Text of WA SB 5228 (2026)

AN ACT Relating to updating the name, authority, membership, and 1 duties of the governor's interagency coordinating council on health 2 disparities; amending RCW 43.20.270, 43.20.275, 43.20.280, 41.05.840, 3 and 70.41.470; reenacting and amending RCW 43.20.025; and repealing 4 RCW 44.28.810. 5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON: 6 Sec. 1. RCW 43.20.025 and 2019 c 185 s 1 are each reenacted and 7 amended to read as follows: 8 The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter 9 unless the context clearly requires otherwise. 10 (1) "Commissary" means an approved food establishment where food 11 is stored, prepared, portioned, or packaged for service elsewhere. 12 (2) (("Commissions" means the Washington state commission on 13 African American affairs established in chapter 43.113 RCW, the 14 Washington state commission on Asian Pacific American affairs 15 established in chapter 43.117 RCW, the Washington state commission on 16 Hispanic affairs established in chapter 43.115 RCW, and the 17 governor's office of Indian affairs. 18 (3))) "Consumer representative" means any person who is not an 19 elected official, who has no fiduciary obligation to a health 20 Z-0290.1 SENATE BILL 5228 State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session By Senators Riccelli and Hasegawa; by request of Governor’s Interagency Council on Health Disparities Prefiled 01/10/25. p. 1 SB 5228 facility or other health agency, and who has no material financial 1 interest in the rendering of health services. 2 (((4))) (3) "Council" means the governor's ((interagency 3 coordinating)) council ((on)) for health ((disparities)) justice and 4 equity, convened according to this chapter. 5 (((5))) (4) "Department" means the department of health. 6 (((6))) (5) "Health disparities" means the difference in 7 incidence, prevalence, mortality, or burden of disease and other 8 adverse health conditions, including lack of access to proven health 9 care services that exists between specific population groups in 10 Washington state. 11 (((7))) (6) "Health impact review" means a review of a 12 legislative or budgetary proposal completed according to the terms of 13 this chapter that determines the extent to which the proposal 14 improves or exacerbates health disparities. 15 (((8))) (7) "Local health board" means a health board created 16 pursuant to chapter 70.05, 70.08, or 70.46 RCW. 17 (((9))) (8) "Local health officer" means the legally qualified 18 physician appointed as a health officer pursuant to chapter 70.05, 19 70.08, or 70.46 RCW. 20 (((10))) (9) "Mobile food unit" means a readily movable food 21 establishment. 22 (((11))) (10) "Regulatory authority" means the local, state, or 23 federal enforcement body or authorized representative having 24 jurisdiction over the food establishment. The local board of health, 25 acting through the local health officer, is the regulatory authority 26 for the activity of a food establishment, except as otherwise 27 provided by law. 28 (((12))) (11) "Secretary" means the secretary of health, or the 29 secretary's designee. 30 (((13))) (12) "Servicing area" means an operating base location 31 to which a mobile food unit or transportation vehicle returns 32 regularly for such things as vehicle and equipment cleaning, 33 discharging liquid or solid wastes, refilling water tanks and ice 34 bins, and boarding food. 35 (((14))) (13) "Social determinants of health" means those 36 elements of social structure most closely shown to affect health and 37 illness, including at a minimum, early learning, education, 38 socioeconomic standing, safe housing, gender, incidence of violence, 39 p. 2 SB 5228 convenient and affordable access to safe opportunities for physical 1 activity, healthy diet, and appropriate health care services. 2 (((15))) (14) "State board" means the state board of health 3 created under this chapter. 4 Sec. 2. RCW 43.20.270 and 2006 c 239 s 1 are each amended to 5 read as follows: 6 The legislature finds that women and people of color experience 7 significant disparities from men and the general population in 8 education, employment, healthful living conditions, access to health 9 care, and other social determinants of health. The legislature finds 10 that these circumstances coupled with lower, slower, and less 11 culturally appropriate and gender appropriate access to needed 12 medical care result in higher rates of morbidity and mortality for 13 women and persons of color than observed in the general population. 14 Health disparities are defined by the national ((institute[s])) 15 institutes of health as the differences in incidence, prevalence, 16 mortality, and burden of disease and other adverse health conditions 17 that exist among specific population groups in the United States. 18 It is the intent of the Washington state legislature to create 19 the healthiest state in the nation by striving to eliminate health 20 disparities in people of color and between men and women. In meeting 21 the intent of ((chapter 239, Laws of 2006)) this chapter, the 22 legislature creates the governor's ((interagency coordinating council 23 on health disparities)) council for health justice and equity. This 24 council shall create an action plan and statewide policy to include 25 health impact reviews that measure and address other social 26 determinants of health that lead to disparities as well as the 27 contributing factors of health that can have broad impacts on 28 improving status, health literacy, physical activity, and nutrition. 