(1) The secretary or the secretary's designee may appoint members of the health care assistant profession and other health care practitioners, as defined in *RCW 18.135.020(3), to serve in an ad hoc capacity to assist in carrying out the provisions of this chapter. The members shall provide advice on matters specifically identified and requested by the secretary. The members shall be reimbursed for travel expenses under RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.

     (2) In addition to any other authority provided by law, the secretary shall adopt rules necessary to:

     (a) Administer, implement, and enforce this chapter;

     (b) Establish the minimum requirements necessary for a health care facility or health care practitioner to certify a health care assistant capable of performing the functions authorized in this chapter; and

     (c) Establish minimum requirements for each and every category of health care assistant.

     (3) The rules shall be adopted after fair consideration of input from representatives of each category. These requirements shall ensure that the public health and welfare are protected and shall include, but not be limited to, the following factors:

     (a) The education and occupational qualifications for the health care assistant category;

     (b) The work experience for the health care assistant category;

     (c) The instruction and training provided for the health care assistant category; and

     (d) The types of drugs or diagnostic agents which may be administered by injection by health care assistants working in a hospital or nursing home. The rules established under this subsection shall not prohibit health care assistants working in a health care facility other than a nursing home or hospital from performing the functions authorized under this chapter.

[1999 c 151 § 201; 1994 sp.s. c 9 § 515; 1991 c 3 § 273; 1986 c 216 § 2; 1984 c 281 § 4.]

NOTES:

     *Reviser's note: RCW 18.135.020 was alphabetized pursuant to RCW 1.08.015(2)(k), changing subsection (3) to subsection (4).

     Part headings not law -- Effective date -- 1999 c 151: See notes following RCW 18.28.010.

     Severability -- Headings and captions not law -- Effective date -- 1994 sp.s. c 9: See RCW 18.79.900 through 18.79.902.