CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT
SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5189
Chapter 270, Laws of 2023
68th Legislature
2023 Regular Session
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUPPORT SPECIALISTS
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 23, 2023—Except for section 14, which takes
effect October 1, 2023.
Passed by the Senate April 14, 2023 CERTIFICATE
Yeas 46 Nays 0
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 SUBSTITUTE SENATE
BILL 5189 as passed by the Senate
and the House of Representatives on
the dates hereon set forth.
Passed by the House April 6, 2023
Yeas 98 Nays 0
SARAH BANNISTER
LAURIE JINKINS Secretary
Speaker of the House of
Representatives
Approved May 4, 2023 10:48 AM FILED
May 4, 2023
Secretary of State
JAY INSLEE State of Washington
Governor of the State of Washington
 SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5189
AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
Passed Legislature - 2023 Regular Session
State of Washington 68th Legislature 2023 Regular Session
By Senate Health & Long Term Care (originally sponsored by Senators
Trudeau, Wagoner, Conway, Dhingra, and C. Wilson)
READ FIRST TIME 02/01/23.
1 AN ACT Relating to establishing behavioral health support
2 specialists; amending RCW 18.130.040 and 18.130.040; adding a new
3 section to chapter 48.43 RCW; adding a new chapter to Title 18 RCW;
4 providing an effective date; and providing an expiration date.
5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
6 NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that a behavioral
7 health support specialist is a new member of the workforce in
8 Washington state trained in the competencies developed by the
9 University of Washington behavioral health support specialist
10 clinical training program. The behavioral health support specialist
11 clinical training program is characterized by brief, evidence-based
12 interventions delivered to the intensity and expected duration of the
13 behavioral health problem. The approach features routine outcome
14 monitoring and regular, outcome-focused supervision. Use of
15 behavioral health support specialists in Washington is expected to
16 improve access to behavioral health services and ease workforce
17 shortages while helping behavioral health professionals work at the
18 top of their scope of practice.
p. 1 SSB 5189.SL
 1 NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The definitions in this section apply
2 throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires
3 otherwise.
4 (1) "Adult" means a person 18 years of age or older.
5 (2) "Applicant" means a person who completes the required
6 application, pays the required fee, is at least 18 years of age, and
7 meets any background check requirements and uniform disciplinary act
8 requirements.
9 (3) "Behavioral health" is a term that encompasses mental health,
10 substance use, and co-occurring disorders.
11 (4) "Behavioral health support specialist" means a person
12 certified to deliver brief, evidence-based interventions with a scope
13 of practice that includes behavioral health under the supervision of
14 a Washington state credentialed provider who has the ability to
15 assess, diagnose, and treat identifiable mental and behavioral health
16 conditions as part of their scope of practice. A behavioral health
17 support specialist does not have within their scope of practice the
18 ability to make diagnoses but does track and monitor treatment
19 response and outcomes using measurement-based care.
20 (5) "Department" means the department of health.
21 (6) "Registered apprenticeship" means an apprenticeship program
22 approved by the Washington state apprenticeship and training council
23 according to chapter 49.04 RCW.
24 (7) "Secretary" means the secretary of health or the secretary's
25 designee.
26 NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The department shall collaborate with the
27 University of Washington department of psychiatry and behavioral
28 sciences and consult with other stakeholders to develop rules to
29 implement this chapter by January 1, 2025, which shall be consistent
30 with the University of Washington behavioral health support
31 specialist clinical training program guidelines, and shall include
32 appropriate standards for approval of educational programs for
33 behavioral health support specialists, which shall include a
34 practicum component and may be integrated into a bachelor's degree
35 program or structured as a postbaccalaureate continuing education
36 program or registered apprenticeship in combination with an approved
37 bachelor's degree or postbaccalaureate certificate.
p. 2 SSB 5189.SL
1 NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A person may not represent themself as a
2 behavioral health support specialist without being certified by the
3 department.
4 NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed
5 to prohibit or restrict delivery of behavioral health interventions
6 by an individual otherwise regulated under this title and performing
7 services within their authorized scope of practice.
8 NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. In addition to any other authority
9 provided by law, the secretary has the authority to:
10 (1) Adopt rules under chapter 34.05 RCW necessary to implement
11 this chapter. Any rules adopted shall be in consultation with the
12 University of Washington;
13 (2) Establish all certification, examination, and renewal fees in
14 accordance with RCW 43.70.250;
15 (3) Establish forms and procedures necessary to administer this
16 chapter;
17 (4) Issue certifications to applicants who have met the
18 education, which may include registered apprenticeships, practicum,
19 and examination requirements for certification and to deny a
20 certification to applicants who do not meet the requirements;
21 (5) Develop, administer, and supervise the grading and taking of
22 an examination for applicants for certification;
23 (6) Adopt rules requiring completion of 20 hours of continuing
24 education every two years after initial certification for
25 certification renewal;
26 (7) Maintain the official record of all applicants and
27 certification holders; and
28 (8) Establish by rule the procedures for an appeal of an
29 examination failure.
