1471-S AMH DYER H2872

1471-S AMH DYER H2872.1

SHB 1471 - H AMD 289 ADOPTED 3-19-97

By Representative Dyer

Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 9A.42 RCW to read as follows:

The legislature finds that there is a significant need to protect children and dependent persons, including frail elder and vulnerable adults, from abuse and neglect by their parents, by persons entrusted with their physical custody, or by persons employed to provide them with the basic necessities of life. The legislature further finds that such abuse and neglect often takes the forms of either withholding from them the basic necessities of life, including food, water, shelter, clothing, and health care, or abandoning them, or both. Therefore, it is the intent of the legislature that criminal penalties be imposed on those guilty of such abuse or neglect. It is the intent of the legislature that a person who, in good faith, is furnished Christian Science treatment by a duly accredited Christian Science practitioner in lieu of medical care is not considered deprived of medically necessary health care or abandoned. Prosecutions under this chapter shall be consistent with the rules of evidence, including hearsay, under law.

Sec. 2. RCW 9A.42.010 and 1996 c 302 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

As used in this chapter:

(1) "Basic necessities of life" means food, water, shelter, clothing, and medically necessary health care, including but not limited to health-related treatment or activities, hygiene, oxygen, and medication.

(2)(a) "Bodily injury" means physical pain or injury, illness, or an impairment of physical condition;

(b) "Substantial bodily harm" means bodily injury which involves a temporary but substantial disfigurement, or which causes a temporary but substantial loss or impairment of the function of any bodily part or organ, or which causes a fracture of any bodily part;

(c) "Great bodily harm" means bodily injury which creates a high probability of death, or which causes serious permanent disfigurement, or which causes a permanent or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily part or organ.

(3) "Child" means a person under eighteen years of age.

(4) "Dependent person" means a person who, because of physical or mental disability, or because of extreme advanced age, is dependent upon another person to provide the basic necessities of life. A resident of a nursing home, as defined in RCW 18.51.010, a resident of an adult family home, as defined in RCW 70.128.010, and a frail elder or vulnerable adult, as defined in RCW 74.34.020(8), is presumed to be a dependent person for purposes of this chapter.

(5) "Employed" means hired by a dependent person, another person acting on behalf of a dependent person, or by an organization or governmental entity, to provide to a dependent person any of the basic necessities of life. A person may be "employed" regardless of whether the person is paid for the services or, if paid, regardless of who pays for the person's services.

(6) "Parent" has its ordinary meaning and also includes a guardian and the authorized agent of a parent or guardian.

(7) "Abandons" means leaving a child or other dependent person without the means or ability to obtain one or more of the basic necessities of life.

Sec. 3. RCW 9A.42.050 and 1986 c 250 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:

In any prosecution for criminal mistreatment, it shall be a defense that the withholding of the basic necessities of life is due to financial inability only if the person charged has made a reasonable effort to obtain adequate assistance. This defense is available to persons in the business of providing care only when the agreed-upon payment for the care has not been received.

Sec. 4. RCW 9A.42.020 and 1986 c 250 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) A parent of a child ((or)), the person entrusted with the physical custody of a child or dependent person, or a person employed to provide to the child or dependent person the basic necessities of life is guilty of criminal mistreatment in the first degree if he or she recklessly, as defined in RCW 9A.08.010, causes great bodily harm to a child or dependent person by withholding any of the basic necessities of life.

(2) Criminal mistreatment in the first degree is a class B felony.

Sec. 5. RCW 9A.42.030 and 1986 c 250 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) A parent of a child ((or)), the person entrusted with the physical custody of a child or dependent person, or a person employed to provide to the child or dependent person the basic necessities of life is guilty of criminal mistreatment in the second degree if he or she recklessly, as defined in RCW 9A.08.010, either (a) creates an imminent and substantial risk of death or great bodily harm, or (b) causes substantial bodily harm by withholding any of the basic necessities of life.

(2) Criminal mistreatment in the second degree is a class C felony.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. A new section is added to chapter 9A.42 RCW to read as follows:

RCW 9A.42.020 and 9A.42.030 do not apply when a terminally ill person is receiving palliative care by a licensed home health agency, hospice agency, nursing home, or hospital providing hospice care under the medical direction of a physician.