29 Sec. 3. RCW 43.20.275 and 2018 c 58 s 19 are each amended to 30 read as follows: 31 (1) In collaboration with staff whom the office of financial 32 management may assign, and within funds made expressly available to 33 the state board for these purposes, the state board shall ((assist 34 the governor by convening and providing)) convene and provide 35 assistance to the council. 36 p. 3 SB 5228 (2) The council shall consist of 24 members which shall include 1 ((one representative from each of)) the following ((groups: Each of 2 the commissions,)) representatives: 3 (a) One from the commission on African American affairs; 4 (b) One from the commission on Asian Pacific American affairs; 5 (c) One from the commission on Hispanic affairs; 6 (d) One from the governor's office of Indian affairs; 7 (e) One from the governor's committee on disability issues and 8 employment; 9 (f) One from the LGBTQ commission; 10 (g) One from the women's commission; 11 (h) One from the state board((,)); 12 (i) One from the department((,)); 13 (j) One from the department of social and health services((,)); 14 (k) One from the department of commerce((,)); 15 (l) One from the health care authority((,)); 16 (m) One from the department of agriculture((,)); 17 (n) One from the department of ecology((,)); 18 (o) One from the office of the superintendent of public 19 instruction((,)); 20 (p) One from the department of children, youth, and 21 families((,)); 22 (q) One from the workforce training and education coordinating 23 board((, and two)); 24 (r) One from a federally recognized tribe; and 25 (s) Six members of the public ((who will represent the interests 26 of health care consumers. The council is a class one group under RCW 27 43.03.220. The two public members shall be paid per diem and travel 28 expenses in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060. The council 29 shall reflect diversity in race, ethnicity, and gender. The governor 30 or the governor's designee shall chair the council. 31 (2) The council shall promote and facilitate communication, 32 coordination, and collaboration among relevant state agencies and 33 communities of color, and the private sector and public sector, to 34 address health disparities. The council shall conduct public 35 hearings, inquiries, studies, or other forms of information gathering 36 to understand how the actions of state government ameliorate or 37 contribute to health disparities. All state agencies must cooperate 38 with the council's efforts. 39 p. 4 SB 5228 (3) The council with assistance from the state board, shall 1 assess through public hearings, review of existing data, and other 2 means, and recommend initiatives for improving the availability of 3 culturally appropriate health literature and interpretive services 4 within public and private health-related agencies. 5 (4) In order to assist with its work, the council shall establish 6 advisory committees to assist in plan development for specific issues 7 and shall include members of other state agencies and local 8 communities. 9 (5) The advisory committee shall reflect diversity in race, 10 ethnicity, and gender)), including at least two youth 11 representatives, who have direct lived experience with health 12 inequities and will bring the voices of communities who have been 13 systematically excluded from the power, opportunities, access, and 14 resources needed to attain health and well-being. 15 (3) The council shall establish its decision making and voting 16 procedures within council bylaws. 17 (4) Councilmembers must be persons who are committed to and well- 18 informed regarding principles of health justice and equity and who, 19 to the greatest extent practicable, reflect diversity in race, 20 ethnicity, age, disability status, sexual orientation, gender, gender 21 identity, military or military family status, urban and rural areas, 22 and regions of the state. 23 (a) To promote agency commitment and coordination, each state 24 agency on the council shall identify an executive team level staff 25 person or designee to participate on behalf of the agency. 26 (b) Councilmembers who are not representing a Washington state 27 governmental entity shall be appointed by the governor with guidance 28 from the office of equity. 29 (c) The youth representatives must be 26 years of age or younger 30 at the time of appointment. 31 (d) The governor shall appoint cochairs who have expertise or 32 experience with health justice and equity. At least one cochair must 33 be selected from among councilmembers listed in subsection (2)(a) 34 through (g), (r), or (s) of this section. The governor shall consider 35 cochair nominations or recommendations from the council. 36 (5) When representing the council, councilmembers may communicate 37 policy recommendations and positions on behalf of the council instead 38 of their respective agency or organization. 39 p. 5 SB 5228 (6) The council is a class one group under RCW 43.03.220. 1 Eligible members of the council shall be compensated and reimbursed 2 in accordance with RCW 43.03.050, 43.03.060, and 43.03.220. 