preparing for, and adapting to changes in climate and minimizing negative impacts to our natural systems, infrastructure, and communities. For natural systems, increasing climate resilience involves restoring and increasing the health, function, and integrity of our ecosystems and improving their ability to absorb and recover from climate-affected disturbances. For communities, increasing climate resilience means enhancing their ability to understand, prevent, adapt, and recover from climate impacts to people and infrastructure. (17) "Closed facility" means a facility at which the current owner or operator has elected to permanently stop production and will no longer be an emissions source. (18) "Compliance instrument" means an allowance or offset credit issued by the department or by an external greenhouse gas emissions trading program to which Washington has linked its greenhouse gas emissions cap and invest program. One compliance instrument is equal to one metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent. (19) "Compliance obligation" means the requirement to submit to the department the number of compliance instruments equivalent to a covered or opt-in entity's covered emissions during the compliance period. (20) "Compliance period" means the four-year period, except as provided in RCW 70A.65.070 (1)(a)(ii), for which the compliance obligation is calculated for covered entities. (21) "Cost burden" means the impact on rates or charges to customers of electric utilities in Washington state for the incremental cost of electricity service to serve load due to the compliance cost for greenhouse gas emissions caused by the program. Cost burden includes administrative costs from the utility's participation in the program. (22) "Covered emissions" means the emissions for which a covered entity has a compliance obligation under RCW 70A.65.080 . (23) "Covered entity" means a person that is designated by the department as subject to RCW 70A.65.060 through 70A.65.210 . (24) "Cumulative environmental health impact" has the same meaning as provided in RCW 70A.02.010 . (25) "Curtailed facility" means a facility at which the owner or operator has temporarily suspended production but for which the owner or operator maintains operating permits and retains the option to resume production if conditions become amenable. (26) "Department" means the department of ecology. (27) "Electricity importer" means: (a) For electricity that is scheduled with a NERC e-tag to a final point of delivery into a balancing authority area located entirely within the state of Washington, the electricity importer is identified on the NERC e-tag as the purchasing-selling entity on the last segment of the tag's physical path with the point of receipt located outside the state of Washington and the point of delivery located inside the state of Washington; (b) For facilities physically located outside the state of Washington with the first point of interconnection to a balancing authority area located entirely within the state of Washington when the electricity is not scheduled on a NERC e-tag, the electricity importer is the facility operator or owner; (c) For electricity imported through a centralized market, the electricity importer will be defined by rule consistent with the rules required under RCW 70A.65.080 (1)(c); (d) For electricity provided as balancing energy in the state of Washington, including balancing energy that is also inside a balancing authority area that is not located entirely within the state of Washington, the electricity importer may be defined by the department by rule; (e) For electricity from facilities allocated to serve retail electricity customers of a multijurisdictional electric company, the electricity importer is the multijurisdictional electric company; (f) If the importer identified under (a) of this subsection is a federal power marketing administration over which the state of Washington does not have jurisdiction, and the federal power marketing administration has not voluntarily elected to comply with the program, then the electricity importer is the next purchasing-selling entity in the physical path on the NERC e-tag, or if no additional purchasing-selling entity over which the state of Washington has jurisdiction, then the electricity importer is the electric utility that operates the Washington transmission or distribution system, or the generation balancing authority; (g) For electricity that is imported into the state by a federal power marketing administration and sold to a public body or cooperative customer or direct service industrial customer located in Washington pursuant to section 5(b) or (d) of the Pacific Northwest electric power planning and conservation act of 1980, P.L. 96-501, the electricity importer is the federal marketing administration; (h) If the importer identified under (g) of this subsection has not voluntarily elected to comply with the program, then the electricity importer is the public body or cooperative customer or direct service industrial customer; (i) For electricity from facilities allocated to a consumer-owned utility inside the state of Washington from a multijurisdictional consumer-owned utility, the electricity importer is the consumer-owned utility inside the state of Washington; or (j) For imported electricity not otherwise assigned an electricity importer by this subsection, the electricity