Sec. 7. RCW 9A.44.010 and 1994 c 271 s 302 are each amended to read as follows:

As used in this chapter:

(1) "Sexual intercourse" (a) has its ordinary meaning and occurs upon any penetration, however slight, and

(b) Also means any penetration of the vagina or anus however slight, by an object, when committed on one person by another, whether such persons are of the same or opposite sex, except when such penetration is accomplished for medically recognized treatment or diagnostic purposes, and

(c) Also means any act of sexual contact between persons involving the sex organs of one person and the mouth or anus of another whether such persons are of the same or opposite sex.

(2) "Sexual contact" means any touching of the sexual or other intimate parts of a person done for the purpose of gratifying sexual desire of either party or a third party.

(3) "Married" means one who is legally married to another, but does not include a person who is living separate and apart from his or her spouse and who has filed in an appropriate court for legal separation or for dissolution of his or her marriage.

(4) "Mental incapacity" is that condition existing at the time of the offense which prevents a person from understanding the nature or consequences of the act of sexual intercourse whether that condition is produced by illness, defect, the influence of a substance or from some other cause.

(5) "Physically helpless" means a person who is unconscious or for any other reason is physically unable to communicate unwillingness to an act.

(6) "Forcible compulsion" means physical force which overcomes resistance, or a threat, express or implied, that places a person in fear of death or physical injury to herself or himself or another person, or in fear that she or he or another person will be kidnapped.

(7) "Consent" means that at the time of the act of sexual intercourse or sexual contact there are actual words or conduct indicating freely given agreement to have sexual intercourse or sexual contact.

(8) "Significant relationship" means a situation in which the perpetrator is:

(a) A person who undertakes the responsibility, professionally or voluntarily, to provide education, health, welfare, or organized recreational activities principally for minors; ((or))

(b) A person who in the course of his or her employment supervises minors; or

(c) A person who provides welfare, health or residential assistance, personal care, or organized recreational activities to frail elders or vulnerable adults, including a provider, employee, temporary employee, volunteer, or independent contractor who supplies services to long-term care facilities licensed or required to be licensed under chapter 18.20, 18.51, 72.36, or 70.128 RCW, and home health, hospice, or home care agencies licensed or required to be licensed under chapter 70.127 RCW.

(9) "Abuse of a supervisory position" means a direct or indirect threat or promise to use authority to the detriment or benefit of a minor.

(10) "Developmentally disabled," for purposes of RCW 9A.44.050(1)(c) and 9A.44.100(1)(c), means a person with a developmental disability as defined in RCW 71A.10.020.

(11) "Person with supervisory authority," for purposes of RCW 9A.44.050(1) (c) or (e) and 9A.44.100(1) (c) or (e), means any proprietor or employee of any public or private care or treatment facility who directly supervises developmentally disabled, mentally disordered, or chemically dependent persons at the facility.

(12) "Mentally disordered person" for the purposes of RCW 9A.44.050(1)(e) and 9A.44.100(1)(e) means a person with a "mental disorder" as defined in RCW 71.05.020(2).

(13) "Chemically dependent person" for purposes of RCW 9A.44.050(1)(e) and 9A.44.100(1)(e) means a person who is "chemically dependent" as defined in RCW 70.96A.020(4).

(14) "Health care provider" for purposes of RCW 9A.44.050 and 9A.44.100 means a person who is, holds himself or herself out to be, or provides services as if he or she were: (a) A member of a health care profession under chapter 18.130 RCW; or (b) registered or certified under chapter 18.19 RCW, regardless of whether the health care provider is licensed, certified, or registered by the state.

(15) "Treatment" for purposes of RCW 9A.44.050 and 9A.44.100 means the active delivery of professional services by a health care provider which the health care provider holds himself or herself out to be qualified to provide.

(16) "Frail elder or vulnerable adult" means a person sixty years of age or older who has the functional, mental, or physical inability to care for himself or herself. "Frail elder or vulnerable adult" also includes a person found incapacitated under chapter 11.88 RCW, a person over eighteen years of age who has a developmental disability under chapter 71A.10 RCW, a person admitted to a long-term care facility that is licensed or required to be licensed under chapter 18.20, 18.51, 72.36, or 70.128 RCW, and a person receiving services from a home health, hospice, or home care agency licensed or required to be licensed under chapter 70.127 RCW.