30 NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. The uniform disciplinary act, chapter
31 18.130 RCW, governs uncertified practice, the issuance and denial of
32 certification, and the discipline of persons certified under this
33 chapter. The secretary shall be the disciplinary authority under this
34 chapter.
p. 3 SSB 5189.SL
 1 NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. The secretary shall issue a certification
2 to any applicant who demonstrates to the satisfaction of the
3 secretary that the applicant meets the following requirements:
4 (1) Graduation from a bachelor's degree program;
5 (2) Successful completion of a behavioral health support
6 specialist program that is approved to meet standards consistent with
7 the University of Washington behavioral health support specialist
8 clinical training program guidelines, including a supervised clinical
9 practicum with demonstrated clinical skills in core competencies; and
10 (3) Successful completion of an approved jurisprudential
11 examination.
12 NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. (1) The date and location of examinations
13 shall be established by the secretary. Applicants who have been found
14 by the secretary to meet the other requirements for certification
15 shall be scheduled for the next examination following the filing of
16 the application. The secretary shall establish by rule the
17 examination application deadline.
18 (2) The secretary or the secretary's designee shall examine each
19 applicant, by means determined to be most effective, on subjects
20 appropriate to the scope of practice, as applicable. Such
21 examinations shall be limited to the purpose of determining whether
22 the applicant possesses the minimum skill and knowledge necessary to
23 practice competently.
24 (3) The examination papers, all grading of the papers, and the
25 grading of any practical work shall be preserved for a period of not
26 less than one year after the secretary has made and published the
27 decisions. All examinations shall be conducted using fair and wholly
28 impartial methods.
29 (4) The secretary may approve an examination prepared or
30 administered by a private testing agency or association of licensing
31 agencies for use by an applicant in meeting the certification
32 requirements.
33 NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. Applications for certification shall be
34 submitted on forms provided by the secretary. The secretary may
35 require any information and documentation which reasonably relates to
36 the need to determine whether the applicant meets the criteria for
37 certification provided for in this chapter and chapter 18.130 RCW.
p. 4 SSB 5189.SL
1 Each applicant shall pay a fee determined by the secretary under RCW
2 43.70.250. The fee shall accompany the application.
3 NEW SECTION. Sec. 11. The health care authority shall take any
4 steps which are necessary and proper to ensure that the services of
5 behavioral health support specialists are covered under the state
6 medicaid program by January 1, 2025.
7 NEW SECTION. Sec. 12. A new section is added to chapter 48.43
8 RCW to read as follows:
9 By July 1, 2025, every carrier shall provide access to services
10 provided by behavioral health support specialists in a manner
11 sufficient to meet the network access standards set forth in rules
12 established by the office of the insurance commissioner.
13 Sec. 13. RCW 18.130.040 and 2021 c 179 s 7 are each amended to
14 read as follows:
15 (1) This chapter applies only to the secretary and the boards and
16 commissions having jurisdiction in relation to the professions
17 licensed under the chapters specified in this section. This chapter
18 does not apply to any business or profession not licensed under the
19 chapters specified in this section.