3 Sec. 4. RCW 43.20.280 and 2006 c 239 s 4 are each amended to 4 read as follows: 5 (1) The council shall ((consider in its deliberations and by 6 2012, create an action plan for eliminating health disparities. The 7 action plan must address, but is not limited to, the following 8 diseases, conditions, and health indicators: Diabetes, asthma, infant 9 mortality, HIV/AIDS, heart disease, strokes, breast cancer, cervical 10 cancer, prostate cancer, chronic kidney disease, sudden infant death 11 syndrome (SIDS), mental health, women's health issues, smoking 12 cessation, oral disease, and immunization rates of children and 13 senior citizens. The council shall prioritize the diseases, 14 conditions, and health indicators according to prevalence and 15 severity of the health disparity. The council shall address these 16 priorities on an incremental basis by adding no more than five of the 17 diseases, conditions, and health indicators to each update or revised 18 version of the action plan. The action plan shall be updated 19 biannually. The council shall meet as often as necessary but not less 20 than two times per calendar year. The council shall report its 21 progress with the action plan to the governor and the legislature no 22 later than January 15, 2008. A second report shall be presented no 23 later than January 15, 2010, and a third report from the council 24 shall be presented to the governor and the legislature no later than 25 January 15, 2012. Thereafter, the governor and legislature shall 26 require progress updates from the council every four years in odd- 27 numbered years. The action plan shall recognize the need for 28 flexibility)) work with governmental and nongovernmental partners to 29 create a statewide vision and universal goals for health and well- 30 being as well as policy recommendations to move Washington toward 31 achieving its vision and goals. 32 (a) The vision, goals, and policy recommendations shall: 33 (i) Provide an actionable framework to support communities, state 34 agencies, the governor, and the legislature in advancing health 35 justice and equity in Washington state; 36 (ii) Recognize racism as a public health crisis; 37 (iii) Recognize how climate change affects us all and exacerbates 38 inequities; 39 p. 6 SB 5228 (iv) Incorporate the diversity of communities across the state 1 and recognize the intersecting forms of oppression people may 2 experience as barriers to attaining optimal health and reaching their 3 full potential; 4 (v) Guide state agencies as they continue to fulfill requirements 5 pursuant to chapters 70A.02 and 43.06D RCW; and 6 (vi) Work toward resolving the negative structural and social 7 determinants of health and promoting the positive determinants. 8 (b) In the development of the vision, goals, and policy 9 recommendations, the council shall engage communities and may use 10 participatory methods that promote community-led planning and design, 11 so that communities who are disproportionately impacted by inequities 12 have meaningful opportunity and power to shape narratives, 13 priorities, and policy recommendations. 14 (2) The council shall promote and facilitate communication, 15 information sharing, coordination, and collaboration among relevant 16 state agencies, organizations that have been established for and by 17 the people most impacted by an issue such as racism and health 18 inequities, communities of color and other marginalized communities, 19 and the private and public sectors to support health justice and 20 equity, well-being, truth and reconciliation, and healing. 21 (3) The council, with assistance from state agencies and other 22 partners, shall conduct public hearings, research, inquiries, 23 studies, or other forms of information gathering to: 24 (a) Understand how the actions of state government ameliorate or 25 contribute to health inequities; and 26 (b) Recommend initiatives for improving the availability of 27 culturally and linguistically appropriate information and services 28 within public and private health-related agencies. 29 (4) The council shall collaborate with the environmental justice 30 council, the state poverty reduction work group, the state office of 31 equity, and other state agencies, boards, committees, and commissions 32 to propel state government toward actions that are coordinated and 33 rooted in antiracism, access, belonging, and justice so that these 34 efforts benefit all Washingtonians. 35 (5) The council shall submit an initial report to the governor 36 and relevant committees of the legislature by October 31, 2027, with 37 the statewide vision and universal goals for health and well-being 38 detailed in subsection (1) of this section. Beginning October 31, 39 2029, and every two years thereafter until 2039, the council shall 40 p. 7 SB 5228 submit an update to the governor and relevant committees of the 1 legislature with policy recommendations, the status of policy 2 adoption and implementation among relevant state agencies, the 3 governor, and the legislature, as well as any revisions to the 4 statewide vision and universal goals for health and well-being. The 5 council shall make its reports publicly available on its website to 6 provide convenient access to all state agencies. 7 (6) Within available resources, all relevant state agencies shall 8 collaborate and be responsive to the council's requests. 