importer may be defined by the department by rule. (28) "Electricity wheeled through the state" means electricity that is generated outside the state of Washington and delivered into Washington with the final point of delivery outside Washington including, but not limited to, electricity wheeled through the state on a single NERC e-tag, or wheeled into and out of Washington at a common point or trading hub on the power system on separate e-tags within the same hour. (29) "Emissions containment reserve allowance" means a conditional allowance that is withheld from sale at an auction by the department or its agent to secure additional emissions reductions in the event prices fall below the emissions containment reserve trigger price. (30) "Emissions containment reserve trigger price" means the price below which allowances will be withheld from sale by the department or its agent at an auction, as determined by the department by rule. (31) "Emissions threshold" means the greenhouse gas emission level at or above which a person has a compliance obligation. (32) "Environmental benefits" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 70A.02.010 . (33) "Environmental harm" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 70A.02.010 . (34) "Environmental impacts" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 70A.02.010 . (35) "Environmental justice" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 70A.02.010 . (36) "Environmental justice assessment" has the same meaning as identified in RCW 70A.02.060 . (37) "External greenhouse gas emissions trading program" means a government program, other than Washington's program created in this chapter, that restricts greenhouse gas emissions from sources outside of Washington and that allows emissions trading. (38) "Facility" means any physical property, plant, building, structure, source, or stationary equipment located on one or more contiguous or adjacent properties in actual physical contact or separated solely by a public roadway or other public right-of-way and under common ownership or common control, that emits or may emit any greenhouse gas. (39) "First jurisdictional deliverer" means the owner or operator of an electric generating facility in Washington or an electricity importer. (40) "General market participant" means a registered entity that is not identified as a covered entity or an opt-in entity that is registered in the program registry and intends to purchase, hold, sell, or voluntarily retire compliance instruments. (41) "Greenhouse gas" has the same meaning as in RCW 70A.45.010 . (42) "Holding limit" means the maximum number of allowances that may be held for use or trade by a registered entity at any one time. (43) "Imported electricity" means electricity generated outside the state of Washington with a final point of delivery within the state. (a) "Imported electricity" includes electricity from an organized market, such as the energy imbalance market. (b) "Imported electricity" includes imports from linked jurisdictions, but such imports shall be construed as having no emissions. (c) Electricity from a system that is marketed by a federal power marketing administration shall be construed as "imported electricity," not electricity generated in the state of Washington. (d) "Imported electricity" does not include any electricity that the department determines by rule to be: (i) Wheeled through the state; or (ii) separately accounted for in this chapter. (e) For a multijurisdictional electric company, "imported electricity" means electricity, other than from in-state facilities, that contributes to a common system power pool. Where a multijurisdictional electric company has a cost allocation methodology approved by the utilities and transportation commission, the allocation of specific facilities to Washington's retail load will be in accordance with that methodology. (f) For a multijurisdictional consumer-owned utility, "imported electricity" includes electricity from facilities that contribute to a common system power pool that are allocated to a consumer-owned utility inside the state of Washington pursuant to a methodology approved by the governing board of the consumer-owned utility. (44) "Leakage" means a reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases within the state that is offset by a directly attributable increase in greenhouse gas emissions outside the state and outside the geography of another jurisdiction with a linkage agreement with Washington. (45) "Limits" means the greenhouse gas emissions reductions required by RCW 70A.45.020 . (46) "Linkage" means a bilateral or multilateral decision under a linkage agreement between greenhouse gas market programs to accept compliance instruments issued by a participating jurisdiction to meet the obligations of regulated entities in a partner jurisdiction and to otherwise coordinate activities to facilitate operation of a joint market. (47) "Linkage agreement" means a nonbinding agreement that connects two or more greenhouse gas market programs and articulates a mutual understanding of how the participating jurisdictions will work together to facilitate a connected greenhouse gas market. (48) "Linked jurisdiction" means a jurisdiction with which Washington has entered into a linkage agreement. (49) "Multijurisdictional consumer-owned utility" means a consumer-owned utility that provides electricity to