WSR 21-18-112
PERMANENT RULES
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
(Board of Optometry)
[Filed August 31, 2021, 4:45 p.m., effective October 1, 2021]
Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.
Purpose: Chapter 246-851 WAC, Optometrists; adopting a new section, WAC 246-851-245, for suicide prevention education; and repealing WAC 246-851-430 AIDS prevention education requirements. The adopted rule implements ESHB 2411 (chapter 229, Laws of 2020) codified in RCW
43.70.442. The law amended RCW
43.70.442 adding optometrists to the list of professionals required to complete a one-time continuing education training in suicide prevention. The adopted rule requires optometrists to take a one-time, three-hour training in suicide assessment. The adopted rule removes references to AIDS education and training in accordance with ESHB 1551, chapter 76, Laws of 2020, which removed the requirement for healthcare practitioners to take AIDS training.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: New WAC 246-851-245; and repealing WAC 246-851-430.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW
18.54.070; ESHB 2411 (chapter 229, Laws of 2020).
Other Authority: ESHB 2411 (chapter 229, Laws of 2020) codified in RCW
43.70.442; ESHB 1551 (chapter 76, Laws of 2020).
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 21-07-090 on March 19, 2021.
A final cost-benefit analysis is available by contacting Loralei Walker, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504, phone 360-236-4947, fax 360-236-2901, TTY 711, email loralei.walker@doh.wa.gov, website doh.wa.gov.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1.
Date Adopted: May 3, 2021.
Glen Owen, OD, Chair
Board of Optometry
OTS-2817.3
NEW SECTION
WAC 246-851-245Optometrist suicide prevention education.
A licensed optometrist or a retired active licensed optometrist shall complete a board-approved, one-time training in suicide prevention that is at least three hours in length. Training must include screening and referral.
(1) This training must be completed by the end of the first full continuing education reporting period after August 1, 2021, or during the first full continuing education reporting period after initial licensure, whichever is later.
(2) Training accepted by the board must be on the department's model list as authorized in WAC 246-12-601 through 246-12-650.
(3) Training completed between June 11, 2020, and August 1, 2021, that meets the requirements of subsection (2) of this section, is accepted as meeting the one-time training requirement of this section.
(4) The hours spent completing the training in suicide assessment under this section count toward meeting applicable continuing education requirements for optometrist license renewal.
REPEALER
The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed:
WAC 246-851-430 | AIDS prevention and information education requirements. |