9 (7) The council may: 10 (a) Use topics and findings from health impact reviews, as 11 authorized by RCW 43.20.285, to inform the council's priorities, 12 strategies, and recommendations; 13 (b) Use disaggregated data to inform its work; 14 (c) Develop policy positions; and 15 (d) Form advisory committees or implement participatory models, 16 such as collaboratives or community assemblies, to support the 17 council in gathering information and developing policy priorities, 18 recommendations, and positions. These groups may include members of 19 the community and state agencies. 20 Sec. 5. RCW 41.05.840 and 2021 c 309 s 2 are each amended to 21 read as follows: 22 (1) The universal health care commission is established to create 23 immediate and impactful changes in the health care access and 24 delivery system in Washington and to prepare the state for the 25 creation of a health care system that provides coverage and access 26 for all Washington residents through a unified financing system once 27 the necessary federal authority has become available. The authority 28 must begin any necessary federal application process within 60 days 29 of its availability. 30 (2) The commission includes the following voting members: 31 (a) One member from each of the two largest caucuses of the house 32 of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of 33 representatives; 34 (b) One member from each of the two largest caucuses of the 35 senate, appointed by the president of the senate; 36 (c) The secretary of the department of health, or the secretary's 37 designee; 38 p. 8 SB 5228 (d) The director of the health care authority, or the director's 1 designee; 2 (e) The chief executive officer of the Washington health benefit 3 exchange, or the chief executive officer's designee; 4 (f) The insurance commissioner, or the commissioner's designee; 5 (g) The director of the office of equity, or the director's 6 designee; and 7 (h) Six members appointed by the governor, using an equity lens, 8 with knowledge and experience regarding health care coverage, access, 9 and financing, or other relevant expertise, including at least one 10 consumer representative and at least one invitation to an individual 11 representing tribal governments with knowledge of the Indian health 12 care delivery in the state. 13 (3)(a) The governor must appoint the chair of the commission from 14 any of the members identified in subsection (2) of this section for a 15 term of no more than three years. A majority of the voting members of 16 the commission shall constitute a quorum for any votes of the 17 commission. 18 (b) The commission's meetings shall be open to the public 19 pursuant to chapter 42.30 RCW. The authority must publish on its 20 website the dates and locations of commission meetings, agendas of 21 prior and upcoming commission meetings, and meeting materials for 22 prior and upcoming commission meetings. 23 (4) The health care authority shall staff the commission. 24 (5) Members of the commission shall serve without compensation 25 but must be reimbursed for their travel expenses while on official 26 business in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060. 27 (6) The commission may establish advisory committees that include 28 members of the public with knowledge and experience in health care, 29 in order to support stakeholder engagement and an analytical process 30 by which key design options are developed. A member of an advisory 31 committee need not be a member of the commission. 32 (7) By November 1, 2022, the commission shall submit a baseline 33 report to the legislature and the governor, and post it on the 34 authority's website. The report must include: 35 (a) A complete synthesis of analyses done on Washington's 36 existing health care finance and delivery system, including cost, 37 quality, workforce, and provider consolidation trends and how they 38 impact the state's ability to provide all Washingtonians with timely 39 access to high quality, affordable health care; 40 p. 9 SB 5228 (b) A strategy for developing implementable changes to the 1 state's health care financing and delivery system to increase access 2 to health care services and health coverage, reduce health care 3 costs, reduce health disparities, improve quality, and prepare for 4 the transition to a unified health care financing system by actively 5 examining data and reports from sources that are monitoring the 6 health care system. Such sources shall include data or reports from 7 the health care cost transparency board under RCW 70.390.070, the 8 public health advisory board, the governor's ((interagency 9 coordinating)) council ((on)) for health ((disparities)) justice and 10 equity under RCW 43.20.275, the all-payer health care claims database 11 established under chapter 43.371 RCW, prescription drug price data, 12 performance measure data under chapter 70.320 RCW, and other health 13 care cost containment programs; 14 (c) An inventory of the key design elements of a universal health 15 care system including: 16 (i) A unified financing system including, but not limited to, a 17 single-payer financing system; 18 (ii) Eligibility and enrollment processes and requirements; 19 (iii) Covered benefits and services; 20 (iv) Provider participation; 21 (v) Effective and efficient provider payments, including 22 consideration of global budgets and health plan payments; 23 (vi) Cost