Sec. 8. RCW 9A.44.050 and 1993 c 477 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) A person is guilty of rape in the second degree when, under circumstances not constituting rape in the first degree, the person engages in sexual intercourse with another person:

(a) By forcible compulsion;

(b) When the victim is incapable of consent by reason of being physically helpless or mentally incapacitated;

(c) When the victim is developmentally disabled and the perpetrator is a person who is not married to the victim and who has supervisory authority over the victim;

(d) When the perpetrator is a health care provider, the victim is a client or patient, and the sexual intercourse occurs during a treatment session, consultation, interview, or examination. It is an affirmative defense that the defendant must prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the client or patient consented to the sexual intercourse with the knowledge that the sexual intercourse was not for the purpose of treatment; ((or))

(e) When the victim is a resident of a facility for mentally disordered or chemically dependent persons and the perpetrator is a person who is not married to the victim and has supervisory authority over the victim; or

(f) When the victim is a frail elder or vulnerable adult and the perpetrator is a person who is not married to the victim and who has a significant relationship with the victim.

(2) Rape in the second degree is a class A felony.

Sec. 9. RCW 9A.44.100 and 1993 c 477 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) A person is guilty of indecent liberties when he knowingly causes another person who is not his spouse to have sexual contact with him or another:

(a) By forcible compulsion; ((or))

(b) When the other person is incapable of consent by reason of being mentally defective, mentally incapacitated, or physically helpless;

(c) When the victim is developmentally disabled and the perpetrator is a person who is not married to the victim and who has supervisory authority over the victim;

(d) When the perpetrator is a health care provider, the victim is a client or patient, and the sexual contact occurs during a treatment session, consultation, interview, or examination. It is an affirmative defense that the defendant must prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the client or patient consented to the sexual contact with the knowledge that the sexual contact was not for the purpose of treatment; ((or))

(f) When the victim is a frail elder or vulnerable adult and the perpetrator is a person who is not married to the victim and who has a significant relationship with the victim.

(2) Indecent liberties is a class B felony.

Sec. 10. RCW 18.130.040 and 1996 c 200 s 32 and 1996 c 81 s 5 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:

(1) This chapter applies only to the secretary and the boards and commissions having jurisdiction in relation to the professions licensed under the chapters specified in this section. This chapter does not apply to any business or profession not licensed under the chapters specified in this section.

(2)(a) The secretary has authority under this chapter in relation to the following professions:

(i) Dispensing opticians licensed under chapter 18.34 RCW;

(ii) Naturopaths licensed under chapter 18.36A RCW;

(iii) Midwives licensed under chapter 18.50 RCW;

(iv) Ocularists licensed under chapter 18.55 RCW;

(v) Massage operators and businesses licensed under chapter 18.108 RCW;

(vi) Dental hygienists licensed under chapter 18.29 RCW;

(vii) Acupuncturists licensed under chapter 18.06 RCW;

(viii) Radiologic technologists certified and X-ray technicians registered under chapter 18.84 RCW;

(ix) Respiratory care practitioners certified under chapter 18.89 RCW;

(x) Persons registered or certified under chapter 18.19 RCW;

(xi) Persons registered as nursing pool operators under chapter 18.52C RCW;

(xii) Nursing assistants registered or certified under chapter ((~~18.79~~)) 18.88A RCW;

(xiii) Health care assistants certified under chapter 18.135 RCW;

(xiv) Dietitians and nutritionists certified under chapter 18.138 RCW;

(xv) Sex offender treatment providers certified under chapter 18.155 RCW;

(xvi) Persons licensed and certified under chapter 18.73 RCW or RCW 18.71.205;

(xvii) Persons registered as adult family home providers and resident managers under RCW 18.48.020; and

(xviii) Denturists licensed under chapter 18.30 RCW.

