Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT
                              SENATE BILL 5982
                           Chapter 41, Laws of 2024
                               68th Legislature
                             2024 Regular Session
                             VACCINES—DEFINITION
                    EFFECTIVE DATE: March 13, 2024
Passed by the Senate February 1, 2024                CERTIFICATE
  Yeas 29 Nays 19
                                        I, Sarah Bannister, Secretary of
                                        the   Senate   of  the   State   of
              DENNY HECK                Washington, do hereby certify that
President of the Senate                 the attached is SENATE BILL 5982 as
                                        passed by the Senate and the House
                                        of Representatives on the dates
                                        hereon set forth.
Passed by the House February 22, 2024
  Yeas 61 Nays 32
                                                  SARAH BANNISTER
            LAURIE JINKINS                                           Secretary
Speaker of the House of
Representatives
Approved March 13, 2024 11:34 AM                        FILED
                                                    March 14, 2024
                                                 Secretary of State
              JAY INSLEE                         State of Washington
Governor of the State of Washington
                               SENATE BILL 5982
                   Passed Legislature - 2024 Regular Session
     State of Washington       68th Legislature       2024 Regular Session
     By Senators Cleveland, Robinson, Keiser, Dhingra, Van De Wege,
     Conway, Frame, Kuderer, Liias, Mullet, Nobles, Salomon, Trudeau,
     Valdez, and Wellman; by request of Department of Health
     Prefiled 01/04/24. Read first time 01/08/24.    Referred to Committee
     on Health & Long Term Care.
1        AN ACT Relating to updating the definition of "vaccine" in RCW
2    70.290.010 to include all federal food and drug administration-
3    approved immunizations recommended by the centers for disease control
4    and prevention; amending RCW 70.290.010; and declaring an emergency.
5    BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
 6       Sec. 1.   RCW 70.290.010 and 2010 c 174 s 1 are each amended to
 7   read as follows:
 8       The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter
 9   unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
10       (1) "Association" means the Washington vaccine association.
11       (2) "Covered lives" means all persons under the age of nineteen
12   in Washington state who are:
13       (a) Covered under an individual or group health benefit plan
14   issued or delivered in Washington state or an individual or group
15   health benefit plan that otherwise provides benefits to Washington
16   residents; or
17       (b) Enrolled in a group health benefit plan administered by a
18   third-party administrator. Persons under the age of nineteen for whom
19   federal funding is used to purchase vaccines or who are enrolled in
20   state purchased health care programs covering low-income children
21   including, but not limited to, apple health for kids under RCW
                                     p. 1                       SB 5982.SL
 1   74.09.470 and the basic health plan under chapter 70.47 RCW are not
 2   considered "covered lives" under this chapter.
 3       (3) "Estimated vaccine cost" means the estimated cost to the
 4   state over the course of a state fiscal year for the purchase and
 5   distribution of vaccines purchased at the federal discount rate by
 6   the department of health.
 7       (4) "Health benefit plan" has the same meaning as defined in RCW
 8   48.43.005 and also includes health benefit plans administered by a
 9   third-party administrator.
10       (5) "Health carrier" has the same meaning as defined in RCW
11   48.43.005.
12       (6) "Secretary" means the secretary of the department of health.
13       (7) "State supplied vaccine" means vaccine purchased by the state
14   department of health for covered lives for whom the state is
15   purchasing vaccine using state funds raised via assessments on health
16   carriers and third-party administrators as provided in this chapter.
17       (8) "Third-party administrator" means any person or entity who,
18   on behalf of a health insurer or health care purchaser, receives or
19   collects charges, contributions, or premiums for, or adjusts or
20   settles claims on or for, residents of Washington state or Washington
21   health care providers and facilities.
22       (9) "Total nonfederal program cost" means the estimated vaccine
23   cost less the amount of federal revenue available to the state for
24   the purchase and distribution of vaccines.
25       (10) "Vaccine" means ((a preparation of killed or attenuated
26   living microorganisms, or fraction thereof, that upon administration
27   stimulates immunity that protects against disease and is)) an
28   immunization approved by the federal food and drug administration as
29   safe and effective and recommended by the advisory committee on
30   immunization practices of the centers for disease control and
31   prevention for administration to children under the age of nineteen
32   years.
33       NEW SECTION.   Sec. 2.  This act is necessary for the immediate
34   preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of
35   the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes
36   effect immediately.
         Passed by the Senate February 1, 2024.
         Passed by the House February 22, 2024.
         Approved by the Governor March 13, 2024.
                                     p. 2                       SB 5982.SL
Filed in Office of Secretary of State March 14, 2024.
                        --- END ---
                           p. 3                         SB 5982.SL
Statutes affected: 
Original Bill: 70.290.010
Bill as Passed Legislature: 70.290.010
Session Law: 70.290.010