containment and savings strategies that are designed to 24 assure that total health care expenditures do not exceed the health 25 care cost growth benchmark established under chapter 70.390 RCW; 26 (vii) Quality improvement strategies; 27 (viii) Participant cost sharing, if appropriate; 28 (ix) Quality monitoring and disparities reduction; 29 (x) Initiatives for improving culturally appropriate health 30 services within public and private health-related agencies; 31 (xi) Strategies to reduce health disparities including, but not 32 limited to, mitigating structural racism and other determinants of 33 health as set forth by the office of equity; 34 (xii) Information technology systems and financial management 35 systems; 36 (xiii) Data sharing and transparency; and 37 (xiv) Governance and administration structure, including 38 integration of federal funding sources; 39 p. 10 SB 5228 (d) An assessment of the state's current level of preparedness to 1 meet the elements of (c) of this subsection and steps Washington 2 should take to prepare for a just transition to a unified health care 3 financing system, including a single-payer financing system. 4 Recommendations must include, but are not limited to, administrative 5 changes, reorganization of state programs, retraining programs for 6 displaced workers, federal waivers, and statutory and constitutional 7 changes; 8 (e) Recommendations for implementing reimbursement rates for 9 health care providers serving medical assistance clients who are 10 enrolled in programs under chapter 74.09 RCW at a rate that is no 11 less than 80 percent of the rate paid by medicare for similar 12 services; 13 (f) Recommendations for coverage expansions to be implemented 14 prior to and consistent with a universal health care system, 15 including potential funding sources; and 16 (g) Recommendations for the creation of a finance committee to 17 develop a financially feasible model to implement universal health 18 care coverage using state and federal funds. 19 (8) Following the submission of the baseline report on November 20 1, 2022, the commission must structure its work to continue to 21 further identify opportunities to implement reforms consistent with 22 subsection (7)(b) of this section and to implement structural changes 23 to prepare the state for a transition to a unified health care 24 financing system. The commission must submit annual reports to the 25 governor and the legislature each November 1st, beginning in 2023. 26 The reports must detail the work of the commission, the opportunities 27 identified to advance the goals under subsection (7) of this section, 28 which, if any, of the opportunities a state agency is implementing, 29 which, if any, opportunities should be pursued with legislative 30 policy or fiscal authority, and which opportunities have been 31 identified as beneficial, but lack federal authority to implement. 32 (9) Subject to sufficient existing agency authority, state 33 agencies may implement specific elements of any report issued under 34 this section. This section shall not be construed to authorize the 35 commission to implement a universal health care system through a 36 unified financing system until there is further action by the 37 legislature and the governor. 38 (10) The commission must hold its first meeting within 90 days of 39 July 25, 2021. 40 p. 11 SB 5228 Sec. 6. RCW 70.41.470 and 2021 c 162 s 5 are each amended to 1 read as follows: 2 (1) As of January 1, 2013, each hospital that is recognized by 3 the internal revenue service as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit entity must 4 make its federally required community health needs assessment widely 5 available to the public and submit it to the department within 6 fifteen days of submission to the internal revenue service. Following 7 completion of the initial community health needs assessment, each 8 hospital in accordance with the internal revenue service shall 9 complete and make widely available to the public and submit to the 10 department an assessment once every three years. The department must 11 post the information submitted to it pursuant to this subsection on 12 its website. 13 (2)(a) Unless contained in the community health needs assessment 14 under subsection (1) of this section, a hospital subject to the 15 requirements under subsection (1) of this section shall make public 16 and submit to the department a description of the community served by 17 the hospital, including both a geographic description and a 18 description of the general population served by the hospital; and 19 demographic information such as leading causes of death, levels of 20 chronic illness, and descriptions of the medically underserved, 21 low-income, and minority, or chronically ill populations in the 22 community. 23 (b)(i) Beginning July 1, 2022, a hospital, other than a hospital 24 designated by medicare as a critical access hospital or sole 25 community hospital, that is subject to the requirements under 26 subsection (1) of this section must annually submit to the department 27 an addendum which details information about activities identified as 28 community health improvement services with a cost of $5,000 or more. 29 The addendum must include the type of activity, the method in which 30 the activity was delivered, how the activity relates to an identified 31 community need in the community health needs assessment, the target 32 population for the activity, strategies to reach the target 33 population, identified outcome metrics, the cost to the hospital to 34 provide the activity, the methodology used to calculate the 35 hospital's costs, and the number of people served by the activity. If 36 a community health improvement service is administered by an entity 37 other than the hospital, the other entity must be identified in the 38 addendum. 