(b) The boards and commissions having authority under this chapter are as follows:

(i) The podiatric medical board as established in chapter 18.22 RCW;

(ii) The chiropractic quality assurance commission as established in chapter 18.25 RCW;

(iii) The dental quality assurance commission as established in chapter 18.32 RCW;

(iv) The board of hearing and speech as established in chapter 18.35 RCW;

(v) The board of examiners for nursing home administrators as established in chapter 18.52 RCW;

(vi) The optometry board as established in chapter 18.54 RCW governing licenses issued under chapter 18.53 RCW;

(vii) The board of osteopathic medicine and surgery as established in chapter 18.57 RCW governing licenses issued under chapters 18.57 and 18.57A RCW;

(viii) The board of pharmacy as established in chapter 18.64 RCW governing licenses issued under chapters 18.64 and 18.64A RCW;

(ix) The medical quality assurance commission as established in chapter 18.71 RCW governing licenses and registrations issued under chapters 18.71 and 18.71A RCW;

(x) The board of physical therapy as established in chapter 18.74 RCW;

(xi) The board of occupational therapy practice as established in chapter 18.59 RCW;

(xii) The nursing care quality assurance commission as established in chapter 18.79 RCW governing licenses issued under that chapter;

(xiii) The examining board of psychology and its disciplinary committee as established in chapter 18.83 RCW; and

(xiv) The veterinary board of governors as established in chapter 18.92 RCW.

(3) In addition to the authority to discipline license holders, the disciplining authority has the authority to grant or deny licenses based on the conditions and criteria established in this chapter and the chapters specified in subsection (2) of this section. This chapter also governs any investigation, hearing, or proceeding relating to denial of licensure or issuance of a license conditioned on the applicant's compliance with an order entered pursuant to RCW 18.130.160 by the disciplining authority.

(4) All disciplining authorities shall adopt procedures to ensure substantially consistent application of this chapter, the Uniform Disciplinary Act, among the disciplining authorities listed in subsection (2) of this section.

Sec. 11. RCW 18.130.200 and 1986 c 259 s 12 are each amended to read as follows:

A person who attempts to obtain ((or)), obtains, or attempts to maintain a license by willful misrepresentation or fraudulent representation is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.

Sec. 12. RCW 43.43.842 and 1992 c 104 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

(1)(a) The secretary of social and health services and the secretary of health shall adopt additional requirements for the licensure or relicensure of agencies ((or)), facilities ((~~which~~)), and licensed individuals who provide care and treatment to vulnerable adults. These additional requirements shall ensure that any person associated with a licensed agency or facility having direct contact with a vulnerable adult shall not have been: ((~~(a)~~)) (i) Convicted of a crime against persons as defined in RCW 43.43.830, except as provided in this section; ((~~(b)~~)) (ii) convicted of crimes relating to financial exploitation as defined in RCW 43.43.830, except as provided in this section; ((~~(c)~~)) (iii) found in any disciplinary board final decision to have abused a vulnerable adult under RCW 43.43.830; or ((~~(d)~~)) (iv) the subject in a protective proceeding under chapter 74.34 RCW.

(b) A person associated with a licensed agency or facility who has direct contact with a vulnerable adult shall make the disclosures specified in RCW 43.43.834(2). The person shall make the disclosures in writing, sign, and swear to the contents under penalty of perjury. The person shall, in the disclosures, specify all crimes against children or other persons, and all crimes relating to financial exploitation as defined in RCW 43.43.830, committed by the person.

(2) The rules adopted under this section shall permit the licensee to consider the criminal history of an applicant for employment in a licensed facility when the applicant has one or more convictions for a past offense and:

(a) The offense was simple assault, assault in the fourth degree, or the same offense as it may be renamed, and three or more years have passed between the most recent conviction and the date of application for employment;

(b) The offense was prostitution, or the same offense as it may be renamed, and three or more years have passed between the most recent conviction and the date of application for employment;

(c) The offense was theft in the third degree, or the same offense as it may be renamed, and three or more years have passed between the most recent conviction and the date of application for employment;

(d) The offense was theft in the second degree, or the same offense as it may be renamed, and five or more years have passed between the most recent conviction and the date of application for employment;

(e) The offense was forgery, or the same offense as it may be renamed, and five or more years have passed between the most recent conviction and the date of application for employment.

The offenses set forth in (a) through (e) of this subsection do not automatically disqualify an applicant from employment by a licensee. Nothing in this section may be construed to require the employment of any person against a licensee's judgment.

