Bill Alert SB 5632
In 2023, Washington passed the Shield Law (HB 1469, 2023) to protect providers, helpers, and patients from being criminalized for providing or accessing abortion or gender-affirming care in Washington state. The provision, receipt, attempted provision or receipt, assistance in provision or receipt, or attempted assistance in provision or receipt of protected health care services that are lawful in the state of Washington are protected from civil or criminal liability.
This bill expands some of the provisions in the Shield Law including (1) requiring notification to the Attorney General’s Office if the entity receives legal process related to health care services; (2) prohibiting agents of specified governmental entities from providing information to entities from another state for the purpose of investigating or enforcing another state’s law; and (3) defining assistance in the provision or receipt of protected health care services.
As part of its work, the ICSEW Legislative and Policy subcommittee provides Bill Alerts during the current legislative cycle. Its purpose is to inform state employees of pending legislation that may impact them.
As state employees, we cannot use state time or resources to lobby for or against legislative proposals in accordance with RCW 42.52.160 and RCW 42.52.180, laws concerning ethics in public service and use of public resources for political campaigns.
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