HB 1824

CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT
  SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1824
  Chapter 69, Laws of 2025
  69th Legislature
  2025 Regular Session
  ACCREDITED BIRTHING CENTERS—INSPECTIONS
  EFFECTIVE DATE: July 27, 2025
Passed by the House March 4, 2025  CERTIFICATE
  Yeas 95 Nays 0
  I, Bernard Dean, Chief Clerk of the
  House of Representatives of the
  LAURIE JINKINS  State of Washington, do hereby
Speaker of the House of  certify   that    the   attached  is
Representatives  SUBSTITUTE    HOUSE   BILL   1824 as
  passed     by     the     House   of
  Representatives and the Senate on
  the dates hereon set forth.
Passed by the Senate April 4, 2025
  Yeas 49 Nays 0
  BERNARD DEAN
  DENNY HECK  Chief Clerk
President of the Senate
Approved April 16, 2025 10:57 AM  FILED
  April 16, 2025
  Secretary of State
  BOB FERGUSON  State of Washington
Governor of the State of Washington
  SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1824
  Passed Legislature - 2025 Regular Session
State of Washington  69th Legislature       2025 Regular Session
By   House  Health   Care   &   Wellness   (originally    sponsored   by
Representative Barnard)
READ FIRST TIME 02/21/25.
1     AN ACT Relating to inspections for accredited birthing centers;
2 and amending RCW 18.46.080.
3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
4     Sec. 1.    RCW 18.46.080 and 2000 c 93 s 35 are each amended to
5 read as follows:
6     (1) The department shall make or cause to be made an inspection
7 and investigation of all birthing centers, and every inspection may
8 include an inspection of every part of the premises. The department
9 may make an examination of all records, methods of administration,
10 the general and special dietary and the stores and methods of supply.
11 The department may prescribe by regulation that any licensee or
12 applicant desiring to make specified types of alteration or addition
13 to its facilities or to construct new facilities shall before
14 commencing such alterations, addition, or new construction submit
15 plans and specifications therefor to the department for preliminary
16 inspection and approval or recommendations with respect to compliance
17 with    regulations  and   standards  herein   authorized.   Necessary
18 conferences and consultations may be provided.
19      (2)(a) A birthing center that is accredited by a birthing center
20 accrediting body is not subject to a state licensure survey if:
  p. 1  SHB 1824.SL
1     (i) The department determines that the applicable survey
2 standards of the accrediting body are substantially equivalent to
3 those of this chapter and adopted by the department;
4     (ii) An on-site survey has been conducted for the purposes of
5 accreditation during the previous 36 months; and
6     (iii) The department receives directly from the accrediting body
7 or from the applicant copies of the latest survey report and other
8 relevant reports or findings that indicate compliance with licensure
9 requirements.
10     (b) The department retains authority to survey those service
11 areas not addressed by the accrediting body, if any.
12     (c) In reviewing the birthing center accrediting body's survey
13 standards for substantial equivalency to those set forth in this
14 chapter or adopted by the department in rule, the department is
15 directed to provide the most liberal interpretation consistent with
16 the intent of this chapter. In the event the department determines at
17 any time that the survey standards are not substantially equivalent
18 to those required by this chapter or adopted by the department in
19 rule, the department is directed to notify the affected licensees.
20 The notification must contain a detailed description of the
21 deficiencies in the alternative survey process, as well as an
22 explanation concerning the risk to the consumer. The determination of
23 substantial equivalency for alternative survey process and lack of
24 substantial equivalency are agency actions and subject to RCW
25 34.05.210 through 34.05.395 and 34.05.510 through 34.05.675.
26     (d) The department is authorized to perform a validation survey
27 on applicants who previously received a survey through the
28 accreditation process by the accrediting body. The department is
29 authorized to perform a validation survey on no greater than 10
30 percent of applicants that are accredited by the accrediting body.
31     (e) This subsection (2) does not affect the department's initial
32 licensing process or enforcement authority for licensed birthing
33 centers.
  Passed by the House March 4, 2025.
  Passed by the Senate April 4, 2025.
  Approved by the Governor April 16, 2025.
  Filed in Office of Secretary of State April 16, 2025.
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  p. 2  SHB 1824.SL