member owners in Washington and in one or more other states in a contiguous service territory or from a common power system. (50) "Multijurisdictional electric company" means an investor-owned utility that provides electricity to customers in Washington and in one or more other states in a contiguous service territory or from a common power system. (51) "NERC e-tag" means North American electric reliability corporation (NERC) energy tag representing transactions on the North American bulk electricity market scheduled to flow between or across balancing authority areas. (52) "Offset credit" means a tradable compliance instrument that represents an emissions reduction or emissions removal of one metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent. (53) "Offset project" means a project that reduces or removes greenhouse gases that are not covered emissions under this chapter. (54) "Offset protocols" means a set of procedures and standards to quantify greenhouse gas reductions or greenhouse gas removals achieved by an offset project. (55) "Overburdened community" means a geographic area where vulnerable populations face combined, multiple environmental harms and health impacts or risks due to exposure to environmental pollutants or contaminants through multiple pathways, which may result in significant disparate adverse health outcomes or effects. (a) "Overburdened community" includes, but is not limited to: (i) Highly impacted communities as defined in RCW 19.405.020 ; (ii) Communities located in census tracts that are fully or partially on "Indian country" as defined in 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1151; and (iii) Populations, including Native Americans or immigrant populations, who may be exposed to environmental contaminants and pollutants outside of the geographic area in which they reside based on the populations' use of traditional or cultural foods and practices, such as the use of resources, access to which is protected under treaty rights in ceded areas, when those exposures in conjunction with other exposures may result in disproportionately greater risks, including risks of certain cancers or other adverse health effects and outcomes. (b) Overburdened communities identified by the department may include the same communities as those identified by the department through its process for identifying overburdened communities under RCW 70A.02.010 . (56) "Person" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 70A.15.2200 (5)(g)(iii). (57) "Point of delivery" means a point on the electricity transmission or distribution system where a deliverer makes electricity available to a receiver, or available to serve load. This point may be an interconnection with another system or a substation where the transmission provider's transmission and distribution systems are connected to another system, or a distribution substation where electricity is imported into the state over a multijurisdictional retail provider's distribution system. (58) "Price ceiling unit" means the units issued at a fixed price by the department for the purpose of limiting price increases and funding further investments in greenhouse gas reductions. (59) "Program" means the greenhouse gas emissions cap and invest program created by and implemented pursuant to this chapter. (60) "Program registry" means the data system in which covered entities, opt-in entities, and general market participants are registered and in which compliance instruments are recorded and tracked. (61) "Registered entity" means a covered entity, opt-in entity, or general market participant that has completed the process for registration in the program registry. (62) "Resilience" means the ability to prepare, mitigate and plan for, withstand, recover from, and more successfully adapt to adverse events and changing conditions, and reorganize in an equitable manner that results in a new and better condition. (63) "Retire" means to permanently remove a compliance instrument such that the compliance instrument may never be sold, traded, or otherwise used again. (64) "Specified source of electricity" or "specified source" means a facility, unit, or asset controlling supplier that is permitted to be claimed as the source of electricity delivered. The reporting entity must have either full or partial ownership in the facility or a written power contract to procure electricity generated by that facility or unit or from an asset controlling supplier at the time of entry into the transaction to procure electricity. (65) "Supplier" means a supplier of fuel in Washington state as defined in RCW 70A.15.2200 (5)(g)(ii). (66) "Tribal lands" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 70A.02.010 . (67) "Unspecified source of electricity" or "unspecified source" means a source of electricity that is not a specified source at the time of entry into the transaction to procure electricity. (68) "Voluntary renewable reserve account" means a holding account maintained by the department from which allowances may be retired for voluntary renewable electricity generation, which is directly delivered to the state and has not and will not be sold or used to meet any other mandatory requirements in the state or any other jurisdiction, on behalf of voluntary renewable energy purchasers or end users. (69) "Vulnerable populations" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 70A.02.010 .
