2018 Revised Code of Washington
Title 71 - MENTAL ILLNESS
71.24 Community mental health services act.
71.24.480 Offenders with mental illness who are believed to be dangerous—Limitation on liability due to treatment—Reporting requirements.

RCW 71.24.480 Offenders with mental illness who are believed to be dangerous—Limitation on liability due to treatment—Reporting requirements.

(1) A licensed or certified service provider or behavioral health organization, acting in the course of the provider's or organization's duties under this chapter, is not liable for civil damages resulting from the injury or death of another caused by a participant in the offender reentry community safety program who is a client of the provider or organization, unless the act or omission of the provider or organization constitutes:

(a) Gross negligence;

(b) Willful or wanton misconduct; or

(c) A breach of the duty to warn of and protect from a client's threatened violent behavior if the client has communicated a serious threat of physical violence against a reasonably ascertainable victim or victims.

(2) In addition to any other requirements to report violations, the licensed or certified service provider and behavioral health organization shall report an offender's expressions of intent to harm or other predatory behavior, regardless of whether there is an ascertainable victim, in progress reports and other established processes that enable courts and supervising entities to assess and address the progress and appropriateness of treatment.

(3) A licensed or certified service provider's or behavioral health organization's mere act of treating a participant in the offender reentry community safety program is not negligence. Nothing in this subsection alters the licensed or certified service provider's or behavioral health organization's normal duty of care with regard to the client.

(4) The limited liability provided by this section applies only to the conduct of licensed or certified service providers and behavioral health organizations and does not apply to conduct of the state.

(5) For purposes of this section, "participant in the offender reentry community safety program" means a person who has been identified under RCW 72.09.370 as an offender who: (a) Is reasonably believed to be dangerous to himself or herself or others; and (b) has a mental disorder.

[ 2018 c 201 § 4032; 2014 c 225 § 45; 2009 c 319 § 2; 2002 c 173 § 1.]

NOTES:

Findings—Intent—Effective date—2018 c 201: See notes following RCW 41.05.018.

Effective date—2014 c 225: See note following RCW 71.24.016.