20 (2)(a) The secretary has authority under this chapter in relation
21 to the following professions:
22 (i) Dispensing opticians licensed and designated apprentices
23 under chapter 18.34 RCW;
24 (ii) Midwives licensed under chapter 18.50 RCW;
25 (iii) Ocularists licensed under chapter 18.55 RCW;
26 (iv) Massage therapists and businesses licensed under chapter
27 18.108 RCW;
28 (v) Dental hygienists licensed under chapter 18.29 RCW;
29 (vi) Acupuncturists or acupuncture and Eastern medicine
30 practitioners licensed under chapter 18.06 RCW;
31 (vii) Radiologic technologists certified and X-ray technicians
32 registered under chapter 18.84 RCW;
33 (viii) Respiratory care practitioners licensed under chapter
34 18.89 RCW;
35 (ix) Hypnotherapists and agency affiliated counselors registered
36 and advisors and counselors certified under chapter 18.19 RCW;
p. 5 SSB 5189.SL
 1 (x) Persons licensed as mental health counselors, mental health
2 counselor associates, marriage and family therapists, marriage and
3 family therapist associates, social workers, social work associates—
4 advanced, and social work associates—independent clinical under
5 chapter 18.225 RCW;
6 (xi) Persons registered as nursing pool operators under chapter
7 18.52C RCW;
8 (xii) Nursing assistants registered or certified or medication
9 assistants endorsed under chapter 18.88A RCW;
10 (xiii) Dietitians and nutritionists certified under chapter
11 18.138 RCW;
12 (xiv) Substance use disorder professionals, substance use
13 disorder professional trainees, or co-occurring disorder specialists
14 certified under chapter 18.205 RCW;
15 (xv) Sex offender treatment providers and certified affiliate sex
16 offender treatment providers certified under chapter 18.155 RCW;
17 (xvi) Persons licensed and certified under chapter 18.73 RCW or
18 RCW 18.71.205;
19 (xvii) Orthotists and prosthetists licensed under chapter 18.200
20 RCW;
21 (xviii) Surgical technologists registered under chapter 18.215
22 RCW;
23 (xix) Recreational therapists under chapter 18.230 RCW;
24 (xx) Animal massage therapists certified under chapter 18.240
25 RCW;
26 (xxi) Athletic trainers licensed under chapter 18.250 RCW;
27 (xxii) Home care aides certified under chapter 18.88B RCW;
28 (xxiii) Genetic counselors licensed under chapter 18.290 RCW;
29 (xxiv) Reflexologists certified under chapter 18.108 RCW;
30 (xxv) Medical assistants-certified, medical assistants-
31 hemodialysis technician, medical assistants-phlebotomist, forensic
32 phlebotomist, and medical assistants-registered certified and
33 registered under chapter 18.360 RCW; ((and))
34 (xxvi) Behavior analysts, assistant behavior analysts, and
35 behavior technicians under chapter 18.380 RCW; and
36 (xxvii) Behavioral health support specialists certified under
37 chapter 18.--- RCW (the new chapter created in section 15 of this
38 act).
39 (b) The boards and commissions having authority under this
40 chapter are as follows:
p. 6 SSB 5189.SL
 1 (i) The podiatric medical board as established in chapter 18.22
2 RCW;
3 (ii) The chiropractic quality assurance commission as established
4 in chapter 18.25 RCW;
5 (iii) The dental quality assurance commission as established in
6 chapter 18.32 RCW governing licenses issued under chapter 18.32 RCW,
7 licenses and registrations issued under chapter 18.260 RCW, and
8 certifications issued under chapter 18.350 RCW;
9 (iv) The board of hearing and speech as established in chapter
10 18.35 RCW;
11 (v) The board of examiners for nursing home administrators as
12 established in chapter 18.52 RCW;
13 (vi) The optometry board as established in chapter 18.54 RCW
14 governing licenses issued under chapter 18.53 RCW;
15 (vii) The board of osteopathic medicine and surgery as
16 established in chapter 18.57 RCW governing licenses issued under
17 chapter 18.57 RCW;
18 (viii) The pharmacy quality assurance commission as established
19 in chapter 18.64 RCW governing licenses issued under chapters 18.64
20 and 18.64A RCW;
21 (ix) The Washington medical commission as established in chapter
22 18.71 RCW governing licenses and registrations issued under chapters
23 18.71 and 18.71A RCW;
24 (x) The board of physical therapy as established in chapter 18.74
25 RCW;
26 (xi) The board of occupational therapy practice as established in
27 chapter 18.59 RCW;
28 (xii) The nursing care quality assurance commission as
29 established in chapter 18.79 RCW governing licenses and registrations
30 issued under that chapter;
31 (xiii) The examining board of psychology and its disciplinary
32 committee as established in chapter 18.83 RCW;
33 (xiv) The veterinary board of governors as established in chapter
34 18.92 RCW;
35 (xv) The board of naturopathy established in chapter 18.36A RCW,
36 governing licenses and certifications issued under that chapter; and
37 (xvi) The board of denturists established in chapter 18.30 RCW.
38 (3) In addition to the authority to discipline license holders,
39 the disciplining authority has the authority to grant or deny
p. 7 SSB 5189.SL
1 licenses. The disciplining authority may also grant a license subject
2 to conditions.
3 (4) All disciplining authorities shall adopt procedures to ensure
4 substantially consistent application of this chapter, the uniform
5 disciplinary act, among the disciplining authorities listed in
6 subsection (2) of this section.
7 Sec. 14. RCW 18.130.040 and 2022 c 217 s 5 are each amended to
8 read as follows:
9 (1) This chapter applies only to the secretary and the boards and
10 commissions having jurisdiction in relation to the professions
11 licensed under the chapters specified in this section. This chapter
12 does not apply to any business or profession not licensed under the
13 chapters specified in this section.
14 (2)(a) The secretary has authority under this chapter in relation
15 to the following professions:
16 (i) Dispensing opticians licensed and designated apprentices
17 under chapter 18.34 RCW;
18 (ii) Midwives licensed under chapter 18.50 RCW;