RCW 70A.125.120 — Washington Code / Title 70A / Chapter 125 / Section 120
RCW 70A.125.120: Safe drinking water account.
Status: in_force

The safe drinking water account is created in the general fund of the state treasury. All receipts from the operating permit fees required to be paid under RCW 70A.125.100 shall be deposited into the account. Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation. Expenditures from the account may be used by the department of health to carry out the purposes of chapter 304, Laws of 1991 and to carry out contracts with local governments in accordance with this chapter.
RCW 70.26.070 — Washington Code / Title 70 / Chapter 26 / Section 070
RCW 70.26.070: Secretary duties—Report.
Status: in_force

The secretary shall: (1) Develop a process for assessing the compliance of each local health jurisdiction with the requirements and performance standards developed under RCW 70.26.030 (1) at least biannually; (2) By November 15, 2008, report to the legislature on the level of compliance with the performance standards established under RCW 70.26.030 (1). The report shall consider the extent to which local health jurisdictions comply with each performance standard and any impediments to meeting the expected level of performance.
RCW 70.230.170 — Washington Code / Title 70 / Chapter 230 / Section 170
RCW 70.230.170: Information received by department—Disclosure.
Status: in_force

Information received by the department through filed reports, inspection, or as otherwise authorized under this chapter may be disclosed publicly, as permitted under chapter 42.56 RCW, subject to the following provisions: (1) Licensing inspections, or complaint investigations regardless of findings, shall, as requested, be disclosed no sooner than three business days after the ambulatory surgical facility has received the resulting assessment report; (2) Information regarding administrative action against the license [licensee] shall, as requested, be disclosed after the ambulatory surgical facility has received the documents initiating the administrative action; (3) Information about complaints that did not warrant an investigation shall not be disclosed except to notify the ambulatory surgical facility and the complainant that the complaint did not warrant an investigation; and (4) Information disclosed under this section shall not disclose individual names.
RCW 70A.45.110 — Washington Code / Title 70A / Chapter 45 / Section 110
RCW 70A.45.110: Siting of certain facilities.
Status: in_force

The state, state agencies, and political subdivisions of the state, in implementing their duties and authorities established under other laws, may only consider the greenhouse gas limits established in RCW 70A.45.020 in a manner that recognizes, where applicable, that the siting and placement of new or expanded best-in-class facilities with lower carbon emitting processes is in the economic and environmental interests of the state of Washington.
RCW 70A.315.020 — Washington Code / Title 70A / Chapter 315 / Section 020
RCW 70A.315.020: Definitions.
Status: in_force

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter. (1) "Department" means the department of ecology. (2) "Director" means the director of the department of ecology or the director's designee. (3) "Dispose" or "disposal" means the treatment, utilization, processing, or final deposit of special incineration ash. (4) "Generate" means any act or process which produces special incinerator ash or which first causes special incinerator ash to become subject to regulation. (5) "Management" means the handling, storage, collection, transportation, and disposal of special incinerator ash. (6) "Person" means any person, firm, association, county, public or municipal or private corporation, agency, or other entity whatsoever. (7) "Facility" means all structures, other appurtenances, improvements, and land used for recycling, storing, treating, or disposing of special incinerator ash. (8) "Special incinerator ash" means ash residues resulting from the operation of incinerator or energy recovery facilities managing municipal solid waste, including solid waste from residential, commercial, and industrial establishments, if the ash residues (a) would otherwise be regulated as hazardous wastes under chapter 70A.300 RCW; and (b) are not regulated as a hazardous waste under the federal resource conservation and recovery act, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 6901 et seq.