In consultation with law enforcement personnel, the secretary of social and health services and the secretary of health shall investigate the conviction record and the protection proceeding record information under this chapter ((~~43.43 RCW~~)) of each agency or facility and its staff under their respective jurisdictions seeking licensure or relicensure. The individual responding to criminal background inquiry requests by the individual's employer or potential employer shall disclose the information about the individual's criminal history under penalty of perjury. The secretaries shall use the information solely for the purpose of determining eligibility for licensure or relicensure. Criminal justice agencies shall provide the secretaries such information as they may have and that the secretaries may require for such purpose.

Sec. 13. RCW 70.124.020 and 1996 c 178 s 24 are each amended to read as follows:

Unless the context requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

(1) "Court" means the superior court of the state of Washington.

(2) "Law enforcement agency" means the police department, the director of public safety, or the office of the sheriff.

(3) "Practitioner of the healing arts" or "practitioner" means a person licensed by this state to practice podiatric medicine and surgery, optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy, chiropractic, nursing, dentistry, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or medicine and surgery. The term "practitioner" shall include a nurses aide, a nursing home administrator licensed under chapter 18.52 RCW, and a duly accredited Christian Science practitioner: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That a nursing home patient who is being furnished Christian Science treatment by a duly accredited Christian Science practitioner shall not be considered, for that reason alone, a neglected patient for the purposes of this chapter.

(4) "Department" means the state department of social and health services.

(5) "Nursing home" has the meaning prescribed by RCW 18.51.010.

(6) "Social worker" means anyone engaged in a professional capacity during the regular course of employment in encouraging or promoting the health, welfare, support, or education of nursing home patients, or providing social services to nursing home patients, whether in an individual capacity or as an employee or agent of any public or private organization or institution.

(7) "Psychologist" means any person licensed to practice psychology under chapter 18.83 RCW, whether acting in an individual capacity or as an employee or agent of any public or private organization or institution.

(8) "Pharmacist" means any registered pharmacist under chapter 18.64 RCW, whether acting in an individual capacity or as an employee or agent of any public or private organization or institution.

(9) "Abuse or neglect" or "patient abuse or neglect" means the nonaccidental physical injury or condition, sexual abuse, or negligent treatment of a nursing home, adult family home, or state hospital patient under circumstances which indicate that the patient's health, welfare, ((~~and~~)) or safety is harmed thereby.

(10) "Negligent treatment" means an act or omission which evinces a serious disregard of consequences of such magnitude as to constitute a clear and present danger to the patient's health, welfare, ((~~and~~)) or safety.

(11) "State hospital" means any hospital operated and maintained by the state for the care of the mentally ill under chapter 72.23 RCW.

(12) "Adult family home" has the meaning set forth in RCW 70.128.010.

Sec. 14. RCW 70.124.030 and 1981 c 174 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) When any practitioner, social worker, psychologist, pharmacist, employee of a nursing home, employee of an adult family home, employee of a state hospital, or employee of the department has reasonable cause to believe that a nursing home, adult family home, or state hospital patient has suffered abuse or neglect, the person shall report such incident, or cause a report to be made, to either a law enforcement agency or to the department as provided in RCW 70.124.040.

(2) Any other person who has reasonable cause to believe that a nursing home, adult family home, or state hospital patient has suffered abuse or neglect may report such incident to either a law enforcement agency or to the department as provided in RCW 70.124.040.

(3) The department or any law enforcement agency receiving a report of an incident of abuse or neglect involving a nursing home, adult family home, or state hospital patient who has died or has had physical injury or injuries inflicted other than by accidental means or who has been subjected to sexual abuse shall report the incident to the proper county prosecutor for appropriate action.

Sec. 15. RCW 70.124.040 and 1981 c 174 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Where a report is ((~~deemed warranted~~)) required under RCW 70.124.030, an immediate oral report shall be made by telephone or otherwise to either a law enforcement agency or to the department and, upon request, shall be followed by a report in writing. The reports shall contain the following information, if known:

(a) The name and address of the person making the report;

(b) The name and address of the nursing home, adult family home, or state hospital patient;

(d) The nature and extent of the injury or injuries;

(e) The nature and extent of the neglect;

(f) The nature and extent of the sexual abuse;

(g) Any evidence of previous injuries, including their nature and extent; and

(h) Any other information which may be helpful in establishing the cause of the patient's death, injury, or injuries, and the identity of the perpetrator or perpetrators.