39 p. 12 SB 5228 (ii) Beginning July 1, 2022, a hospital designated by medicare as 1 a critical access hospital or sole community hospital that is subject 2 to the requirements under subsection (1) of this section must 3 annually submit to the department an addendum which details 4 information about the 10 highest cost activities identified as 5 community health improvement services. The addendum must include the 6 type of activity, the method in which the activity was delivered, how 7 the activity relates to an identified community need in the community 8 health needs assessment, the target population for the activity, 9 strategies to reach the target population, identified outcome 10 metrics, the cost to the hospital to provide the activity, the 11 methodology used to calculate the hospital's costs, and the number of 12 people served by the activity. If a community health improvement 13 service is administered by an entity other than the hospital, the 14 other entity must be identified in the addendum. 15 (iii) The department shall require the reporting of demographic 16 information about participant race, ethnicity, any disability, gender 17 identity, preferred language, and zip code of primary residency. The 18 department, in consultation with interested entities, may revise the 19 required demographic information according to an established six-year 20 review cycle about participant race, ethnicity, disabilities, gender 21 identity, preferred language, and zip code of primary residence that 22 must be reported under (b)(i) and (ii) of this subsection (2). At a 23 minimum, the department's consultation process shall include 24 community organizations that provide community health improvement 25 services, communities impacted by health inequities, health care 26 workers, hospitals, and the governor's ((interagency coordinating)) 27 council ((on)) for health ((disparities)) justice and equity. The 28 department shall establish a six-year cycle for the review of the 29 information requested under this subsection (2)(b)(iii). 30 (iv) The department shall provide guidance on participant data 31 collection and the reporting requirements under this subsection 32 (2)(b). The guidance shall include a standard form for the reporting 33 of information under this subsection (2)(b). The standard form must 34 allow for the reporting of community health improvement services that 35 are repeated within a reporting period to be combined within the 36 addendum as a single project with the number of instances of the 37 services listed. The department must develop the guidelines in 38 consultation with interested entities, including an association 39 representing hospitals in Washington, labor unions representing 40 p. 13 SB 5228 workers who work in hospital settings, and community health board 1 associations. The department must post the information submitted to 2 it pursuant to this subsection (2)(b) on its website. 3 (3)(a) Each hospital subject to the requirements of subsection 4 (1) of this section shall make widely available to the public a 5 community benefit implementation strategy within one year of 6 completing its community health needs assessment. In developing the 7 implementation strategy, hospitals shall consult with community-based 8 organizations and stakeholders, and local public health 9 jurisdictions, as well as any additional consultations the hospital 10 decides to undertake. Unless contained in the implementation strategy 11 under this subsection (3)(a), the hospital must provide a brief 12 explanation for not accepting recommendations for community benefit 13 proposals identified in the assessment through the stakeholder 14 consultation process, such as excessive expense to implement or 15 infeasibility of implementation of the proposal. 16 (b) Implementation strategies must be evidence-based, when 17 available; or development and implementation of innovative programs 18 and practices should be supported by evaluation measures. 19 (4) When requesting demographic information under subsection 20 (2)(b) of this section, a hospital must inform participants that 21 providing the information is voluntary. If a hospital fails to report 22 demographic information under subsection (2)(b) of this section 23 because a participant refused to provide the information, the 24 department may not take any action against the hospital for failure 25 to comply with reporting requirements or other licensing standards on 26 that basis. 27 (5) For the purposes of this section, the term "widely available 28 to the public" has the same meaning as in the internal revenue 29 service guidelines. 30 NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. RCW 44.28.810 (Review of governor's 31 interagency coordinating council on health disparities—Report to the 32 legislature) and 2006 c 239 s 7 are each repealed. 33 --- END --- p. 14 SB 5228