Board discusses eye treatment for newborns, homeless shelters

At its January 14 meeting in Tumwater, the Board will receive a briefing on a proposal to modify the rule relating to eye treatment for newborns. The Board will also hear an update on homeless shelter rule development workgroup activities.

Other agenda items include a brief review of ongoing activities related to the school environmental health and discussions about the 2009 legislative session. Board members will participate by phone. The public may listen to the meeting at the Department of Health, Point Plaza East, 310 Israel Rd SE, Tumwater, Washington. The draft agenda is available. Meeting materials will be available on Friday, January 9.

Board's 2008 Annual Report Now Available

The Board's 2008 Annual Report is now available for download from the Board's Web site.

Board met November 12 in Olympia

At its November 12 meeting in Olympia, the Board received briefings on three of its rules: water recreation facilities, Vibrio Control Plan, and Group B Water Systems.

Other agenda items included a brief review of ongoing activities related to the school environmental health and safety rule, a briefing from the Washington Health Foundation on its policy initiatives, a panel presentation on misuse and abuse of pain medication, and a discussion of possible updates to the Board's strategic plan. Meeting materials are available.

Board sends letter to Legislature on school rule vote

On October 17, 2008, Treuman Katz, Chair of the Board, sent a letter to the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Committee and the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Education explaining the Board's decision on October 8 to delay a vote on the school rules until after the upcoming legislative session. This was in response to letters from members of those legislative committees requesting such a delay. It also contained background information explaining the need for the rules. After its October 8 meeting, the Board received additional letters from legislators (Senators Oemig and Jacobsen) with a different message of urging immediate adoption of the rules.

Board considered adoption of school environmental health and safety rule

At its October 8 meeting in Yakima, the Board continued a public hearing and postponed the vote on the school environmental health and safety rule until June 2009 or before. The Board also held a public hearing and adopted proposed changes to its immunization rule.  Other items on the agenda include briefings on the status of its notifiable conditions rule, the Governor's Interagency Council on Health Disparities, and the Newborn Screening Program.  Meeting materials are available.

Board held continuation hearing on school environmental health and safety rule

At its September 10 meeting in Olympia, the Board continued a public hearing on its school environmental health and safety rule. The Board heard a summary of additional comments received since the August 27 hearing in Spokane. Meeting materials are available.

Board held hearing on school environmental health and safety rule

At its August 27 meeting in Spokane, the Board held a public hearing on its school environmental health and safety rule. Prior to the hearing the Board discussed differences between the June draft and the published draft as well as reviewed comments received. Meeting materials are available.

Board files formal rule proposal for School Environmental Health and Safety

After more than four years of working with stakeholders through a variety of workgroups and discussion drafts, the Washington State Board of Health has filed an official proposal for updating its K-12 school environmental health and safety rule.

The Board held a public hearing on August 27 in Spokane. The hearing continued on September 10 in Olympia.

Please click here to read more information about the public hearing, how to provide public testimony, legislative interest in the rule proposal, and major new provisions in the proposal.

Board discussed school environmental health and safety rule revision, HIV counseling and testing rule

At its June 11 meeting in Puyallup, the Board received multiple briefings and discussed next steps related to its school environmental health and safety rule. The briefings included how other states provide for school environmental health and safety; the Office of the Education Ombudsman; and draft rule proposed for publication, policy elements and economic analyses.

Other items on the agenda included a briefing on requests for rule revisions and next steps on its HIV counseling and testing rule and a discussion on its preliminary 2009-2011 strategic plan. A final agenda and meeting materials are available.

Governor Christine Gregoire approved the 2008 State Health Report which is to be used by state agency administrators as a guide for preparing agency budgets and executive request legislation for the 2009-11 biennium.