(2) Each law enforcement agency receiving such a report shall, in addition to taking the action required by RCW 70.124.050, immediately relay the report to the department, and to other law enforcement agencies, including the medicaid fraud control unit of the office of the attorney general, as appropriate. For any report it receives, the department shall likewise take the required action and in addition relay the report to the appropriate law enforcement agency or agencies. The appropriate law enforcement agency or agencies shall receive immediate notification when the department, upon receipt of such report, has reasonable cause to believe that a criminal act has been committed.

Sec. 16. RCW 70.124.070 and 1979 ex.s. c 228 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:

A person who is required to make or to cause to be made a report pursuant to RCW 70.124.030 or 70.124.040 and who knowingly fails to make such report or fails to cause such report to be made is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 17. A new section is added to chapter 70.124 RCW to read as follows:

(1) An employee who is a whistleblower and who as a result of being a whistleblower has been subjected to workplace reprisal or retaliatory action, has the remedies provided under chapter 49.60 RCW. RCW 4.24.500 through 4.24.520, providing certain protection to persons who communicate to government agencies, apply to complaints made under this section. The identity of a whistleblower who complains, in good faith, to the department about suspected abuse, negligent treatment, financial exploitation, or abandonment, as defined in RCW 74.34.020, by any person in a nursing home, state hospital, or adult family home, may remain confidential if requested. The identity of the whistleblower shall subsequently remain confidential unless the department determines that the complaint was not made in good faith.

(2)(a) An attempt to expel a resident from a nursing home, state hospital, or adult family home, or any type of discriminatory treatment of a resident by whom, or upon whose behalf, a complaint has been submitted to the department or any proceeding instituted under or related to this chapter within one year of the filing of the complaint or the institution of the action, raises a rebuttable presumption that the action was in retaliation for the filing of the complaint, if the department substantiates the complaint.

(b) The presumption in (a) of this subsection is rebutted by credible evidence establishing the alleged retaliatory action was initiated before the complaint, or by a functional assessment conducted by the department that shows the resident's physical or mental health needs cannot be met through reasonable accommodations by the facility.

(3) For the purposes of this section:

(a) "Whistleblower" means a resident or employee of a nursing home, state hospital, or adult family home, or any person licensed under Title 18 RCW, who in good faith reports alleged abuse or neglect to the department or to a law enforcement agency; and

(b) "Workplace reprisal or retaliatory action" means, but is not limited to, an unwarranted or unsubstantiated: Denial of adequate staff to perform duties; frequent staff changes; frequent and undesirable office changes; refusal to assign meaningful work; report of misconduct under Title 18 RCW; letters of reprimand or unsatisfactory performance evaluations; demotion; or denial of employment. It also includes a supervisor or superior encouraging coworkers to behave in a hostile manner toward the whistleblower. The protections provided to whistleblowers under this chapter shall not prevent a nursing home, state hospital, or adult family home from: (i) Terminating, suspending, or disciplining a whistleblower for other lawful purposes; or (ii) for facilities with fewer than six residents, reducing the hours of employment or terminating employment as a result of the demonstrated inability to meet payroll requirements. The department shall determine if the facility cannot meet payroll in cases in which a whistleblower has been terminated or had hours of employment reduced because of the inability of a facility to meet payroll.

(4) This section does not prohibit a nursing home, state hospital, or adult family home from exercising its authority to terminate, suspend, or discipline an employee who engages in workplace reprisal or retaliatory action against a whistleblower. The protections provided to whistleblowers under this chapter shall not prevent a nursing home, state hospital, or adult family home from terminating, suspending, reducing the hours of employment, or disciplining a whistleblower for other lawful purposes.

(5) The department shall adopt rules to implement procedures for filing, investigation, and resolution of whistleblower complaints that are integrated with complaint procedures under this chapter.

(6) The department shall adopt rules designed to discourage whistleblower complaints made in bad faith or for retaliatory purposes.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 18. A new section is added to chapter 74.34 RCW to read as follows:

A person who is required to make or cause to be made a report under RCW 74.34.030 or 74.34.040 and who knowingly fails to make the report or fails to cause the report to be made is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 19. A new section is added to chapter 74.34 RCW to read as follows:

(1) An employee who is a whistleblower and who as a result of being a whistleblower has been subjected to workplace reprisal or retaliatory action, has the remedies provided under chapter 49.60 RCW. RCW 4.24.500 through 4.24.520, providing certain protection to persons who communicate to government agencies, apply to complaints made under this section. The identity of a whistleblower who complains, in good faith, to the department about suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation, or abandonment by any person in a boarding home licensed or required to be licensed pursuant to chapter 18.20 RCW may remain confidential if requested. The identity of the whistleblower shall subsequently remain confidential unless the department determines that the complaint was not made in good faith.

(2)(a) An attempt to expel a resident from a boarding home, or any type of discriminatory treatment of a resident by whom, or upon whose behalf, a complaint has been submitted to the department or any proceeding instituted under or related to this chapter within one year of the filing of the complaint or the institution of the action, raises a rebuttable presumption that the action was in retaliation for the filing of the complaint, if the department substantiates the complaint.

(3) For the purposes of this section:

(a) "Whistleblower" means a resident or employee of a boarding home, or any person licensed under Title 18 RCW, who in good faith reports alleged abuse or neglect to the department or to a law enforcement agency; and

(b) "Workplace reprisal or retaliatory action" means, but is not limited to, an unwarranted or unsubstantiated: Denial of adequate staff to perform duties; frequent staff changes; frequent and undesirable office changes; refusal to assign meaningful work; report of misconduct under Title 18 RCW; letters of reprimand or unsatisfactory performance evaluations; demotion; or denial of employment. It also includes a supervisor or superior encouraging coworkers to behave in a hostile manner toward the whistleblower. The protections provided to whistleblowers under this chapter shall not prevent a boarding home from: (i) Terminating, suspending, reducing the hours of employment, or disciplining a whistleblower for other lawful purposes; or (ii) for facilities with fewer than six residents, reducing the hours of employment or terminating employment as a result of the demonstrated inability to meet payroll requirements. The department shall determine if the facility cannot meet payroll in cases in which a whistleblower has been terminated or had hours of employment reduced because of the inability of a facility to meet payroll.

(4) This section does not prohibit a boarding home from exercising its authority to terminate, suspend, or discipline any employee who engages in workplace reprisal or retaliatory action against a whistleblower.

(5) The department shall adopt rules to implement procedures for filing, investigation, and resolution of whistleblower complaints that are integrated with complaint procedures under this chapter. The protections provided to whistleblowers under this chapter shall not prevent a boarding home from terminating, suspending, or disciplining a whistleblower for other lawful purposes.

(6) The department shall adopt rules designed to discourage whistleblower complaints made in bad faith or for retaliatory purposes.

Sec. 20. RCW 74.34.020 and 1995 1st sp.s. c 18 s 84 are each amended to read as follows:

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

(1) "Abandonment" means action or inaction by a person or entity with a duty of care for a frail elder or a vulnerable adult that leaves the vulnerable person without the means or ability to obtain necessary food, clothing, shelter, or health care.

(2) "Abuse" means a nonaccidental act of physical or mental mistreatment or injury, or sexual mistreatment, which harms a person through action or inaction by another individual.

(3) "Consent" means express written consent granted after the person has been fully informed of the nature of the services to be offered and that the receipt of services is voluntary.

(4) "Department" means the department of social and health services.

(5) "Exploitation" means the illegal or improper use of a frail elder or vulnerable adult or that person's income or resources, including trust funds, for another person's profit or advantage.

(6) "Neglect" means a pattern of conduct or inaction by a person or entity with a duty of care for a frail elder or vulnerable adult that results in the deprivation of care necessary to maintain the vulnerable person's physical or mental health.

(7) "Secretary" means the secretary of social and health services.

(8) "Frail elder or vulnerable adult" means a person sixty years of age or older who has the functional, mental, or physical inability to care for himself or herself. "Frail elder or vulnerable adult" shall include persons found incapacitated under chapter 11.88 RCW, or a person who has a developmental disability under chapter 71A.10 RCW, and persons admitted to any long-term care facility that is licensed or required to be licensed under chapter 18.20, 18.51, 72.36, or 70.128 RCW, or persons receiving services from home health, hospice, or home care agencies licensed or required to be licensed under chapter 70.127 RCW.

(9) No frail elder or vulnerable person who relies upon and is being provided spiritual treatment in lieu of medical treatment in accordance with the tenets and practices of a well-recognized religious denomination shall for that reason alone be considered abandoned, abused, or neglected."

Correct the title.